hey fellow Jeepers. New to this site and looking for some info. Ive got a 87 Cherokee XJ with a 2.5 four banger 5 speed manual tranny. question i need help on is front axle vacumm switch. can i bypass it and use an axle without a vacumm switch?

 

Yep, as long as you have the axle.

You may not have a 4WD light, though.

 

Or you can do one of these
http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticl...ect/index.html

 

You can also shim the fork over with a stack of washers. Any reason in particular you want to do this?

 

There's a write-up on here on page 3 of the technical links for the XJs.I've done it to 3 Jeeps now without using washers. takes less than 1/2 hour and you'll never have to worry about it not engaging when you most need it.

 

im tired of messing with the vacumm lines. looking for a way to do away with them. if i replace just the shaft on passenger side will 4wd be engaged all the time? i can get those shafts any junkyard here in town. they a dime a dozen. Also can i use the lockers that are in the Jeep Grand Cherokees in the XJ?

 

Dude: See post #5. You can fix this in less than 1/2 hour for free.

 

It will only go into 4WD when you shift the lever. Otherwise the front drive-line is free. It's always smart to listen to Crusier /\.

 

cool thanks guys.

 

Someone probably should of asked first, but what transfer case do you have? The 207, 228, and 229 have a different oiling system (slinger on the main shaft) than the 231 and 242 cases (pump on the case). While the case itself isn't "locked" front to rear, the front drive shaft is still spinning the front output and the internals. I did this on my 207 and ended up having to rebuild it after the fact. Just something to think about.

 

OP has an 87. NP231.

 

Some early model 87's got the NP207, plus this info helps anyone searching in the future.

 

it has the 231J

 

Hey Cruiser I found a post by blankdeluxe name "homemade posi lock". Is that the post you mentioned?

 

Nope. Go to "technical links" on this forum. Choose "XJ". Go to about page 3 of the XJ tech links and you'll see a writeup on CAD fix.