Quick D30 question
 

I searched, but didnt find a definite answer. My front hub assemblies are shot, and I need brakes. I happened to see a pretty nice 98 XJ in my local junkyard that has what looks like new hub assemblies, and good rotors and calipers. So I was considering taking the axleshafts, hub assemblies, rotors, and calipers off it for my 87 XJ. However, I noticed that all those parts have a different part number than my 87's parts. So I just need to know if all those parts will bolt onto my 87 D30 with no problem. If they will, it will help me out a lot, since money is tight right now, and I can get all that cheaper than two new hub assemblies from the parts store.
Thanks

hm thinking about it the only thing i would wrry about is the brake line fittngs matching, i simply dont know if they changed through the years...
everything else will go just fine i think, however your 87 has vacum operating 4wd CAD (central axle disconect). this means your passenger side has 2 seperate shafts in it that are considered a weak link, the 98 dana 30 does not have this and the shaft is a single piece so it is a huge upgrade... just next to your passenger side lca is the vacum assembly, its sort of an uneeded hole in your axle and some people consider it to make the axle more prone to bending, the 98 d30 doesnt have this and will also be an upgrade.

what i recomend is take the wole axle and do a swap and then get the alignment done and this will be an upgrade if your budget alows it...
if you do take the wole axle you need to make sure the gears are the same to, autos got 3.55, sticks got 3.07, tow package 3.73 or 3.93 (cant remember)(so run VIN an see what you got on both).... like you said money is tight so if alignment isnt in your budget and you dont have time for the swap it isnt that needed anyways and just swap the parts you planed on

good luck

Take the whole axle.

The earlier axles have a different outer axle seal than the newer ones. The axle shafts themselves are slightly different as well, ours having a metal flange vs the plastic collar on the newer. The hubs are also different between the years. So no, not going to work unless you want to add some additional work to your project there. You'd be better off finding an '89 down donor in the yard or checking out Rock Auto for parts. Nothing really wrong with the CAD axle either. Truss your axle if you're worried about the tubes coming out of the cast section.

i also just noticed in you sig you got the 2.5, you should have4.10 gears in your 87 so if you take the wole axle you will need to put the old gears into it as well

Yeah, with me having the factory 4.10's, I'm not taking the whole junkyard axle, I dont feel like setting up the ring and pinion if I dont have to. That, and the yard wants way too much for the whole axle, they want $175 for a D30.

Emptypockets, how much extra work are you talking about to swap the 98 parts onto my 87? New seals for a newer axle should still fit in my axle, I would think. I'd be willing to change the seals, mine arent in great shape anyways. And I have a block off plate for the CAD already that was given to me a while ago. If I knew exactly what was involved, I'd be able to decide if its worth it to me. Like I said, I'm not buying the whole axle, they want way too much for it. I'll just save up and buy new parts before I buy a complete axle from them.

Your 87 D30 has a vac.disco. In order to run a single piece shaft you'll need the correct seal.

also some of the older dana 30s have a slightly different knuckle for the caliper to float on. i know some one is going to argue this with me but i found out the hard way when i put an older 30 under my 97. dont know if mine is a dana30 that came out of an 89-90 with 242 since it didnt have the CAD . just pointing this out becuase youre knuckles may be the weird ones and not allow you to adapt to the new brake components.

You are correct. The older knuckles are a 2 piece design.

eyeball your local listings on Craigslist.. Some of the best stuff i've ever bought/found have been through craigslist.. around here in MI, Dana 30 complete front axles have ranged from $75-$150 (my purchase prices). Being its a 4.10 axle though you may end up paying a little more than that.

did you get a quote for just the parts you wanted? would they give you a different price for just the little stuff(dont think so) if you gut the axle and theres nothing much left there isnt anyone who will buy for an empty d30 from them... try bargaining it down, any way you can

Yeah, I asked about pricing, it will cost me considerably less to just get the parts off the axles. Didnt make a whole lot of sense to me, but thats just the way they price the parts there.

Anyways, there is another 87 there with all the parts I need too, I'll see what kind of shape its in. I was just hoping the 98 parts would work, since they look new.
Thanks for the help guys