Re: WJ knuckle swop on a RHD
Background:
I've previously upgraded the rear diff on my Jeep and changed the ratios to 4.56 to match the bigger tyres I have on (see
http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=17553[/URL]). However, up to now I've been driving with the old front diff which had the original 3.55 ratios and thus I wasn't able to select 4x4 mode. This was the story for the whole of 2008 and also the reason why my Jeep hasn't seen any trails in a very long time!
I'm glad to say that at last I'm in a position to go on a 4x4 trip again...nearly.
As per the thread linked above I was (am) in the process of building a front diff with a Gearmax centre section, but I was looking for a quicker medium term solution to get my Jeep going, but I also didn't want to spend anything on my original front diff as there were better options available. I got a high pinion (HP) Dana 30 front diff out of a 1996 Cherokee.
Here's a pic of the WJ knuckles and the spacers which needed to be welded on to centre the u-joints in the knuckles:
The adjustable lower control arms...
...and here's the trackbar bracket completed:
I also had to make a mounting point on the right hand side of the axle for the steering damper and the swaybar mounts were raised to make room for the draglink and tie rod that now sits higher.
This is the before and after pics of the steering setup:
Before:
After:
Here's one comparing the angles as the draglink end on the pitman arm makes the angle look slightly different:
Initial feeback on the setup is that at 6" lift driving without the steering damper, there is less wobbles of bumpsteer than before and the brakes even without the new pads having bedded in has a lot more initial bite for the same pedal pressure as before. I'm very happy