80 Jeep Cherokee front axle???? [Archive]

GaJeep94YJ

03-08-2002, 07:23 AM

Vehicle: '74-91 full-size Cherokees & Wagoneers (SJ's)

Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5" -- stronger than 5 on 5.5", but not as common. Can the rears be redrilled to 5 on 5.5"? Converting a front D44 to 5 on 5.5" requires switching to knuckles, spindles and brakes from a '74-76 disc brake SJ or Chevy Dana 44 and hubs & rotors from just about any year Ford pickup (ask for '79 F-150 if buying new, and get bearings & seals from the same Ford). To do Nutter's high-steering swap, use '74-76 SJ knuckles as well. Pre-'74 SJ's had 5 on 5.5" D44's, but with weak 2-piece shafts in the rear and closed knuckles up front.

Width: Narrow track (Wagoneers, Grand Wagoneers, and some Cherokees) fronts were 58.4", rears were 57-59", depending on who you believe. Wide tracks (some Cherokees) were about 6" wider than that, or 62.5" in front according to Louie Belt, who installed one. Kerry Embry claims narrow fronts are 60.5" and wides are around 65". I personally measured a narrow '82 Wag to be 61.5" front and 58.5" rear. Obviously, YMMV.

Brakes: Approx 12" front discs, approx 11" rear drums.

Spline count: 30-spline D44's, 29-spline AMC 20's

Caster: "Fine for a YJ."

Other: All had Dana 44 fronts. '74-79 and '86-91 had D44 rears, while '80-86 had AMC 20 rears ('86 could be either). '74-79 had passenger-side front diffs; '80-91 had driver side diffs (needed for YJ with stock t-case). Short side spring perch partially overlaps the diff housing, but not bad. The '87 front pinion is offset 8-7/8" left of center. AMC 20 rears were 1-piece with 29-spline shafts, but have narrower shafts & tubes than the D44, and the tubes are therefore more prone to bending at the housing, which causes breakage. Many auto trannies had the Quadra-Trac t-case & severely offset rear diff in '70's models. '86-91 rear D44s' pinions are offset 1/4" left of center. Part-time t-cases (Dana 20 or NP208) had manual locking hubs, while full-time Quadra-Trac t-cases (BW 1339, NP219, NP228, NP229) had fixed, locked hubs. The NP228 & NP229 (mid '80's) also had a vacuum disconnect front axle (like the YJ), which is inherently weaker than the solid axle shaft (like the TJ). Going rate is around $100-300 for the front. The IFSJA has gobs of info about FSJ's. Michael Schwitzing put a narrow SJ front & a Scout rear on his SUA YJ. So did Don Bishop and Daren McMorris on their SOA YJ's.


Pirate4x4.Com > Brand Specific Tech > Jeep - Hardcore Tech > 80 Jeep Cherokee front axle???? PDA : 80 Jeep Cherokee front axle???? ZuperDave 03-07-2002, 08:30 PM Does anyone know how I can find out info on a 1980 Cherokee's front axles? What kind, how long hub to hub. stock gear ratio, ect........:confused: GaJeep94YJ 03-08-2002, 07:23 AM Vehicle: '74-91 full-size Cherokees & Wagoneers (SJ's) Bolt Pattern: 6 on 5.5" -- stronger than 5 on 5.5", but not as common. Can the rears be redrilled to 5 on 5.5"? Converting a front D44 to 5 on 5.5" requires switching to knuckles, spindles and brakes from a '74-76 disc brake SJ or Chevy Dana 44 and hubs & rotors from just about any year Ford pickup (ask for '79 F-150 if buying new, and get bearings & seals from the same Ford). To do Nutter's high-steering swap, use '74-76 SJ knuckles as well. Pre-'74 SJ's had 5 on 5.5" D44's, but with weak 2-piece shafts in the rear and closed knuckles up front. Width: Narrow track (Wagoneers, Grand Wagoneers, and some Cherokees) fronts were 58.4", rears were 57-59", depending on who you believe. Wide tracks (some Cherokees) were about 6" wider than that, or 62.5" in front according to Louie Belt, who installed one. Kerry Embry claims narrow fronts are 60.5" and wides are around 65". I personally measured a narrow '82 Wag to be 61.5" front and 58.5" rear. Obviously, YMMV. Brakes: Approx 12" front discs, approx 11" rear drums. Spline count: 30-spline D44's, 29-spline AMC 20's Caster: "Fine for a YJ." Other: All had Dana 44 fronts. '74-79 and '86-91 had D44 rears, while '80-86 had AMC 20 rears ('86 could be either). '74-79 had passenger-side front diffs; '80-91 had driver side diffs (needed for YJ with stock t-case). Short side spring perch partially overlaps the diff housing, but not bad. The '87 front pinion is offset 8-7/8" left of center. AMC 20 rears were 1-piece with 29-spline shafts, but have narrower shafts & tubes than the D44, and the tubes are therefore more prone to bending at the housing, which causes breakage. Many auto trannies had the Quadra-Trac t-case & severely offset rear diff in '70's models. '86-91 rear D44s' pinions are offset 1/4" left of center. Part-time t-cases (Dana 20 or NP208) had manual locking hubs, while full-time Quadra-Trac t-cases (BW 1339, NP219, NP228, NP229) had fixed, locked hubs. The NP228 & NP229 (mid '80's) also had a vacuum disconnect front axle (like the YJ), which is inherently weaker than the solid axle shaft (like the TJ). Going rate is around $100-300 for the front. The IFSJA has gobs of info about FSJ's. Michael Schwitzing put a narrow SJ front & a Scout rear on his SUA YJ. So did Don Bishop and Daren McMorris on their SOA YJ's.