The black rubber connection on the front axle, which I am assuming is a vacum engagement system, comes loose quite easily not allowing the from axle to get any power. There are no clamps on it, nor are there any depressions on the rubber indicating there ever was any. Any ideas on how to make this a reliable connection? Hose clamps are my only idea. Thanks
Just ditch it completely as it's a poorly designed system. Several ways to go about doing so, the best is to get a block off plate and upgrade to a 1 piece shaft out of a new D30 axle.
But for less than $1 you can shim over your CAD and essentially lock it in all the time. Only thing that happens is your front driveshaft spins all the time (all 91+ models do it anyways). I've done it to EVERY one of my rigs with no ill effects.
If you look close in the 2nd pic you can see I've shimmed the fork over all the way with a washer.
90XJkid wrote:I will for sure need to be trying this tip in the next couple days if I can find a few moments to get under the Jeep. Thanks Adam for the tip!
Just make sure you get it over as FAR as you can. I've even just put the fork on the other side of the clip and not even needed shims.
When you have it torn apart it'll make sense to you. You simply want to make the fork lock the color on the inner axle together.
Adam, or anyone else, when I took off the 4 bolts holding the unit on the axle I lost all the lube inside the square housing. I am ready to put it back on, but how to I go about replacing the lost fluid?? Need an answer or suggestion asap please, as I need the XJ tomorrow. Thanks -Greg
You want to push it as far away from the diaphragm as possible.
The fluid comes from the center diff. It flows from the diff out to the outer axle seal by the wheel hub, this helps keep all the bearings lubes. Do not worry about the fluid, it's only a small amount that came out and it will go back once you drive your Jeep and the gears slosh the fluid back into the axle tube.
I ended up finishing it before I read your last post. I took a deep breath, examed your pic and my owner's manual(for fluid type 75W-90). I ended up squirting in about a half a quart, so I am assuming it might be a good time to look into LubeLocker Gaskets front and rear and changing both diff fluids, because the front must have been rather low even before loosing the fluid from shiming the fork over. Thanks again for the tip.
Forgive me for a stupid question...but how did you get the shift fork to slide off of that shaft? I've gotten the snap rings out, and gotten the shift fork to slide a bit, but can't get it over the last set of ridges. Just keep hammering?
If I remember correctly, i kinda twisted the shaft back and forth as I was tapping slightly with the handle of a screwdriver. It won't quite go a 100% over due to the curvature in the fork. I ended up using a nut the size of the shaft and a couple washers to shim it over. There was a very slight amount of play in the fork when completed. Now I just have my fingers crossed. But if Adam has run this setup for a few years with the way he wheels...I think its prob ok.
Forgive me for a stupid question...but how did you get the shift fork to slide off of that shaft? I've gotten the snap rings out, and gotten the shift fork to slide a bit, but can't get it over the last set of ridges. Just keep hammering?
They typically are gummed up a bit. I've always just sprayed a bit of WD40 into it, and twisted it back and forth while pulling. Give it a good tug and it should come out without issues.