Well I'm stumped, I'm putting my spare Dana 30 into my 98 and the passenger side knuckle won't turn. I can only turn the hub a quarter turn and when I do the knuckle pivots with it. The axle worked fine before it was removed and wasn't dropped but took a bumpy ride on a trailer. I can't see that anything is bent. Thanks for any help

 

Bad u-joint.

 

Does a 1990 Dana 30 have a 2 part axle shaft? Is it possible that something inside the axle has come apart? Seized doesn't seem to be the right word. It's weird that when I rotate the hub (can only move it a quarter turn) the knuckle pivots at most 5 degree. Unless I rotate the hub I can't pivot the knuckle. I won't have access to the jeep till next wknd now but I think when I do I'll pull the axle shaft.

 

a 1990 d30 with vac disco that came in the command trac t-case equipped jeeps has the 2 piece shafts.

if it has the 242 selec trac, they have full 1 piece shafts.

 

Well there goes that idea because it came out of a jeep with the 242. Last I looked at the axle it looked like the axle shaft was out of the tube a 1/4" more on the problem side.

 

Take the wheel off and try turning it. If it turns you have the wrong hub bearing assembly.

 

x2...98 and 90 differences hub wise.

 

Not sure how this applies. I'm putting the entire axle under the 98 not just swapping in a 90's hub. The wheel is off, the knuckle won't budge unless I rotate the hub which I can only rotate a 1/4 turn either way. I'm gonna pull the axle shaft this wknd

 

It applies cause we are assuming that you are reusing the 98 brakes still and the caliper is hitting the back side of the rim.

Since you say oit still does it with the rim off and only on the left side I think you might be on the right track with assuming something in the axle disconnect is messed up.

 

SeriousOffroad Just saw this a couple weeks ago. (probably) Gave us all a good puzzle until it was discovered the J-Uoint was seized.

The axle rotates in the hub, which is bolted to the knuckle, which pivots on the ball-joints.

 

So serious was right it was the u-joint. One bearing cap was seized and had to be cutoff.

 

Closure is good. Thanks for letting us know how this was solved.