are the front axle u joints the same on both sides?im getting conflicting part numbers at parts stores? did jeep use different size bearing caps on left vs right sides? its a 96, dana 30 axle.

 

no. not different sizes from left to right. they are the same u-joints.

but, the earlier models had two different size joints for select trac and command track models. this ended in either 95 or 96 when chrysler just went with the larger 297x joints.

the earlier command track used 260x joints and select trac all used the 297x.

 

I have a 93 with command trac and just replaced my axle joints yesterday.

They're the ones with the 1.063" diameter caps, not the 1.188" ones.

 

you are correct. pre 95 with command trac used the smaller 260x joints.
if you had select trac with abs, you would have had the larger 297x joints.