Got my 297 shaft...hub problems

[wheelin4cheap]

D30 hub history

I picked up a driver's side shaft out of a 98 xj w/abs. Mine is an 86. While installing it, I noticed that the new shaft doesn't fit quite right. Maybe the hub is different. If I picked up the hub that went with this shaft, would it work on my setup? I don't know my xj hub history very well...

 

[Yucca-Man]

Among other things, the earlier axle used a smaller 5-260x u-joint while the later one has a larger 5-297x joiont. There are some clearance issues involved, but I don't recall the details of getting the larger one to work in the newer housing.

 

[Rawbrown]

use a hammer to knock the ABS tone ring off the outer stub then it should fit your 86 hub.

 

[wheelin4cheap]

use a hammer to knock the ABS tone ring off the outer stub then it should fit your 86 hub.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

[nhrocker]

When fitting 297 shafts into a 95 non-ABS housing, is it also necessary to knock off the tone ring? I've found some guys saying they didn't need to at all, and some said they had to to get them in right?

 

[MIXJ]

depends if the shafts were originally out of am XJ with ABS. My 96 definately doesnt have ABS and definately has the 297 joints. this means no tone ring to worry about. Likewise, if you have ABS you will need to use you old tone ring, if that will work. I have no idea because I have never had a Jeep with ABS, Good luck.

 

[Ramsey]

on my 99 which came with 297s and no abs, i have used both regular shafts and ones with tone rings and both worked fine.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Just another another data point, I replaced the u-joints, tone rings and outer axle shafts in a 92 XJ equipped with ABS. Tone rings came separately from the outer axle shafts and were mounted with the aid of a home freezer and an oven set to 200 degrees F. BTW, the tone rings were a separate part number.

Guess that it's possible there's an interference in the early hubs.