So im sure this may sound rediculous to some of you, but can someone explain the differences between a high and low pinion axle?

 

literally... the dana 30 axle has the driveshaft coming into the pumpkin (differential) at a higher or lower position, the higher one is better for rocks and such, but its not that noticeable unless you are crawlin.

 

So if im gonna get new axles, i should go for a pair of high pinion ones then...right?

 

depends on your plans...i don't know of anything that came stock with a high pinion rear... and you already have the high pinion front axles get really pricy if you start going with custom stuff so unless you competetive crawling stick with what you got

 

High pinion has the pinion gear contacting the ring gear on the upper part of the gear and low pinion on the lower part. A high pinion uses reverse cut gears and are slightly stonger in a front axle because they are riding on the drive side of the gear whereas the low pinion is on the coast side. In a rear axle a low pinion rides on the drive side. Rear high pinion axles are aftermarket pieces and high dollar and mostly for rock crawlers where that extra clearance is needed.
XJs have high pinion fronts till mid 99, all YJs have high pinion fronts, TJs and ZJs have low pinion fronts as well as the 00 and 01 XJ.

 

well said^ holy crap that blue xj is a beast