Recent content by NAXJA_Archives

A steering stabilizer (like any dampener) is added to a design to move or attenuate the natural frequency of the assembly. The designers goal is to prevent vibration amplitudes that cause damage. All steering systems (solid axle or IFS) have a natural frequency where they will vibrate, shimmy...

A YJ Wrangler or MJ Commanche axle will also work for a spring under parts base. The spring width is different from the XJ (so the pads must be rewelded anyway) but the u-bolt and shock mount hardware makes the job easier. The D44 can handle a pavement ripper. A combination of a short boomerang...

Your XJ frame is far stronger than the Chevy frame when it comes to torsional stiffness. Torsional stiffness is measured in ft/lbs per degree of twist. A typical steel ladder frame (ie Chevy) would be rated around 500 to 1,000 lbs per deg. The XJ unibody chassis is likely two to three times that...

Last year I came across a deal on a pair of axles with 4.11 gears at a price that was too good to pass up. The problem was, they came out of an MJ rather than an XJ so I had to weld on some new spring perches and shock mounts. The MJ perch is on the bottom of the axle tube as MJ’s are spring...

First, purchase (or Borrow) an angle finder gage. Measure your angles, then make a change, only if needed. The goal is to decrease the u-joint operating angles, but only if the u-joint operating angles can remain equal at both ends of the drive shaft. The stress of unequal u-joint operating...

Remove your shocks, & twist your XJ on a ramp or good trail obstacle (be careful and have a friend, who understands the process, spot your driving so you don't lose a coil or brake line), measure the shock length available at the mounts. Go to the parts store and read the catalogs to pick the...

In 1992 Chrysler/Jeep did something we should all be thankful for. It re-did its antilock brake system on the Jeep Cherokee (among other vehicles). Unfortunately there were many owners (myself included) that were at the mercy of the very poorly designed ABS system that graced (plagued) XJ's...

Bump-steer is the result of poor (and sometimes unavoidable) suspension geometry. The reaction is described as the vehicle steering off the intended track, on it's own (without driver input), when encountering a bump. Sometimes it is described by a driver as the vehicle needing constant...

Make sure the D35 is a non-c-clip model. The non-c-clip axle is preferred (and you want to know so the spare axles will fit. Look at the axle tube ends and see if they flare out to a larger tube diameter (just like the 90 axle currently under your XJ). The non-c-clip models flare out to a...

Think about what is already good about the 4.0L engine, and then try to improve what needs help. The engine already has a tube header. Even the early log style tube header flows way better than an iron manifold. The problem is they crack at the #6 cylinder (poor design) so a header replacement...