Changing subject of this to: sure could use SYE help

    I need to get a front driveshaft from the junkyard, and it has to come from a Cherokee with an AW4 trans.
    Talked to junkyard and they have a few shafts but they're already pulled. Is there any way I can tell if it's the one I need other than putting it in and seeing if it is?
    When I called them I only knew it had to come from auto trans, not a specific one. Hopefully if I specify trans they are able to get me the right one

    Instead of starting a new thread and crowding up the forum I'll just ask this here. I've done a lot of research online about this and am just not coming up with black and white info. I'm wondering has anyone on here actually done this and have experience with it


    What I've have:
    96 xj 4.0, auto trans, NP231 tcase
    What I've done:
    RC 4.5" x-series suspension lift
    What I need to do:
    SYE (duh)
    How I wanna go about it:
    RE SYE part# re1807 (already have it) hack n tap style sye
    Xj front driveshaft
    I read I need spicer part # 211229X to mate shaft with sye


    So long as I'm right about all that, what I need help with is does ANYONE know for sure the specifics of the driveshaft. Such as what trans/tcase it needs to come from. Does it matter the year? Anything?

    I have no experience with the hack-n-tap SYE kits, but with a traditional SYE the stock front driveshaft from a 6cyl with auto trans will work for a rear shaft with about that much lift. It's been a long time since since my Jeep was that size, though. Now that my old XJ is on longarms and 7" I needed something with longer splines so I ordered heavy duty shafts from Tom Woods and CJ Tatton. Fwiw, the last time I measured it, the rear measurement was 32.5" on level ground. Stock 1989-2001 rear 6cyl auto front shaft has a compressed length of 30.6". 89-01 6cyl manual shaft is 29.250. The 4cyl shafts are 3-5" shorter depending on year and trans so they won't even be close.


    If you get one from a scrap yard, make sure that the splines are not seized. If they're stuck, the shaft is useless and it'll be cheaper to buy a new one online than to buy it and then get it rebuilt.


    Here are the XJ/ZJ front driveshaft (compressed) lengths, from the Spicer catalog.


    XJ 87/88 2.5 Automatic 27.950 53003912
    XJ 89/93 2.5 Automatic 27.970 53005540
    XJ 89/01 2.5 Manual 25.310 53005541
    XJ 89/01 4.0 Automatic 30.660 53005542
    XJ 89/01 4.0 Manual 29.250 53005543
    XJ 89/00 4.0 Manual 27.080 Export 53005544
    XJ 89/00 4.0 Automatic 28.620 Export 53005545
    XJ 87/88 4.0 Automatic Export 53005260 *
    XJ 95/01 Diesel 27.640 Export 52098208


    ZJ 1993 4.0 Automatic 30.530 52098341
    ZJ 93/95 5.2 Automatic 32.870 w/o CV 53008427
    ZJ 94/95 5.2 A500 30.625 w/o CV 52087805
    ZJ 94/95 4.0 A500 w/o CV 52098790
    ZJ 93/96 4.0 Manual 52098344
    ZJ 93/96 4.0, 5.2 31.875 w/ 231, 242 52087805
    ZJ 93/95 4.0 Manual 30.000 w/231 52088090
    ZJ 93/96 5.2 33.000 w/ 231 53008427
    ZJ 96/98 5.2, 5.9 31.250 w/ 249 & Model 30 52098379
    ZJ 1996 5.2 Automatic 32.875 w/ 249 & Model 30 52098501
    ZJ 96/98 4.0 33.000 w/ 242 52098707
    ZJ 96/97 4.0 Automatic 31.250 52098850
    ZJ 1996 5.2 Automatic 30.750 w/ 249 & Model 30 52099246
    ZJ 96/98 4.0 33.500 w/ 249 52099260

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.

    Perhaps the hack n tap is making up for that difference in length? I'm assuming that with all that info on shaft lengths I can install the sye, measure as if I were finding length to order new cv shaft and buy the front shaft that closest fits my measurement

    I really have no idea what the measurement changes are for a hack-n-tap vs a traditional SYE, sorry... The good news is that you can install the SYE and then get the measurement you'll need for an installed length go from there. 1995+ XJs are safe to drive in 4hi without a rear shaft. They have a different output shaft seal so they won't leak like older models did. Get it installed, then measure from where the center of the ujoint caps would be (to make it easier, to the surface where the ujoint strap will touch on the yoke). Subtract 1.5" from that for safety and that's your compressed length.

    Jerry / Whatevah

    2020 Gladiator Mojave - 33" Falken mud tires, LoD side steps, Zroadz bed rack, Quadratec QRC winch bumper, Superwinch EPi 9.0, Kleinn on-board air, Kleinn air horns, lots of lights, Yaesu ham radio with GPS tracker.

    Gone- 2012 JK Rubicon with stuff. Long gone- Long-arm 2001 Cherokee with stuff.

    I have used several xj front sdrive shafts for the reardriveshaft imy old yj
    I have found two typs
    solid bar and tube
    you want the tube type with the cv joinit coming out of the front of the transfercast
    lI had mine shortened to my neds

    not to confuse but you can also pick up a jeep np208
    it is stronger than the 231 and has a sye from the factory
    you find them tn yhe old
    grand waggoneers
    they could handle the v8 power
    some skid plate/ mount fabraction needs to be don't to provide clearance for the larger case
    it was a fun mod for me
    also had to work out someshift linkage issue

    Quote from YJpotter91


    Picked up a shaft probably gonna do everything next weekend


    I'm curious to see how this turns out for you as well... I hope it turns out okay! :mrgreen:

    1989 Wrangler (Islander package) [_]IIIII[_]
    SOA lift (I don't remember the specifics, sorry!)
    33x12.50"/15 BFG tires (I had these), OBA, CB
    Black American Racing AR767 wheels

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