Bobby3062

Hello everyone...I purchased a 1990 jeep cherokee last summer in hopes of fixing it up for my daughter who is 17...But, as luck would have it, another vehicle became available for her so I started fixing this up for me and I have become a complete jeep addict as a result...lol...It makes me feel like I'm 15 years old again trying to get it ready for my 16th birthday...Wow, never realized how much fun this could be....Anyway, on to my question:

I'm hoping you all can tell me if a rear end out of a 1998 cherokee will be an easy swap into my 1990 cherokee. I found a 1998 model that is missing the motor, trans etc but all axles, ac parts, interior etc remains. Its only 300 dollars for it and it has a 3.5" lift already installed which I plan to remove and install on mine as well. I need the rearend really bad though because mine has bad bearings in it now. Also, this 1998 is a 4x4 and mine is a 2 wheel drive. as I side note, I'm hoping I can use the headliner and several other parts...Just wanted the jeep experts to wiegh in on it...I don't have alot of money to throw at this so when this oppritunity came up, I figured I couldn't go wrong...what do you all think?

99blkx

Gearing is probably the most important question. You have to have the same gears in the front and rear diff, otherwise you'll be spending more money there or swapping both axles. I think that the spring and shock mounts, brakes, and lines, etc. are almost all the same.

There are other, much more knowledgable folks that will chime in any moment I'm sure. :-)

OnlyInMyXJ22

As long as gear ratio is same between the two XJ's the rear axle will work fine. All suspension parts will work. Other miscellaneous parts you might need will also work. Whatever you have left, sell to recoup some of the original cost.

storm101

As stated, it's a bolt in, check ratios, and also try to id the axle, here's a link with a chart, also has more info for you,https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/rea...ication-37002/, hopefully you're getting the c8.25 out of the 98!

freegdr

axles should bolt right in but you gonna need the trans and tranfer from a nother xj,head liner gonna be different where the rear seat belts mount for back seat are different pretty sure between the years

Bobby3062

I guess I should have made it clearer that my 1990 is a 2 wheel drive and for now, I am not planning to convert it to 4 wheel drive...I may do that later in the future, but for now I'll just be swapping the rearend from the 1998 to the 1990.

Thanks for all the input...it sounds like this is going to work fine with the exception I may have to alter the drive shaft...I'm guessing the existing one in the 1998 model will not fit because its 4 wheel drive and my 1990 isnt. I'm going today to purchase it so I'll be looking at alot of these parts closer.

kenjen11

With the 2 wheel drive you don't need to worry about matching the rear gears to the front. You might not need to change anything with the driveshaft if the axle is the same as the one you have now. With the lift the driveshaft angle will be different so you might have to worry about that when you do put the lift on.

OnlyInMyXJ22

Yeah, I didn't even think of that when I was replying, but I did read it all.

EDIT: Not sure but if the gear ratio is different, the speedo gear might need to be changed.

Bobby3062

Yea I went and purchased it yesterday...to bad I cant just move all my parts to that one but it has title issues....Anyhow, I hope to get it picked up this week and I'll be posting pictures of mine and the new parts jeep...Maybe someone else will be able to make use of some of the parts that I can't.

Thanks again everyone for all your insightful help