Didn't you swap in the newer(bigger joint) front HP axle with the lower gears up front? did you swap out the shafts for the smaller joints?

89-95 with ABS have 5-297x u-joints
All 95+ have 5-297x u-joints

5-297 joint style axles are the ones to have.
X-760 joints are the ones to get for replacements, they are a forged X and stronger then the 5-297 joints.
So to recap, you want shafts from 89-95 xj with ABS, or 95+ xj and throw in 760 joints. That is the strongest setup using stock shafts.

From what I have seen and heard, its about a 75% chance that the when the U-joints fails it will take out the shafts with it, if not from the joint exploding the ears hit and force them to spread or break. better to avoid as much as possible then install a weak point. (thats the R&P anyway)

If you replace them for the 5-297 shafts keep your smaller ones for trail spares (no need to throw away).

 

I'm not locked at front yet but one of the joints is worn and starting to have some play that's the reason I want to replace them. Thanks for the knowledge!

 

No problem, since yours is a 96 you have the better ones already anyway lol. so throw some 5-297's or 760's in there and your good!

 

Ya I did I have a 98 axle

 

Yea that's what I figured. I will get those and thanks again!

 

What's cheap?

 

under 100, or even better under 50 they are just for a trailer project so i don't wanna spend a lot yet since the axle will be getting replaced.

 

Are you doing what I think you are doing lol
Baja trailer

 

Umm........nope!


Been working on it for a few months now, it's just a rebuild of a trailer that was built in the late 30's. There's a ton of history so i couldn't toss it, so right now i'm just upgrading it to fit my needs these days while i finish collecting metal to build the one i want.

 

cool man it will be nice,to have one that is capable to go off road my tent trailer is so low and has small tires

 

i lifted my tent trailer and drug it off road too, it started to float on high speed sections around 70mph so it was fun watching it bound like a pinball off of the road embankments and sage brush

 

Haha well you say 1930 s this trailer was built that your building that is going to be very cool and interesting to see you planning on tiwing it with the grand

 

I know it sounds dumb but I like waynes world

 

Ya it was originally built as a dump trailer for a construction company my great grandpa had, he towed it behind a 1929 ford model A pickup conversion. then later when the bigger rigs came into play he parked it. then then my grandpa used it during the 40's to haul coke(not the soft drink) to the coke ovens during ww2. then was used here and there as a utility trailer til it was parked in the 60's. then as i understand it my dad found it under a bunch of weeds in the backyard behind a camper, welded the dump bed down and used it as an utility trailer in the late 70's to mid 80's. it sat until the late 90's when i took it over and hauled everything from firewood to what's now 5mile pass rec area, to atv's to the sand dunes. all i did was take off the old split rims with the tires dated in the 50's and put on some generals i had lying around. it towed great behind my scrambler, then it started to fall apart, metal cracked wood decking and sides breaking away so it got parked, and sat for the last 12 yrs. then i dug it out of the back yard in feb and slowly started working on reviving it for a temp use offroad trailer.


there's your history lesson of the evening

 

Very interesting