Dana 30 Front

J

JohnnyCrash

Guest
Looking to replace my front diff in my grand with the lockable version from an XJ, or YJ, that uses a vacuume operated fork, has to have coil spring brackets!!! :stir:

Let me know what you have.

Thanks
 
R

Root Moose

Guest
Umm, just to clarify...

You have a non-disconnect front axle now.

The only axle that would work in your Jeep from XJ and YJ would be XJ. YJ used leaf springs.

By lockable what do you mean or what are you after? If you are looking for a differential locker then neither XJ or YJ came factory with a locker. They had a factory disconnect which cut power to the front wheels in 2wd by freewheeling one of the axle shafts. Not really desirable.

HTH
 
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J

JohnnyCrash

Guest
The axle in the XJ used a Dana 30 that is exactly (if im not mistaken) like the one in my 96 ZJ limited, only it has a vacuum operated disconnect on the axle shaft that engages when you put the truck into 4x4, making it a 3 wheel drive with the open rear diff. my 96 Grand has a plain open dana 30 in the front and i have a powertrax no-slip in my dana 35. i was thinking i could swap in the diff from the xj, and convert the vacuum system to a cable engagement system to have a locked front axle.

Hope that clears it up:)

The Xj's have coilspring front ends, and so do some of the newer YJ's. i think the spring hangers and mounts are all the same,
part numbers for the axle housings are the same as are most of the parts except for the differance in the disconnect!!
 
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R

Root Moose

Guest
FWIW a XJ front axle would still be an upgrade. It uses a high pinion front differential housing. Your ZJ uses a low pinion housing (as does the TJ). Some say it is up to 30% stronger but I think that is being optimistic. That said, it gets the shaft another 3-4" higher off the ground and it is stronger.

Get a NON-disconnect XJ axle and that would be a worthwhile option. You still need to add a locker to the front end though if that is what you are after.
 
J

JohnnyCrash

Guest
Hehe thanks, I guess i miss understood the inner workings of the xj front diff. :banghead:I was under the impression that the disconnect "locked" the two together.
but i guess ill just order a no-slip to match my rear. Anyone Have one of those for a D30 kickin around?
:clue:
 
B

blair_b

Guest
d30

Hey,

I've got a d30 from an 88' xj wagoneer. Problem is it's still on the truck and I've got no means of removing it. Truck is partially torn apart and would need to be towed. Anyway, let me know if you're interested.
 
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