4wd doesn't work after axle swap
Hey all,
Here's the deal I had a parts 89 ish parts xj with the tow package and a lift so I swapped the axles and lift over to my 91, so I took it for a test drive notice there was no 4 wheel. Thinking **** I messed up somewhere.. I headed home, found that the front axle is a command and my jeep is a select. Okay, so I did the cad delete, still nothing. When I put it into 4h it just sits like it's in neutral and for part time it is just 2wheel, so I'm stumped doesn't seem to be linkage although I'll tighten it tonight, is it possible that the axles were not interchange able? Or it wasn't as easy as just putting them under my select track truck and I missed something? Any advice would be appreciated!!!
Here's the deal I had a parts 89 ish parts xj with the tow package and a lift so I swapped the axles and lift over to my 91, so I took it for a test drive notice there was no 4 wheel. Thinking **** I messed up somewhere.. I headed home, found that the front axle is a command and my jeep is a select. Okay, so I did the cad delete, still nothing. When I put it into 4h it just sits like it's in neutral and for part time it is just 2wheel, so I'm stumped doesn't seem to be linkage although I'll tighten it tonight, is it possible that the axles were not interchange able? Or it wasn't as easy as just putting them under my select track truck and I missed something? Any advice would be appreciated!!!
so in 4HI the jeep still won't move? That doesn't seem like it would be the axles fault. You sure you didn't accidentally mess up the 4wd linkage by any chance that putting in 4h is actually Neutral in the Transfer case?
CF Veteran


Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 44
From: Gainesville GA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Am I correct to guess that the front drive shaft is installed? If so my guess is the linkage is messed up.
Last edited by Big David; Sep 21, 2016 at 04:53 PM.
Even if the front wasn't installed it should still move in 4HI with rear axle. I don't think someone would be dumb enough to not hook up both driveshafts. Although there are some pretty dumb people out there LOL.
CF Veteran

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,821
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From: Pasquotank, NC
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Throwing out a guess, so take it for what it is. First thought is linkage. Second thought is you did the CAD delete incorrectly. Jack up the front axle and rotate the passenger tire to op test the CAD delete. Don't mean to insult your intelligence, I've done dumber things.
Next dumb question: Did 4wd work before the swap? Did you specifically test it before hand?
Next dumb question: Did 4wd work before the swap? Did you specifically test it before hand?
Yes both drive shafts are installed, and the front drive shaft doesn't move when I try to spin it by hand so it seems too engage to the front diff, all my lights for 4 wheel come on but when it's in part time it flickers. I'll check if I messed up the cad swap when the rain stops. But in my mind the truck should still atleast spin the rear in 4 wheel not just act as if it's in neutral, and I've never had a problem with 4 wheel not working before but the truck has sat for awhile. I went under it and looked at the linkage and everything seemed good but I'll tighten it just incase. Is there a reason the tcase would act up if I used command axles on a select truck though?
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CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 100
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
i too would look into your work on that cad delete. how did you do this? there are many ways to achieve this.
remove the vac motor housing and see if the collar is centered across the two shafts, then from there if you want, you can lock it there with a hose clamp. then put the rest of it together with the fork centered in the collar and it should be good for a while.
you have no vac line from your t-case to your front axle since yours is a select trac, so no worries about your case trying to move the selector fork.
others have used a bolt to hold the fork in place, or you can purchase a cable kit so you can unlock that axle from the power train. this is nice if you have an auto locker, but i've had 2 different posi cables and neither of them were reliable enough, so i swapped mine out with a selecet track axle.
remove the vac motor housing and see if the collar is centered across the two shafts, then from there if you want, you can lock it there with a hose clamp. then put the rest of it together with the fork centered in the collar and it should be good for a while.
you have no vac line from your t-case to your front axle since yours is a select trac, so no worries about your case trying to move the selector fork.
others have used a bolt to hold the fork in place, or you can purchase a cable kit so you can unlock that axle from the power train. this is nice if you have an auto locker, but i've had 2 different posi cables and neither of them were reliable enough, so i swapped mine out with a selecet track axle.
I just want to thank everyone for the input,, okay so re did the cad, the shifter fork wasn't holding it in far enough, so 4 wheel works in part time hi and lo but now when I put it in full time 4 my rear d shaft doesn't spin.. So I have a fwd jeep in full time now?
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