J20 front and rear axle assemblies swap into 79 Cherokee Wide Track W/T with TH400 and Quadratrac– what all is involved?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:04 pm
I’ve heard of people doing this type of swap and thought it sounded like a good idea.
I’m looking for first-hand experience on what is involved with this and things to know that I did not think about.
Is this a plug and play bolt on swap or does this require bracket moves, welding etc.
Are there year compatibilities or will any J20 axle assembly work.
What ancillary equipment should I get with the J20 axle assemblies?
Axle assemblies – are the locations of the differentials the same between a J20 and the W/T Cherokee. I’m sticking with the Th400 Quadratrac. I thought I read somewhere that the J10s differentials were in a different spot.
Springs – The J20’s are ¾ ton right? Are the J20’s the same height as the Cherokee W/T or will there be an increase in ride height of the Cherokee W/T with the swap if I include the springs? Are the springs plug and play bolt ons?
Drives shafts – are the J-20 drive shafts stronger? Are the U-joints the same? Will the J20 axle assemblies bolt directly to the W/T Cherokee drive shafts or should I get the front and rear drive shafts with the J20 axle assemblies.
Brakes – The fronts are disc and the rears are drums on both right? The rear axle swap would include the drums so the bolt on point for the rear brakes would be the brake line. For the front axle assembly swap are the disc diameters the same? If so, I could just slip the W/T Cherokee calipers onto the J20 disc. Or should I just get the J20 front calipers with the front axle assembly? If I do that, the bolt on is at the end of the brake lines.
Other – tell me what I might have overlooked with the swap
I’m looking for first-hand experience on what is involved with this and things to know that I did not think about.
Is this a plug and play bolt on swap or does this require bracket moves, welding etc.
Are there year compatibilities or will any J20 axle assembly work.
What ancillary equipment should I get with the J20 axle assemblies?
Axle assemblies – are the locations of the differentials the same between a J20 and the W/T Cherokee. I’m sticking with the Th400 Quadratrac. I thought I read somewhere that the J10s differentials were in a different spot.
Springs – The J20’s are ¾ ton right? Are the J20’s the same height as the Cherokee W/T or will there be an increase in ride height of the Cherokee W/T with the swap if I include the springs? Are the springs plug and play bolt ons?
Drives shafts – are the J-20 drive shafts stronger? Are the U-joints the same? Will the J20 axle assemblies bolt directly to the W/T Cherokee drive shafts or should I get the front and rear drive shafts with the J20 axle assemblies.
Brakes – The fronts are disc and the rears are drums on both right? The rear axle swap would include the drums so the bolt on point for the rear brakes would be the brake line. For the front axle assembly swap are the disc diameters the same? If so, I could just slip the W/T Cherokee calipers onto the J20 disc. Or should I just get the J20 front calipers with the front axle assembly? If I do that, the bolt on is at the end of the brake lines.
Other – tell me what I might have overlooked with the swap