87 XJ with vacuum activated 4WD

I need to pull the front right axle shaft to replace the outer shaft u joint, my haynes manual is calling for the shift motor to be pulled. Is this necessary? Talking to my jeep buddies they say that pulling the axle is easy and that all you need to do is unbolt the 3 12pt bolts, tap the shaft with a mallet and she slides right out.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

 

you can pull the shaft but when you go to put it back in, i doubt you will be able to align it back up with the shift collar. Thus the reason to pull the shift motor. it is a real easy thing to pull.

 

I replaced my right ball joints today and didn't read what the manual said about the shift motor until I put it mostly back together.

I have a 92 xj with part-time four wheel drive. Do I have a front axle shift motor? If I do where is it? If I don't, do I have to worry about lining up a shift collar?

 

was passeger side axle twice as long as driver if so you dont have it...this would be on pass axle housing

 

92 shouldn't have one. Look at the photo in the above post.

 

I don't have anything like that on my axle. Just wanted to be sure.Thanks.