My 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ

[clean4drxj]

unit bearings are alright, I guess it would depend on what size tire and how much wheeling ect, in all honesty I run the cheaper ones because they seem to all last the same timken or not.

[OWEN]

Got the axles stripped down, going to wire wheel them and paint.


Front dana 30... The ball joints feel tight, I think I am going to leave them be. The axle has 260 U joint shafts, so I am going to swap out the 297 shafts and unit bearings from my current front 30 and call it a day. Probably will throw on some new brake pads.


Found this in the rear dana 35 I have a parts Dana 35 that came with my jeep, so hopefully I will have a good side gear to put in.

[WAD357]

How are you running 297 shafts on a vacuum 30? I thought all the 2 piece shafts were 260s just curious as im still running 260 shafts on a vaccuum 30

[ninetysix-ex-jay]

How are you running 297 shafts on a vacuum 30? I thought all the 2 piece shafts were 260s just curious as im still running 260 shafts on a vaccuum 30

You can run up to 760 joints on thems

[clean4drxj]

How are you running 297 shafts on a vacuum 30? I thought all the 2 piece shafts were 260s just curious as im still running 260 shafts on a vaccuum 30

you can easily swap in a 1 peice shaft with the change of an axle seal

[OWEN]

How are you running 297 shafts on a vacuum 30? I thought all the 2 piece shafts were 260s just curious as im still running 260 shafts on a vaccuum 30

Hmmmm you might be right I don't really know, I am pretty sure my 95 is vacuum disconnect, and 95 was the first year YJ's got the 297s (I know mine has them). Also the last year of YJ's. Maybe the front is a diamond in the rough.

I am not too concerned, once I find a decent set of dana 44's, it is going in the scrap pile anyway

[Pete]

My 95 had the 2 piece shafts with 297 joints, all 95s had them and some 93 and 94s too with abs had the 297s as well. I just did the tj shaft conversion in mine, would be really easy to do if you have the axles that far apart already.

[WAD357]

guess i learned something new today haha! I knew i could change to a one piecee didnt know about the vacuum shafts with bigger joints

[OWEN]

Wandered around the junkyard last Saturday, found a couple 8.8's with 4.10's. Not sure yet if I want to try to find one with a limited slip ( I think the tag says 4 L . 1 0) or just get an open diff for now, and get some type of selectable locker down the road. Either way, I think I am going to go that route, rather then put any money into this dana 35.

Got tires tonight... 33x10.50R15 BFG All-Terrains

[WAD357]

go with the open carriered 8.8 so you can just slap an aussie in there or something

[OWEN]

Had the day off today, Tommy (clean4drxj) and myself endured the heat and pulled an 8.8 today at Chuck and Eddies. Has factory 4.10's (open), disc brakes and I managed to get U bolts, Adapter flange, and E brake cables. Score!

[OWEN]

Put in an order to RuffStuff Specialties!

[CumminsJeep]

[clean4drxj]

it's all down hill from here Owen!

[OWEN]

8.8 fresh from the junkyard... Came from a 1997ish Explorer a little crusty but not bad.


It has the 1330 flange, my YJ is a 1995, so it has a 1330 at the rear axle yoke now, so it should work out well.

Started taking apart the brakes today... they are very crusty...



Ordered up all new rotors, pads, ebrake shoes, and hardware from Rock Auto. Also ordered some new wheel seals, as it looks like one was weeping a little.

I am going finish prepping it this week. I want to start taking the jeep apart this weekend to do all the work.... Which includes the lift, axles, and a couple of other goodies that I will soon reveal.