ok b4 yall yell at me! THIS CHEROKEE NEVER SEES THE ROAD IT GOES FROM MY SHOP ON TO MY TRAILER TO TEH CREEK AND THEN BACK ON THE TRAILER! so now... i need to rig up a way to make my vaccume motor stay in 4x4. i think the motor is bad cuz the 4x4 isnt engauging the front diff. i can jack all 4 wheels off the ground and shift it in 4lo or 4hi and the front diff dont engauge. but i can engauge itand then pull the cover off the diff where the vac motor is and then slide teh locking ring over by hand and everything works. so that tells me the vac motor isnt engauging teh ring... all i wanna do is stick the ring and permently lock it in 4x4. now i would prefer to weld teh shift fork on the rod at the correct positon for it to hold the ring in 4x4. if that is possible. i really dont wanna weld the ring to the axle shafts incase i break and axle it wont be hard to replace teh shaft! but i will do that if i have to! so if yall and have any other idea or anythingi am all ears! but im goin out thurs so i gotta figure out something. asap.

 

Remove the shift motor housing, remove the c-clips holding the shift fork on the shaft. Disassemble the shift motor and place washers on the shaft to keep it over in the locked position (usually takes about 7 or 8 washers). Reassemble the shift motor and replace the c-clips. Then reinstall the shift motor on the axle housing. Be sure to clean the mounting surface and add a thin layer of RTV sealant to prevent diff fluid leaks. I did it to mine, it took about 30 minutes to do the whole thing.

 

go get some newer shafts from the bone yard and just remove the shift motor completely

 

That is definately on my upgrade list for my 91 and the 89. The local jy that I frequently pillage is a hot spot for a lot of Jeep guys around here and the shafts go quickly. I am holding out for the 95 and up shafts so that I also get the larger u-joint as well.

 

do the newer shafts not have the disconnect on tho housing? they are solid shafts?

 

fleXXedout, this is really simple, Bro. Pull the 4 bolts out of your shift fork motor and pull it off. Now, flip it over upside down. Engage the shift fork to the ring and put your 4 bolts back in. You may have to rock your jeep a little to get the ring to engage the outer shaft so the 4 holes line up. Once it's all together this way your front axle is permanently engaged...until you put it back the way it was.

 

Some, but not all XJs up to 91 have the disconnect axle. All 92 and up have the 1 piece pass side shaft. 95 and up also has the larger stronger u-joints.