- Location
- Houston, Tx
On Sunday, I was browsing CL for Jeep parts when I found an ad, no pictures that said "Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Axles, $25." No pictures, no further description. I thought it would probably be just shafts, but figured it was worth a few minutes of my time to investigate. Turns out the guy was selling front and rear axles for $25 TOGETHER. Just wanted em gone. I asked him about the origin, and he said a 95 Cherokee 4x4 Automatic. Told him I'd be over shortly.
When I got there, I was shown some axles sitting under a tarp in his backyard. I feared the worst, but the front looked pretty good- it was a HP, Non Disco 30. The rear... I have no idea. It definitely wasn't from an XJ, it had Coil and Control Arm Mounts... Maybe a ZJ. He said they may have been from a Grand, it was his brother's Jeep the axles came out of. But the front was right, so I told him I'd give him $25 for just the front and he could still sell the rear (would have taken it but I don't have the space).
Of course at this point my imagination started to run wild since it was an XJ front and a ZJ Rear. Maybe it had been swapped in at some point, and had a 3.73 ratio or something!
Today I picked up a drain pain so I could open up the $25 D30. Apparently the whole axle has been painted blue at some point... just covered in grime.
The Axle:
Redneck Tie Rod strengthening:
And the gears. Ended up being 3.55, but they're in good shape. No slop, no missing teeth, nothing. I've got 3.07's in the rear, and was planning to just go 4.10's, but the cheapass in me is saying to just find a matching rear now.
Gonna start cleaning it up on Thursday when I'm off and have some daylight.
I've done some D30 building before on my last XJ, here's what I have planned for this one:
Regear(maybe at this point)probably 4.10's
Selectable Locker
LCA Skids
Brace Pass Side UCA
Gusset inner C's
760 shafts
Use the knuckles/unit bearings/etc from my 98
New Ball joints and bushings
I've thought about trussing it but honestly overkill for my needs. What am I overlooking that I should be adding to that list at this point?
When I got there, I was shown some axles sitting under a tarp in his backyard. I feared the worst, but the front looked pretty good- it was a HP, Non Disco 30. The rear... I have no idea. It definitely wasn't from an XJ, it had Coil and Control Arm Mounts... Maybe a ZJ. He said they may have been from a Grand, it was his brother's Jeep the axles came out of. But the front was right, so I told him I'd give him $25 for just the front and he could still sell the rear (would have taken it but I don't have the space).
Of course at this point my imagination started to run wild since it was an XJ front and a ZJ Rear. Maybe it had been swapped in at some point, and had a 3.73 ratio or something!
Today I picked up a drain pain so I could open up the $25 D30. Apparently the whole axle has been painted blue at some point... just covered in grime.
The Axle:
Redneck Tie Rod strengthening:
And the gears. Ended up being 3.55, but they're in good shape. No slop, no missing teeth, nothing. I've got 3.07's in the rear, and was planning to just go 4.10's, but the cheapass in me is saying to just find a matching rear now.
Gonna start cleaning it up on Thursday when I'm off and have some daylight.
I've done some D30 building before on my last XJ, here's what I have planned for this one:
Regear(maybe at this point)probably 4.10's
Selectable Locker
LCA Skids
Brace Pass Side UCA
Gusset inner C's
760 shafts
Use the knuckles/unit bearings/etc from my 98
New Ball joints and bushings
I've thought about trussing it but honestly overkill for my needs. What am I overlooking that I should be adding to that list at this point?
