Due to having someone hit my front left tire with a four wheeler I am having to put a new front axle under my jeep. My question is..... Which axle can i get away with using? Since mine is a 97 will I have to have one that old and never or am I able to get one off an older model. Sure would be easier since there are an awful lot more of them at the junk yard. I'm waiting on responses to head to go get one

 

Any year will be a direct bolt in.

90- will have a vacuum disconnect and are less desireable.
00-01 are low pinion and not north using.

95-99 are HP and will have the larger 297/760 u-joints.

 

And I won't have any gearing issues?

 

You'll need to get one with the correct ratio obviously.

 

Pics? That atv must have hit it hard!

 

Ya he smacked it pretty good. He was trying to do a wheelie and once it got up he got whiskey throttle and went scramble headed. I made Hume clan both of my land cruiser, my boat and my wheeler inside and out. Bent and broke the welds of the control arm mounts where they attach to the axle. Def won't be as structurally sound nomatter what you do to fix it.

 

Ok so went I went and checked out some axles to bring home today I noticed 2 things. How come the the newer models have a different type of setup where they mount to the hub. Newer one looks sealed (pic 1) and the older ones seem open (pic 2). Also it seems to have different calipers on the old than the new. With mine being newer should I just go ahead and try to find a newer axle or what. Also, how do I tell what gears it has already?

 

The only difference between the two is non-ABS vs. ABS.

The parts are 100% interchangeable.

 

So since I have abs can I bolt my hub straight to it so I make it the same setup as it was before?

 

I should clarify.
ABS stub shafts have a tone ring.
Non-ABS have a dust shield.

Both are removable, just tap with a hammer.

The shafts are interchangeable.
The hubs are interchangeable.
The axle, housings, knuckles, seals, R&P, covers, yokes......
All interchangeable?

Clear now?

 

All except figuring out what the time ring is. Is that the sealed looking one?

 

Tone ring*

 

Tone ring is shown in the bottom pic you posted. It works inconjunction with the ABS sensor in the same pic.

 

I was clear on this OP, and you've just confused me beyond belief.

You are WAY over thinking this.

Read this if you want to learn more on axles/gears and the difference between the years.

http://www.xjhowto.com/axles--gearing.html

They will all bolt up. I'd advise not having ABS in a vehicle that you use to offroad. (You don't want your brakes to unlock and then attempt to relock when you're coming down a huge rock for obvious reasons.)

 

Thanks y'all you have been a huge help. Seems pewter much as un bolting one and bolting up the other. I have one more question. I I got some leaf springs for it from a buddy and I'm not too sure exactly what size they are. He said he think 3". Any way to measure them and figure it out without them bolted up?