Cessnakid

Hey guys I'm really having some trouble with my 1990 XJ. I had the vacuum disconnect system but I tried putting in a homemade posi lock system but the whole thing was a big failure. The shift fork binds up so bad that the locking control cable cant move it and and just snaps off. I'm trying to figure out what other options I have thats not going to cost me a fortune to do. Is there an axle swap that I can do from a junk yard to just make it a solid axle. If so from what jeep could i get the axle from.

Slick761

Go straight to the junkyard and gt yourself a high pinion non disco d30 out of a newer xj. Plug our vacuum lines at the firewall. Better axle anyways.

Cessnakid

Sorry about the noob question but when you say axle are you meaning just the inner passenger axle shaft off a newer xj or the complete front axle assembly

Slick761

Complete assembly! Then just plug your vacuum lines for the disco. Better stronger set up. That's what im running. And on the noob thing no worries. Ask away.

xjmarc

A little less labor intensive would be to get a one piece passenger side axle from a 91+ XJ, YJ or TJ. You have to put in a new seal and make a block off plate for the shift fork but much easier and cheaper than swapping an axle.

Slick761

Just imo an axle swap is easier especially if you don't have good fab skills or wrench skills. Just Unbolt and bolt in. Just imo.

xjmarc

Little more than just bolt and unbolt like alignment and such. And you'd need some wrenching skills for either

onlyinajeep726

Do you have a picture of what this kind of setup you're talking about looks like? I read this write up < http://www.cherokeetalk.com/forum/f6...sconnect-1102/ > and learned how the disconnect style D30 works, but I can't find any pictures/descriptions on how the non-disconnect style D30's work... I kind of want to do a homebrew cable actuated mod too, but I've heard about some failed attempts at this and I can't afford to break anything beyond reasonable repair.

Gee oh Dee

There is a temp fix you can do on your own. I forget where I saw it, but you manually engage the axle from inside the disconnect housing.

Best part, its free.

onlyinajeep726

The thing is is that I'm pretty sure that my axle is stuck to engaged and this being my daily driver, that's not good. When I make sharp turns on pavement (T-case in 2WD) the front end hops a little as though both tires are forced to spin at the same rate because the two axle halves are joined together.. Or is this a sign of something else? I'm just trying to figure it all out. I want to be able to engage/disengage the front axle on-the-fly like was intended but get rid of that stupid vacuum system.

Gee oh Dee

Uh, that's a sign of something else.

Do you have a locker in there? That's the only way it should do that, but it really shouldn't at all if its in 2wd.

onlyinajeep726

No, I don't have a locker... I wish lol. I don't know then... so you're saying that, whether or not the front axle is engaged, it shouldn't affect turning?

Gee oh Dee

Shouldn't. Keep in mind its an open front diff getting no power. The spiders should allow the slippage.

How do all the newer XJs get away with a 231 tcase (same as my CAD setup with a 231) without the disconnect?

cruiser54

Correct. Having it permanently engaged causes no issues whatsoever. Ther's another problem like u-joints causing the issue.

onlyinajeep726

That makes sense. I was looking at my wife's XJ, which is a '96 and it's just a straight axle. So that makes sense. Do they make a kit for the disco type that can permanently engage the two halves?