[BGDG280]

To deal with the hub engagement on the front axle. I just bought a '91 Cherokee and the factory vacuum unit was removed and a rod and bolts were installed to lock the fork in place.

The problem I'm having is the inner short axle keeps sliding left and disengaging from the lock collar. I made a piece from stainless to try and keep the axle in place but it came out of engagement again yesterday. I cant take this thing out not knowing if it will stay in 4wd.

So how are you guys dealing with this issue on the Cherokees?

I am tempted to weld the collar and axles together to eliminate this issue, this is not a daily driver, but will be driven.

Any opinions?

 

[NIX]

The later axels have no vacuum disconnects, so to me it seems no problem to weld the collar permanently.

 

[BGDG280]

The later axels have no vacuum disconnects, so to me it seems no problem to weld the collar permanently.

Thats what I was thinking too, eventually I want to buy aftermarket axles and they are all one piece as well.

Thanx NIX.

 

[BGDG280]

I welded the engagement ring to each of the short axles and rove it and used the 4wd and all seems to work well so far.

So hopefully this will last long enough to allow Me to save the cash for new axles.

 

[krabysniper]

I built my own cable set-up to manually engage it. Hopefully your weld will hold up. I Wonder if there isn't an axle you could buy and swap in that side and just put a cover over where the shift motor used to be? I never thought to do that because at 4 1/2 " over stock suspension lift, my front drive shaft seems to wear out the joints faster when I run it engaged all the time but don't actually shift it into 4 wheel drive (lazy and winter driving up here would just require me to constantly be engaging it anyway). I usually get 3 or 4 years out of a shaft before I need to swap in a replacement due to vibration and/or worn out joints.

 

[BGDG280]

I built my own cable set-up to manually engage it. Hopefully your weld will hold up. I Wonder if there isn't an axle you could buy and swap in that side and just put a cover over where the shift motor used to be? I never thought to do that because at 4 1/2 " over stock suspension lift, my front drive shaft seems to wear out the joints faster when I run it engaged all the time but don't actually shift it into 4 wheel drive (lazy and winter driving up here would just require me to constantly be engaging it anyway). I usually get 3 or 4 years out of a shaft before I need to swap in a replacement due to vibration and/or worn out joints.

Yes there are axles that will work and they are on the wish list, lol. Yes I'm sure the wear on the driveshaft will increase, but this isnt a daily driver so, I think its a fair trade off. I had to have this shaft rebuilt too, as the previous owners had the system locked full time as well.

The reason I didnt make an on/off system is that the inner axle slides to the left and disengages from the lock ring.

All the 96 and up axles eliminate the lock system and just use a solid axle on the pass side, so apparently the factory decided that is an acceptable solution.

So time will tell about the weld, hopefully last long enough to save up for the chrome moly axle kits