The front drivers side of my axle tube is slightly bent where it comes out of the pumpkin. It is the short tube, and it is bent up slightly, but it is definitely noticeable by the camber of the wheel. I'm guessing it happened when I hit a stump while snow wheeling, that I didn't see over a little hill, and covered in powder, but it may be caused from a combination of things, because I have probably hit rocks harder than that, just on the trails. The question is, is it possible to get the axle pulled, or pressed, to be straightened, then re enforced with welded on gussets. I know it Isn't too major, because since I have noticed it, I have put on over 300 miles, and have been driving for over 4 weeks, but I don't want to do any 4 wheeling until I get it fixed. Also, i have a feeling that that is what is making my diff seals leak. It is too late tonight, but I will take, and post some pictures tomorrow if i can get around to it.

Maybe you should look for nother one..
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I have one from a 93 wrangler, in my back yard. I was just hoping that there would be a way to fix the one that I have. The one from the wrangler will need all new brackets, and it has the vacuum lock thing on the longer axle shaft. the cherokee doesn't have that.

I am not sure about this, but couldn't you use the long axle shaft from the Dana 30 you have in Cherokee the older Dana 30 with the disconnect? You could cut all the brackets off of the current axle and weld them into place on the older axle too. Like I said I haven't tried the shaft swap, but if the splines and the shaft length are correct, I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Sean

Ya, I'm sure that would work fine. Just take out all of the moving parts, and put the solid shaft in.

Heck, another thought, if you are good with setting up axles, you could cut the bent tube out of the cherokee axle, and weld in the short tube from the wrangler axle, then you would only have one set of mounts to cut off and swap over. Me personally I haven't cut tubes yet, so I would just try to find another cherokee axle, but thats just me.

Sean

Ya, I have thought of that too. but I will probably end up doing a complete swap with the yj axle, that way I can put stranger mounts onto it. The stock lower control arm mounts onthe axle are very weak, and bent up, and since I dont have the long arm kit, it puts a little more twist on them.

I do axle housing straightening as part of axle building biz, most times when the long side is bent, if not too severe, with my jigging system I can repair them and they last, more severly bent housings need trussing after straightening, but after doing this sort of work for over 5 years, I can tell you for a fact if you bent the short side to the point that you can see it and have seals leaking, the center section is bent too.
Toss the whole housing, and get a new one.

SD

Yep. that is the same conclusion I came too. I will find a TJ or XJ axle to replace it with. th YJ axle will be too much work to install all of the brackets, and the vacuum disconnect thing is in the way of the right upper control arm mount.

Why don't you just throw a skate board under it? Thats the same strength as the Dana 30. Look at it like this, if you are going to do any swaping of parts why not step it up to an axle that you won't damage?