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SYE and front drive shaft question...

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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 04:47 PM
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Default SYE and front drive shaft question...

I am planning on installing a SYE on my 2001 Cherokee.

On the Jeep forums, I frequently see it recommended to use a front drive shaft with a SYE. In crawling around under my Jeep, it appears that the front drive shaft is quite a bit thinner than the rear drive shaft.

If I replace the rear drive shaft with a front drive shaft, am I losing strength in the rear shaft? If so, is it anything to be concerned about? It is my primary winter vehicle, not just an off-roader, so it sees a bit of road time in 2H.

In case it matters, the Jeep has a 3.5" RE lift, 4.56 gears, NP231 TC, chryco 8.25 rear axle, and 32" tires.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 05:22 PM
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you can make an sye for under a 100 buck and use a front ds
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=959008
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 05:47 PM
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You have put some money into your jeep, Your DS would become your weak link. I would recco. buying an aftermarket one. If you were working on a budget build then yeah go for it. But with your set-up I think a aftermarket DS would be best for you.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by XJ Stryker
You have put some money into your jeep, Your DS would become your weak link. I would recco. buying an aftermarket one. If you were working on a budget build then yeah go for it. But with your set-up I think a aftermarket DS would be best for you.
Could you please recco a SYE and aftermarket DS setup? THanks!
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 06:01 PM
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Have no clue on SYE sorry I have a 242 T-case no SYE needed. Tom Woods makes a great drive shaft from what I understand though.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 06:43 PM
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sorry to bash but the front drive shaft is stronger than the rear drive shaft ask me how i
know
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by wicked_xj
sorry to bash but the front drive shaft is stronger than the rear drive shaft ask me how i
know
ok...how do you know?
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by wicked_xj
sorry to bash but the front drive shaft is stronger than the rear drive shaft ask me how i
know
How do you know?

Why would the front drive shaft be stronger? The rear drive shaft gets more use, and the front is thinner.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 07:46 PM
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Here's a combo kit that includes both the SYE and a new driveshaft. I'm no expert on this, I just did a quick search for you. This one is from Rugged Ridge and has a RE shaft...

http://jeepinoutfitters.com/scripts/...?idproduct=593

And here's the Rubicon Express kit, I think it's a hack and tap though, which as far as I know is a bit different, but accomplishes the same goal...

http://jeepinoutfitters.com/scripts/...?idproduct=592

I do know for sure that you will have to shim your axle to correct the pinion angle for the new shaft though, as the pinion angle needs to be inline with the shaft with a CV driveshaft, not parallel with the output as with a normal driveshaft. Hope this helps.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 08:56 PM
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lets say one good tuff truck my upper control arms bent blew my shock and shoved the front ds threw my tc no bends or dings 3rd gear wide open.On the other hand i had hit my rear ds on a rock and dented it. i pleeased alot of redneck and got a 2 ft crowd pleaser award in plymouth pa. Lost 20 for the entry fee for the mud bog and went and got a tc for 65
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 09:25 PM
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for a 231, check out Advanced Adapters SYE and a Tom Woods DS.
best setup in my opinion.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 10:45 PM
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Does the transfer case need to be removed to do the conversion?
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 11:07 PM
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nope click on my link
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 11:14 PM
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it does for the AA as you replace the output shaft instead of just hacking your stock one off.
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Old Jan 2, 2009 | 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by caged
it does for the AA as you replace the output shaft instead of just hacking your stock one off.

That's what I figured. Probably makes it a bigger job than I can handle myself.
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