Hello everyone! I recently got my first Jeep, a 1995 XJ, earlier last month. While I was getting my front hub and bearings replaced, my boyfriend noticed that there was a rusted area where the spring attaches to the axle. Well, at least that's what I think it is, I don't know much enough about cars yet.



This makes an awful noise if I take a left turn a little too hard. I was wondering what I should do about this. Does this require a full axle replacement, or would I be able to just replace the housing? Or am I totally off?

My XJ has a 4.0 engine, it's automatic, and it's 4WD. I can take more pictures later, if needed. Thanks!

Congratulations on the Jeep! Shame about that... Yep that is indeed a problem. The axle spring perch is totally rotted out. If you're handy with a welder it can be replaced but you might as well throw a new axle under there since there's bound to be more rot.

For a 1995 XJ you can use a front axle from any 1984-1999 XJ, any MJ, or a 1997-1999 TJ. Really old axles have a two-piece passenger axle shaft but you can just use the shafts from the one you have right now. Doing a swap like this means you can make everything nice and new on the axle before putting it under the Jeep, you should get another 15 years of life out of all the parts if you go quality.

As for noises when turning that can be a lot of things ranging from brakes to bearings to suspension to something rattling in the glove box. Going to need a bit more to go on.

Thanks for the information! I have a few more follow up questions. Since I'm going to end up doing an axle swap, would it be possible to take out all the gears and insides from my old axle and just swap them into a new shell? Or would this require shimming and cause complications? Would it just be cheaper to buy a new shell instead of an old complete axle?

I haven't really heard the noise again since I've been taking my turns at a normal speed. I think I just took the turn too hard and the rusted perch was hit. My previous car was a Grand Am, so I'm used to taking faster turns. I have since adjusted my turns and I haven't heard the noise since.

Just get a replacement axle from a salvage yard....way cheaper and easier....check CL too, lots of folks sell their stock axles when they upgrade

Yeah if you have a 4.0L auomatic most of the axles out there are the same gear setup. No need to but new, an actual new D30 is something like $2500

My last D30 I got for free and just replaced all the replaceables. Pinion and axle seals probably $30 or so, ball joints $200, hubs $150, U joints $20, spindle hardware $18, new hub hardware $25, a couple wire brushes, two cans of primer and two cans of paint.

Of course it was free for a reason, it actually NEEDED all of that work done. Aside from U joints it'll last a decade at least.