Jamie57

Got a quick question for all you more experienced guys.
Just purchase a 98 XJ Sport about 300 KM (sorry 200 miles) from my place. Vehicle runs etc but currrent owner says front universals are siezed. Funny but I just replaced my universals on my 91 XJ Limited. Hubs are perfect. Getting a ride up to new(er) XJ and I was wondering if I just grab my axles and hubs off my current ride, can I swap them with the 98 and just drive home? If not I just may grab some and swap them out there but I hate doing that in the field. Past experience!
Ever lose 1 F%&*#n needle in the dirt before?

jd4x426

what do you mean the ujoints are seased even if they are seized you would be able to drive it i would check this out before going all in sound like there might be something else wrong as for swapping over the hubs will work the 98s are bigger ujoints though so im not positive also does your truck have the vacuum disconect if so the axles will not work

Jamie57

there is no lubrication left in the cup so the needles have rusted to the caps. Have seen this a lot in my lifetime. Yes the axles will spin with the wheels but when turning you'll get that terrifying metal screech. If the caps break (and they do!) I'll be replacing more than just the ujoints. Experience again, been there, done that, have the towing bill
Both units I think are the D30's and do not have the vacuum actuator.
BUT!!!!! I'm not positive. My 91 has the D30 and has new hubs and ujoints and no vacuum.
If the 98 has the same unit and will swap I've saved myself a lot of time.
Anyone else have a 98 sport and would know?

mike37

just remove the axles and plug the end of the housing to keep oil from running out

and remove the front drive shaft

then fix what you need to at home

BuckB91XJ

If your 91 D30 axles are the non-disco variety, then they will slide right in and work perfect in your 98 D30. You will just have the smaller U-joints. Keep the original 98 axles, swap out the u-joints when you can, and put them back in. Much stronger U-joints in them.

mike37

his 91 limited will have the the large u joints also

BuckB91XJ

Oh, Okay. I have the poor man's 91. Manual everything and no comfort options. I should have figured if he had the non disco front axle, that he probably had the axle with the bigger U-joints. Thanks Mike.

Jamie57

Your right! When I was replacing them I had to go back to the parts shop cause they gave me ones that were smaller.
And thats what I did too! had the axle part off stuffed a rag in the axle tube put it all back together and drove the parts store!
This disk brake setup is so easy to work on. Not like when I was an apprentice mechanic 1000 years ago and discs were still pretty new.

muddeprived

You must have the outer stub shaft tightened down on the hub or else the hub will fall apart. Can't just remove the axles and go home.

mike37

are you sure about that the hub is a sealed bearing and the stub shaft has nothing to do with the bearing

smtippin

As a casual reader on this post, I was hoping to learn something, but then I started reading and realized that this thread is for people born in a snap on truck with tools in hand to cut their own umbilical cord. Clearly this takes more axle knowledge than my miniscule drain and fill experience.

s

mike37

thats funny

muddeprived

http://www.links4jeeps.com/forum/ind...ic,6279.0.html

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...ter+stub+shaft

Had this happen to a guy in a YJ 7 years ago up in rochester NY. Was funny seeing his tire just fall right off but sucked to see even more damage he had to fix.

mike37

did some research and

you are correct

the 2wd uses the same bearing but they have a dummy shaft to hold the bearing together
you can get away with short distance but without the shaft
but its not recommended

I stand corrected

winston427

The larger u-joints were not used on a XJ until 95. It does not matter if his 91 has the vac disco or not, it will be the smaller u-joint.