vacuum disconnect and limited slips...

[CharlieG]

im planning on putting a detroit truetrac in the d30 of my 88xj with the vac. disconnect. i read this on off-road.com...

"...Another problem is that since only one axle is ever disconnected, an automatic locker or limited slip differential can cause problems with the axle and with handling. The drivers side axle is always spinning the differential.

The TJ has done away with with the system completely which is good in that it is not likely to fail, but since there is no way to stop the differential from spinning, an automatic locker or limited slimp can degrade handling on the road."

I managed to get a fullsize pass. side shaft from an xj d30 when walking through a boneyard. can i just slap it in and get a blockoff plate for it?? And would this setup be any better(or worse) for handling than just the drivers side rotating? im thinking the limited slip with screw with my steering around turns but im a little lost as to what i should do to keep good handling and limited slip up front without spending lots of $.

Any help would be much appreciated!!

 

[Eagle]

You can replace the 2-piece shaft and disconnect with a 1-piece shaft on the right side, but the disconnect axle doesn't have a seal at the inner end of the axle tube, so you'll have to find the correct seal and adapt the diff housing to accept it. This has been written up a few times, and I believe there are a couple of solutions.

However ... I don't think you need to do anything. The Trutrac is essentially transparent in street driving, according to many people who run it in the newer axles with no disconnect. If it works with no disconnect, it certainly won't be a problem in an axle with a disconnect.

If your point is that you want to convert to a solid right side axle but are afraid of the effect on the Trutrac ... don't worry. Lots of people have gone before you, and nobody has had any problems. Remember that the Trutrac has no clutches, so the default is disengaged. It only locks up when there is a certain degree of torque bias between the two axles. Normal corners don't generate sufficient torque bias to cause it to lock up.

 

[marcoleo]

I've aussie locker on d30 with disconnect; I'd some vibes when the disco is disengaged, balanced the main front shaft and now it's completely transparent in 2wd also if it spinning.
Never had problem in handling, just different style of driving in 4wd.

 

[CharlieG]

You can replace the 2-piece shaft and disconnect with a 1-piece shaft on the right side, but the disconnect axle doesn't have a seal at the inner end of the axle tube, so you'll have to find the correct seal and adapt the diff housing to accept it. This has been written up a few times, and I believe there are a couple of solutions.

However ... I don't think you need to do anything. The Trutrac is essentially transparent in street driving, according to many people who run it in the newer axles with no disconnect. If it works with no disconnect, it certainly won't be a problem in an axle with a disconnect.

If your point is that you want to convert to a solid right side axle but are afraid of the effect on the Trutrac ... don't worry. Lots of people have gone before you, and nobody has had any problems. Remember that the Trutrac has no clutches, so the default is disengaged. It only locks up when there is a certain degree of torque bias between the two axles. Normal corners don't generate sufficient torque bias to cause it to lock up.

awesome i cant wait to get traction to all four tires..FINALLY! i do have another question though...i picked up a set of outer axle seals(that go just outside the knuckle) made by alloy usa..would these be an insufficient substitute for the inner axle seal youre talking about? and is there any reason why i really need the axle disconnect?

thanx for the help guys

 

[kubtastic]

(If you plan to convert to a non-disconnect shaft)

just outside the knuckle? Are you talking about a seal at the hub? Anyway, you need seals in the tubes, preferrably just to the passenger side of the carrier, right at the very start of the tube. Some have grinded it to fit other seals, I found a National 473426 fits a 1989 housing and 2000 shafts. Somehow, the tubes vary in the exact inner diameter, so be careful.
here are some possibilities:

CR 11771
CR 11776
National 473426

 

[xj-grin]

awesome i cant wait to get traction to all four tires..FINALLY! i do have another question though...i picked up a set of outer axle seals(that go just outside the knuckle) made by alloy usa..would these be an insufficient substitute for the inner axle seal youre talking about? and is there any reason why i really need the axle disconnect?

thanx for the help guys

I have been running the drivetrain direct version of these same tube seals for 2 years, without an inner axle seal in my formerly disconnect D30 with no problems. I just overfill the diff slightly when changing the fluid as some of it is sloshing around in the passenger side tube. Booty fab no doubt, but it works for me...

 

[CharlieG]

Ok thanks..No the Alloy usa axle seals are an additional seal that goes at the end of the axle tubes..http://www.alloyusa.com/images/product_image_4.jpg

Sorry I didnt mean knuckles..is there any reason why i need the axle disconnect anyways?

 

[CharlieG]

I have been running the drivetrain direct version of these same tube seals for 2 years, without an inner axle seal in my formerly disconnect D30 with no problems. I just overfill the diff slightly when changing the fluid as some of it is sloshing around in the passenger side tube. Booty fab no doubt, but it works for me...

SWEET, thats what i wanted to hear! I'll probably do the inners as well if I can but I think the vac. disconnect is gone unless anyone is going to defend it..

 

[kubtastic]

SWEET, thats what i wanted to hear! I'll probably do the inners as well if I can but I think the vac. disconnect is gone unless anyone is going to defend it..

The disconnect eliminates front driveshaft vibe when in 2 wd, as the d/s doesn't spin. If you don't get vibes right now at high speed in 4 wd then it is not an issue.

 

[CharlieG]

The disconnect eliminates front driveshaft vibe when in 2 wd, as the d/s doesn't spin. If you don't get vibes right now at high speed in 4 wd then it is not an issue.

Yea, I was just pondering this...I don't really get any vibes in 4wd high but my pinion angle isn't good. I'm sitting at 8 inches and I'm thinking of having my knuckles turned up to fix this. I guess at worst, my u-joints will burn out faster as long as I fix them when they do??

 

[drifto77]

SWEET, thats what i wanted to hear! I'll probably do the inners as well if I can but I think the vac. disconnect is gone unless anyone is going to defend it..

Keep it, run a posi lock (or the cheep mod) to it and have 2-LOW.(hows that?)