I was triing to hunt down a front end noise. I thought that it might be in the front axle so I put my xj on jacks and had my buddy lock it in to 4 wheel drive and when he let off the brake I noticed that only three of the wheels were turning. then when I had him turn the steering wheel almost all the way I heard a bad popping noise and noticed that the pass. side tire was triing to move like it wasn't engauging the splines all the way. very quick but short movements. any ideas would be help full thank you.

 

what year is your XJ? 89?

-Kyle

 

87! sorry about that thought it was in the signature.

 

you have a vac disconnect front axle, your vac is not engaging which is a common problem. so you can find and fix the leak or you can swap in a non vac d30 (91-99 XJ will be your best options) and be done with the vac completely.

-Kyle

 

you can also modify the vacuum housing and use a cable instead of the vacuum to engage your front axle. instead of replacing the whole axle. axle cost couple hundred. bike brake cable 5 bucks less work. engaging and disengaging the front axle when you want to priceless.

 

here is a more commercialized solution to what bastard child is referring too.
http://www.jeepinoutfitters.com/scri...?idproduct=252

-Kyle

 

thank you guys I am going to check every thing out and decide what I am going to do!

 

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Estevenschreiber/jeep/
Here is the link to the procedure i was talking to. the posi lok system is good as well but when you way the cost of 180, against a few bucks. i would prolly go the few bucks range myself. I have yet to hear a complaint about the low buck option. that is what i plan to do on my jeep.

Bastard Child

 

Did anyone copy the web page that Bastard Child referred to for the $5 cable swap? The web page has been removed.

 

A simpler fix is to swap out the 2 piece axle sfaft for a 1 piece shaft from a non disco D30. A different seal is required though.

 

Then weld a plate over the disco motor hole.

 

Does anyone know what the part number is for the oil seal? The d-30 in my 90 is not cut for an oil seal inside the pumpkin and the non disco shaft has a smaller diameter at the disco housing.

 

I done a perm lock on a yj awhile back.You can make one pretty easy.
Heres the link to the posi lock.It also shows the perm lock on the lower right of the page.

http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/app_jeep.html

 

I used the Posi-lock for a couple of years until the cable stretched. I just replaced the split axle with a solid axle that has the larger U-joint ($15 from the pick-n-pull) but am now having trouble finding the correct oil seal. The solid axle diameter is smaller than the split axle is where the original disco oil seal sits and on my disco axle, that is the only place to install an oil seal. I was just hoping someone else had done the research to find the correct seal.