Johnny Joints for dana30 UCA Axle Side - Mods Needed!
 

It's probably in here somewhere, but I'm not finding it. *new thread*!

So I happily bought a full set of core4x4 cruise control arms. I'm very happy with them so far - for the 5 miles I've driven on them. With the new CA's I also got johnny joints from them, because I knew I wanted to upgrade to something besides rubber on the Axle UCA bushings.

I gleefully replaced both arms and pressed out the bushing on the driver's side, pressed in my RockJock johnny joint and reassembled. Went great.

Then I started on the passenger side, where I discovered after removing the UCA that the bracket welded to the axle tube cannot hold the $75 johnny joint that I just bought. I disdainfully pressed the used bushing back in and finished the install of all the CA's. Test driving went great and everything is working. But now I have this Johnny Joint from core4x4 that I can't use without modding that bracket.

What are my options at this point?

You must cut and weld. That stock passenger-side bracket is a flimsy "C" channel made only for a rubber bushing. It won't safely hold a Johnny Joint.

Buy a proper weld-on bracket from Artec or similar. Cut the old one off. Weld the new one on. That's the only correct fix.

Don't try to modify the old one unless you're a very skilled welder. Don't just shim it will fail.

This. Specifically, you want to purchase a solid machined bracket. Don't purchase a sheet metal bracket.

Appreciate the suggestions. I will not attempt to modify the existing bracket, but for now have reinstalled the rubber bushing until I get the right solution.
I got the Rock Jock Johnny Joints (from Core4x4) and measured the diameters with a micrometer: 1.882" on the first step (smallest diameter), 1.895" on the middle section and 2.006" on the flange diameter. All that said, I'm hoping to find a solution that uses the same joint as the one on the driver's side (though having a spare isn't the worst thing). I don't want to mix and match parts, and I'd like to be able to replace it with a stock bushing in a pinch.

I have had some difficulty getting any responses from Core4x4, is that normal?

I spent about two hours searching - and maybe I'm simply a weak googler...

I did find something at Artec from googling, but not from browsing their list of parts for the XJ - probably because it's listed as a TJ bracket. But aren't they basically the same axle and geometry? If they're not then this one won't work.
Barnes makes a replacement passenger side UCA bushing bracket, but it states ONLY their johnny joint will press in - nothing stock and nobody else's joints. I'm wanting to find a solution where the johnny joints are the same, and if I ever need to, hopefully a stock bushing will press in (I suppose that may be a tall ask, I'd want a solution that the joints are the same over one where joints differ between passenger and driver's side). But maybe one of you can confirm Rock Jock Johnny Joints fit in Barnes4WD Dana30 UCA bushing/joint bracket?
I see Rock Jock makes a kit with two more of these same joints, plus the 1" steel plate that replicates a similar setup to the driver's side. But I already have two of these joints, and I can't find where they sell just the plate. I sent their support an email asking if I can just get the plate, since that seems to be all I need.
All I found at Artec listed for the XJ was a setup that only fits atop their truss - I have a stock axle and have no plans to add a truss to it.

Am I just going to need to settle for a solution that requires a different joint? All the other brackets I find are a thicker and beefier version of the stock bracket (under cover fab, stinky fab, and others) - having a gap in the middle and presumably the same exact hole sizes the stock bracket has, which will not securely hold the Rock Jock Johnny Joints that I got, which do not fit because one of the holes is just slightly too large (or, rather, the Johnny Joint's final step-up in diameter is too small).

Again, would love to know if any of you know a solution that fits what I'm looking for.
I would also love to know what you have done if you've replaced that bracket with something beefier (and you have a Dana30 axle with no truss).
And, I would love to know what you'd do if you were in my position.

Thanks.

This is what I have:

https://ballisticfabrication.com/jee...onversion-kit/

I bought just the mount and put a rubber bushing in it.

This is exactly the kind of solution I'm looking for, THANK you!

I have a clarifying question: by what you say here, it sounds like you pressed a normal stock bushing in it, is that what you mean?

Also, I want to know how far it presses in - Does it press in the same like the Driver's side, where there's a small gap between the flange of the rubber bushing and the eyelet?

Much appreciated!

Now that I think about it, I never actually pressed a bushing into mine. I decided to go with a 3-link setup. But it will take a stock bushing. The width of the mount is about the same as the one on the diff. My recollection is that the axle-side upper bushing has a stepped OD, so its necessary to at least press in the bushing by that amount.

I forgot what other factors I considered for how far to press in the bushing. My guess is that I considered whether the bushing will have any tilt due to its lateral position while also taking into consideration how centered the arm is on the brackets. I would have the two upper bushings mirror imaged to each other in orientation and press depth.