I've asked this question before and never get a good answer. I've also did a lot of searching

What years, makes, and model vehicles have compatible axles for an xj?

I have a 98 xj thats 2wd i ask this b/c i'm trying to find a donor for a 4x4 conversion. There was a REAL good write up i saw in the past that showed tons of info on this anybody?

 

make sure old and new have same spline count on drive shafts and TC.

 

all year XJ front ends are compatible, and direct bolt in. To keep things easier look for an HP d30 w/o vacuum disconnect and 297x u-joints. the window here is about 92-99, but all XJ's w/ ABS came with the 297 u-joints if i remember correctly, your just not gonna want the vacuum disconnect.

also,for ease of installation on your part, find an AW4/AX-15 and an np231/np242 out of about the same year XJ as yours.

hope that helps

 

Yeah thanks guys... But other than xjs what else is compatible, 97+ explorers have the rear 8.8 which is bolt in but needs small welding right? Any others?

I would like to upgrade to 4.10-4.56 in the future

 

why do you say that? I know the gears have to be the same but i didn't know spline does. Just trying to learn something new

 

8.8 isn't a bolt in, you cut off all the old brackets and weld on new. I run a ff60 and it wasn't any harder than a 8.8 would be. Rear axles are easy since it's leaf sprung it's the front that can be hard. ZJs and TJs both have D30 fronts that will be a direct bolt in but are low pinion like 00 and01 XJs. TJ Rubicons came with a D44/30 hybrid but for what they cost aren't worth messing with. The only advantage is the 44 carrier, everything else is the same as a 30 and it's low pinion. But it does come with 4.10s and a factory locker.

 

87 cherokees had a Dana 44 if they had tow package. Direct bolt in for the rear besides brakes I believe

 

Including brakes... 87-89... but only a select few... find ya some 3.73 geared axles... so when u do go to regear you won't need another carrier...

 

Any easy way to tell what gears are under a diff. I've heard something about the diff covers having a tag on them?

 

Yep... sometimes if anyone's been in them they leave the tag off... other wise read the tag... 4.0's had 3.55's with the automatic and 3.07 with the 5 speed and some 97+ with the tow package had 3.73's but rare... 4 bangers had 3.73's mostly but rare models had 4.10's... wranglers are different...

 

Anybody have like a list or a link to a list of vehicles with axles that can bolt in or fit with slight mods?

 

what are you looking at doing here? just a 4wd swap? or are you looking at running full width one ton axles on 39's?

jeep cherokee axles will bolt in. some others will as mentioned but there LP and/or way to expensive.

 

i dont think this is 100% true. When i opened up a HP30 from an 86 comanche that had 4.10s in it from the factory had thick gears, not a low ratio carrier.

i dont know if the 3.73s are thick, but the stock 4.10s are thick

 

Lol... Just curious as to what options are out there as far as different gears, i know some explorers have stock 4.10 but which ones? Just looking for some knowledge guys

 

I've never heard of them coming with thick gears... not to say they didnt... but he's not gonna want a disco 86 axle... he will want a newer non disco axle with the larger axle joints... even if they came with thick gears he would still need thick gears or he will need a larger carrier with his new gears... I honestly am almost positive they didn't come with thick gears from the factory... sounds like aftermarket only to me boss...


8.8's arnt a bolt in swap... but they did come in 3.55 3.73 3.L73 (limited slip) and 4.10 that I have seen... and are labeled as such on a metal tag that hangs off a diff cover bolt on the pass side... there are more... 3.2* and 4.56(rare)