Topic: 1989 Rear Axle Assembly on 1994? Both 4 Bangers

[DanMarino]

Anybody know if a 4 banger YJ rear axle assembly will swap over to my 1994 with the 4 angry squirrels?
Brakes, gear ratios the same?  I found one locally that is already pulled and sitting on a guy's garage floor?

I'm unable to do the bearings and backlash to refurbish mine.

Thanks,
Tom

[Jeffy]

As long as they are both manual, they should have the same gear ratio.  Automatic's are supposed to have 3.75's but they have been known to have 3.54's and even 3.07's.  Only manuals will have 4.10/4.11's.

[DanMarino]

Cool.  Thanks Jeffy.  I'll verify the gear ratio.  Do you know if I can use my 1994 brakes on the 1989?  I was looking at parts numbers and they look different.

How difficult is it to swap a rear axle?  What's the best method?

1.  Disconnect driveshaft at yoke.
2.  Remove u bolts for leaf springs?
3.  Remove brake line connections?
4.  Remove rear stabilizer bar connection?

Anything else?

Thanks,

Tom

[Jeffy]

Oh, I missed the '89.

Okay, here's the deal.  The older axle should bolt right in as-is.  The brakes are 10x1.75" vs 9x2.5".  The axle should be a non-C-Clip axle.  There are retaining plates for the axle shafts.  I'm pretty sure you can mix and match brakes, but I'm I've never done it and haven't heard of anyone doing it.  If there is a difference it's going to be the actual thickness of the backing plates which I suspect are the same though.   Other differences is with the carrier and side gears.  Your old ones are ABS version while the '89's are non-ABS versions.

Kinda strange that you'd find an old '89 and nothing newer.

[DanMarino]

Absolutely ZERO Wranglers in the junk yards around here and I'm not seeing any other 4:11 axles on Craigslist for the past month. 
I'll probably check out the 1989 axle and see if I can tell if it's any good.  Guy indicated it's a 4:11 from a 4 cylinder manual.

Thanks for your help Jeffy.  What do you think a fair price is for that thing?  haha.  The local junk yard sells rear axle assemblies for $104.

Tom

[Jeffy]

Where are you located?

[DanMarino]

Midway between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC.

[Jeffy]

Yeah, pickings are going to be tough.  I'd check www.car-parts.com and see if there is anything close.  You'll probably have to widen your search to get any hits.  Just a quick check and I did I found one in Richmond Virginia.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/pts/d/jeep-wrangler-yj-dana-with/6231692856.html

[DanMarino]

Thanks Jeffy.  The 1989 axle is only 20 miles away.  Richmond is 150 miles away.  I'm going to take a look at it on Saturday.