I have a 99 jeep Cherokee sport. Bought it as a project without a rear driveshaft. I'm now trying to find a driveshaft which I figured would not be this difficult. I've already bought two preowned rear driveshafts, both of which came off of the same exact jeep and neither will fit. the driveshafts both have a skip (looks like a tooth is missing, but they both came that way, coincidence or normal? As shown in pic) looks like the output shaft itself is the 27 spline but NO SKIP (so 27 spline all the way around the output shaft) I've called every junkyard, even had driveshafts ordered w 27 spline and they all have that skip.. can anyone tell me if I need a new output shaft or if these rear driveshafts are seriously that rare? Also, I read online that my year jeep should have 29 spline...??

Thank you in advance for any help or advice!! I really appreciate it

 

That is a key way so the the driveshaft only goes on one way. My 94 is the same as pictured with the keyway and 27 splines

 

Okay so are you saying one of the driveshafts I have should fit?

 

yes any driveshaft will fit. depending on year, transmission and axle it might vary in length so that could cause an issue, but as far as the splines, yes it will fit. the 29 splines you mentionned in the axle shaft spline count in the chrysler 8.25. they came in either 27 or 29 splines depending on the year, so it's not a concern for the driveshaft.

 

Okay. I'll try tinkering w it again. Thank you so much!!!

 

i edited my post after you quoted it seems, but just in case someone else reads it, when I said 1991+ i got mixed up with the transfer case input shaft, which went from 21 to 23 splines, and has nothing to do with what we're talking about here (output shaft of the transfer case, not input)

is your jeep 2 wheel drive or 4x4? if it's 2x4 maybe that has something to do with it that i'm not aware of, but i can't see why it wouldn't go in...

once you're able to get it in, don't forget to put grease in there so it's not dry, it needs lubrification because it goes back and forth on the shaft when going over bumps and such.

 

Good to know. Thank you. It is 4x4, I'm thinking the driveshaft I have should fit. There's no reason it wouldn't. I will try it again when I get out of work tonight.

 

So I gave it another try and that driveshaft just won't fit. Is there anyway that it's possibly a different tcase? I'm out of ideas

 

mhm, i searched a little and the main differences between transfer cases / year is the input shaft and not the output.

the output shaft is supposed to be 1.172" in diameter and also 27 splines, are you able to measure to see if that's what you have?

 

Show a picture of the entire shaft.

I'm guessing you have an internal shaft you are trying to fit on an external slip-joint.

 

Hmm that could be. I will post a pic asap

 

Okay so I took a couple quick pics. Let me know if you need anymore. I appreciate the help!

 

What ever became of this? I have a similar problem, np207 tc supposed to be from an 84 xj with 27 identical splines, but driveshaft has 25 splines + the big keyway spline. Driveshaft is marked 86 Cherokee from a junkyard, supposed to have come off an 84 with np207 also. Seems to start on but is tight and don't want to force it. Wanting to know if this is normal and if it will work?

 

make sure there is no rust or gunk in the driveshaft. Make sure it's lubed (not sure how a 207 works, but early 231s used the tranny fluid from the TC, later ones you need to explicitly lubricate.

If the driveshaft is angled when you try to install it, it can seem overly tight. I tend to line up the axle yoke, then raise the axle end of the shaft up so that it's directly in line with the output shaft - this facilitates inserting the TC end of the shaft. Then once it's fully engaged, I lower the axle end and insert it in the yoke. If you have the vehicle or TC in neutral (pretty easy for me since I have a manual and generally leave it in neutral with the hand brake when parked) you can turn the TC output shaft by hand to "fine tune" the alignment.

If you haven't tried that approach, give it a whirl. I would definitely describe trying to insert the TC end of the shaft with it hanging "limply" (so to speak ) as it feeling "tight". However, if it doesn't engage and slide smoothly with the axle end raised, definitely don't force it.

 

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the NP 207 was used in the 2.5L XJs in 84-87. It's about the weakest of the NP t/cases. It's no wonder you can't find a driveshaft.