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Wrong Driveshaft ? Possibly Wrong Front Axle ?

Discussion in 'Cherokee' started by TinyInkognegroT, Aug 14, 2019.

  1. Aug 14, 2019 at 3:12 AM
    #1
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Doing some research and stumbled upon something interesting that I have a question for...

    Lately my 93 ZJ has been tearing up front drive shafts. The front axle was pulled at a salvage yard by my uncle and I'm not sure what year he pulled it from. Doing some research I found the majority of front drive shaft for a 93 ZJ has two u-joint ends and the drive shafts I have bought to replace the torn up ones, has a CV joint on the end that bolts to the front axle and a U joint on the end that goes to the transfer case..

    Starting to think he pulled the wrong front axle for this Jeep and could be the answer to a lot of questions pertaining clicking and knocking under the front of the Jeep.
     
  2. Aug 14, 2019 at 3:23 AM
    #2
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The CV end is what I had when I bought the Jeep, after he replaced the front axle. Online research is showing me u-joint on both ends and on the front axle for my year and model where the CV end is shown on 96 and up. When ( what year) exactly did the switch from u-joint to CV joint happen for the ZJ ?

    I'm almost certain that the front end that he put in is wrong and if so, my uncle's going to be waiting on a payment for this Jeep if I have to replace the front end !
    Screenshot_20190814-051344.jpg Screenshot_20190814-051612.jpg
     
  3. Aug 14, 2019 at 4:29 AM
    #3
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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  4. Aug 14, 2019 at 4:58 AM
    #4
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    PHOTO_20190814_063944.jpg Screenshot_20190814-070501.jpg Screenshot_20190814-070835.jpg Can someone please identify this front axle ? The transmission is 46RH...
    PHOTO_20190814_064031.jpg PHOTO_20190814_065130.jpg

    Here's the rear axle numbers...This hasn't been replaced that I know of since I've known it to be around. 2 different numbers, 2 different axles...Should both of the axles match at all or they're ok to mismatch ?
    PHOTO_20190814_121528.jpg


    Are the front and rear axles supposed to match ?
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2019
  5. Aug 14, 2019 at 5:01 AM
    #5
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Probably off topic but I found this also...Could this cause the knocking when I reverse and turn the steering wheel left and right ?PHOTO_20190814_064222.jpg
     
  6. Aug 14, 2019 at 8:29 PM
    #6
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    It's a Dana 30.
    Forget what your question was at this point.....
     
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  7. Aug 15, 2019 at 4:58 AM
    #7
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The top picture is the front Axle and the second picture is the back axle. Both of these Axel's have different numbers on them. I'm assuming the axles are different models because they're different numbers. I'm thinking that the front axle is the wrong axle for the 93 ZJ because is eating away two drive shafts at the CV end. I did some research and scene that the 93 ZJ used the drive shaft with both ends as U joints and 95 and later used CV end and a U joint end. Thinking I'm supposed to have a front axle that uses the two u-joint ends instead of the one with CV... The front axle was replaced by my uncle, and I'm not sure if he pulled his axle from the right year of Grand Cherokee.

    PHOTO_20190814_064031.jpg
    PHOTO_20190814_121528.jpg
    Screenshot_20190814-051344.jpg
    Screenshot_20190814-051612.jpg
     
  8. Aug 15, 2019 at 5:15 AM
    #8
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The reason why I asked is because it bends when I shift it into gears. Check out this video I took a while ago of the second drive shaft bending...

    https://youtu.be/sbOVOc5W_sg
     
  9. Aug 15, 2019 at 5:04 PM
    #9
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    Good to see you doing your research.....check to see whether Jeep used different drive shafts?CV or U joints for each of the different 4WD systems
     
  10. Aug 16, 2019 at 10:32 AM
    #10
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A guy in a Jeep group on my Facebook suggested that maybe the bushings in my control arms are bad. Here are some pictures as my control arms, upper and lower... The driver side looks a little bad but I need a second opinion. I'll do the research on those CV and u-joint shafts comparison to 4WD, but what do you think about these control arms? Could that be the problem thats eating up my drive shaft ?

    The first two are the driver side and the second two are the passenger side...

    PHOTO_20190816_121638.jpg
    PHOTO_20190816_121716.jpg
    PHOTO_20190816_121804.jpg
    PHOTO_20190816_121919.jpg
     
  11. Aug 16, 2019 at 3:24 PM
    #11
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I found this video and it's for a 95 ZJ. They're saying the cause of the bending driveshaft is a bad transfer case. The Jeep they're using in the video as a 5.2 liter engine transfer case is 249... I'm not sure what transfer case I have but when I get home I can identify it and let you know. You think maybe that's the cause of my drive shaft bending rather then my control arm bushings or my engine mount bushings being gone?

    Here's a link to the video ..

    https://youtu.be/_l3HAZb_RRQ
     
  12. Aug 16, 2019 at 3:28 PM
    #12
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Haven't really found a reason why cheap used two different styles of drive shafts for the same years...
     
  13. Aug 16, 2019 at 6:52 PM
    #13
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So, I was looking into the video, and it turns out failing 249 transfer cases cause the bending and bust of the CV end of the front driveshaft. I have a 249 and it was busted open on the bottom and leaked, so my uncle "sealed" it with JB Weld and sent me on my way...PHOTO_20190816_182907.jpg PHOTO_20190816_183042.jpg
     
  14. Aug 16, 2019 at 7:28 PM
    #14
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Sorry dude. I have some opinions I'll keep to myself. But I will say this.
    Your control arm bushings have nothing to do with your drive shafts. With that logic. Every front suspension bushing could be suspect for your issue. Facebook is a joke.
    The t-case. Could definitely be your issue. Sounds like some thing out of wack. Drive shaft is to sloppy. I'm not expert in any way. But I'd start with your t-case. And go from there. And JB Weld is a band aid. And band aids fall off. Again...just my opinion.
     
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  15. Aug 17, 2019 at 5:32 AM
    #15
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Your opinion is appreciated. I was thinking the same about control arms having nothing to do with the driveshaft busting up. I've wondered why the t case had a hole in it to begin with...how can I test it to be sure ?
     
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  16. Aug 18, 2019 at 8:55 PM
    #16
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    Was it a hole in the t -case...or possibly a worn gasket?
    As far as I know. There is no way of testing for a bad transfer case. Short of pulling kt out, and pulling it apart looking for worn parts.. And as seen here. There's numerous parts that can fail. And cause issues with your drive shaft.
    https://www.morris4x4center.com/np-231-transfer-case-parts.html
     
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  17. Aug 19, 2019 at 3:47 AM
    #17
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It was a hole, he showed it to me and I watched him cover it with JB Weld. I'll check this link out. Can driving with a bad t case screw up the transmission ?
     
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  18. Aug 20, 2019 at 6:07 PM
    #18
    JKBob 25

    JKBob 25 Well-Known Member

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    If it locks up...yes.
     
  19. Aug 27, 2019 at 8:25 PM
    #19
    TinyInkognegroT

    TinyInkognegroT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Rear Axle is Dana 35, and the front axle is Dana 30. Is that normal or it's wrong ?
     
  20. Aug 28, 2019 at 2:11 AM
    #20
    aggrex

    aggrex Well-Known Member

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    That's a normal set up for the JGC
     
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