Front Diff, Difficulties
 

Hi all, Im new here and to jeep Cherokees. I popped the cover off the the front axle to find that all the teeth on the pinion gear were gone and the pieces laying in the bottom of the diff housing. My jeep is a 91 Cherokee laredo with a 4.0 HO six, automatic trans. Im getting conflicting info on axle ID. The ID tag on the diff cover reads as follows,53005581 3.55 610318-7. The lock bolt for the center pin(between axle ends and through the spider gears) is gone and I assume was the cause for the damage to the pinion. It was all a pile of shrapnel laying in the bottom of the diff and none of it could be identfied. The front diff was no virgin because the cover was siliconed on and I suspect the PO sold me a time bomb(a diff ready to shell out) Anyway Im wanting to rebuild the diff with a new ring and pinion gear but Im not sure what Ive got. Im thinking dana? Can they be ID'd with tag numbers? My camera wont download for some reason or I would post some pics. Thanks for any and all help!

Its a dana 30

Thanks for responding Jim, Im assuming the ratio is 3.55, so when I replace the ring and pinion, do I need to stick with the same ratio and tooth count on the ring and pinion? (theres no teeth to count on the pinion) lol

^^x2 its a high pinion Dana 30 reverse cut gear with a 3.55 gear ratio.


if for some reason the PO installed a low pinion(00'-01') dana 30 it would be a standard cut- but i doubt he did that....


Also, see if you can find a new axle out of the JY for cheap, it will be cheaper than just having it re geared. Then you can also use your old axle for parts!

While your axle is out and the shafts are out, and everything i would highly suggest replacing ball joints....just my .02

Right on, thanks 96! Thats what Ill do, replace the whole axle!