WJ front sterring swap
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 543
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From: Tacoma Washington
Year: 1988-1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
K, I just started this swap myself and kinda ran out of money so here's what I came up with and yeah I bolted it on my 88 minus steering. WJ knuckles (duh), 87-90 xj hub assembly, 2003 explorer sport trac rotor(there's 2 options , use the one with the taller hat), 2003 wj caliper (akebono), it all works and is bolt on, ujoint is centered on ball joints, stub shaft bolts up, bearing bolts up, and ball joints bolt up. The only mod you have to do is either grind or machine (wichever you want) the outside diameter of the hub .002" to make the rotor a slip on. The rotor centers on the middle of the hub so it doesn't have to be perfect. Then from there the steering I gonna be just modded wj factory stuff and track bar has to be move to the top of the axle,so a new one has to be built and axle bracket built. I can get you the part numbers for the stuff I'm using if you need em. Doing it this way there's no b.s. press work or weird machining and ALL the parts are of the shelf parts that all parts houses have. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 940
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From: Oly, washington
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 str. 6
Sweet alrighty well we should get together an get some parts rounded up an see what works. I'm down to learn an twist a wrench anytime
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327
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From: newberg
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Popcan, cool if you didn't have to move it. I haven't finished the instal yet on mine, cash ran short! But I'm gonna put mine on top anyway and doing the inserts in the knuckles to flip the tie rods on top. I really hate the stock cheezy lower mount for the track bar anyway. I've just been reading on the mounts and most guys say to move it to the top for better drag link to track bar angle. And what are you doing for rotors and hubs?
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327
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From: newberg
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Wich hubs? The early cherokees (87-92) were the same offset as the wj hubs. The 93 and up were differnet. Ill check the liberty rotors tomorrow and see which hub is the right offset for the knuckles. I used early hubs and the explorer rotors are the same offset as the wj.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 940
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From: Oly, washington
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 str. 6
K so the final run down. Which parts are correct
WJ
knuckles
Ball joints
Tie rods an links
Calipers
XJ
Hubs
Liberty
Rotors
Is this correct if so what lil grinding or changing do I need to do I really need to get this going on
WJ
knuckles
Ball joints
Tie rods an links
Calipers
XJ
Hubs
Liberty
Rotors
Is this correct if so what lil grinding or changing do I need to do I really need to get this going on
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Here is a link to the write up on JCR Offroad website. This is what I am going to use when I do the swap. They have all the model numbers you need also a great step by step instructions on how to. Anyways thought I would toss this out there. This is a great upgrade and it upgrades your Brakes, and converts to True High Steer all at one time. Not to bad if you ask me
http://www.jcroffroad.com/WJ.html
Yes I know its for a TJ but everything should be the same as for what I have read so far.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/WJ.html
Yes I know its for a TJ but everything should be the same as for what I have read so far.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: newberg
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
sorry it took so long to reply, been workin alot!! So far all the parts are correct, you can use you existing xj ball joints though. As far as the liberty rotors n stuff, I have no idea if its gonna work, I just know what i used. The WJ steering is wider than the XJ, but I was gonna just shorten the adjuster sleeves. The parts that i used are in my first post and they work great, no additional mods except grinding the outside of the hub for rotor clearance. If you want the part numbers let me know and ill get it for ya.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 940
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From: Oly, washington
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 str. 6
alrighty i thnk im just guna fallow suit here and find some elxporer rotors. guan head out to the JY here soon. thought i double check on any news.
but hey Ryan that link didnt work for me. but im still curious. repost it please.
but hey Ryan that link didnt work for me. but im still curious. repost it please.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Tacoma WA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
Here is my email if you email me I can email you the hole write up. Thats odd its not working for you. It worked for me a couple times I just tried it. Anyways if you still want the info email me I'll send it that way.
ryandimock@gmail.com
PS: I will finally be back in town after being gone 5 Months for work. I cant wait to go wheeling. Anyways if your down and have your jeep ready maybe we can go out to Elbe sometime after I get back. I need to fix a couple things on the jeep myself
ryandimock@gmail.com
PS: I will finally be back in town after being gone 5 Months for work. I cant wait to go wheeling. Anyways if your down and have your jeep ready maybe we can go out to Elbe sometime after I get back. I need to fix a couple things on the jeep myself
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Oly, washington
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 str. 6
Oh hey dude. I diet even recognize that it was you. But right on welcome back. but hells yea man I've been dying to get out there
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: newberg
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Yeah from the way it looks theres a few ways to go about doing this and it seems to work a few ways. I just know the way I did it. Make sure and get the explorer "sport" rotors if you go my route, the have a taller hat on the rotor.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Oly, washington
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 str. 6
well today was a sort of bust. got some parts but not the right ones or all of them. so the mayhem continues! tomorrow i will be gettin my new trackbar and drop bracket from RC, then pick up more parts from stores/JYs, they consist of calipers, exchange the rotors for the right ones, pads, proportioning valve for my brakes possilby some new brake line...........and another loan to pay for all of it! uggh wish today went alil better so i feel like i actually accomplished sooomething.