WMS measurements?

[over2land]

On my 2WD 88 MJ, the rear track width is about 3" less than the front. I've got a D-44 in the rear, and the stock beam junk up front.

So, with an eye towards making it 4WD,

1) is the front beam thing in the 2WD trucks the same WMS to WMS as the 4WD trucks? Is that the same as the XJ's?

2) What is that WMS? If different, what are the WMS measurements supposed to be?

3) Has anyone else with a 44 rear noticed a difference of about 1.5" a side less than the front?

I thought they were all (front, rear, 2wd, 4wd, D-30, D-35, Corp 8.25, D-44) supposed to be 60" WMS to WMS. How off am I?

Thanks.

 

[jeeppowermj]

My 87 2wd MJ is the same front and back. Its a D35 but that shouldnt make a difference. Yes its the same as a XJ.

 

[over2land]

Odd.

I guess it's a D-44 thing then.

 

[Tim_MN]

Measured the extra XJ stuff on the garage floor
1995 D30 60.5 wms to wms
1987 D44 60.5 wms to wms

 

[Eagle]

If anything, a D44 rear axle might be a fraction wider than a D35, but they should all be the same. The D44 used wider drums, but the backing plates were different to allow the inner edge to come farther inboard.

Are you certain the rear axle in your truck is original? It should match up with the front.

[EDIT]Now that I think about it, your front must be screwed. When I run 31x10.50 tires on stock rims on my '88 MJ, the inner sidewalls are very nearly touching the leaf springs. There is no way that stock rims could be moved inboard by 1-1/2" on each side and clear the springs.

 

[over2land]

I don't know if the rear is original, but the drums look like the XJ D 44 drums, and TJ rims bolt right up to it.

My 30x9.5's are really close to the springs.

So is the 2WD front different then?

Thanks for the input thus far, BTW

 

[Eagle]

What ARE your measurements? You posted that the front is 3" wider than the rear, but you didn't post the WMS dimensions for either axle. Should be 60.5" as already noted. What do you have -- front and rear?

 

[over2land]

Actually, I've been wondering if it's an illusion from the body.

If I measure from the tire to the edge of the body, there is a 1.5" difference on either side in the rear.

I will measure WMS tomorrow, I hope to get to the bottom of this.

 

[Eagle]

Actually, I've been wondering if it's an illusion from the body.

If I measure from the tire to the edge of the body, there is a 1.5" difference on either side in the rear.

I will measure WMS tomorrow, I hope to get to the bottom of this.

I'll try to break this to you gently: that ain'y how you measure track or axle width. Go sit in the corner with the pointy hat on for a couple of hours, mate. :dunce:

:hang:

 

[over2land]

lol...

I know I know.

I doubt I'm gonna get the wheels off today to do it. This rain has pushed all my work for the day back. Which of course affects tomorrow too. So, lookin like I'll do it on Sat. But then, I heard a 20% chance of rain then too.

Ah well hopefully by the end of the weekend, I'll have real numbers, and can come out of the corner.