Hiya,

Need to replace a broken front axle on a 98 Grand Cherokee V-8. What other years will fit and are the gear ratios the same or do I need to get a tag number or other such thing to make sure I get the right one? Thanks for the help.

Absolutly get the same ratio as the back!!
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Did you break a axle shaft OR did you break the Dana 30 Axle housing itself? IF you broke a shaft only then it doesn't matter what gearing you have as any shaft you get from a Dana 30 that is non Vacuum Disconnect will fit, the down side is that your Dana 30 has CV joints instead of U-Joints because you have a V8 and it is all wheel drive, if you go offroading alot then upgrading to u-joints will be better but if you drive mainly on the street then you can get a new shaft with a CV-joint from a parts store for like $75 bucks. You will have either 3:55 gears or 3.73 gears in the axles depending on if your truck has the towing package (i.e... towing hitch and associated wiring for towing and a transmission cooler in front of your radiator), I know that you have a Dana 44A (aluminum housing, with axle shafts held in with C-clips) because you have a 98 and it is also a V-8. The best way to see what gearing you have is to look at the axle cover and there should be a rectangular "tag" with a whole bunch of numbers on it attached to the cover with 2 of the mounting bolts. IF within the series of numbers you see 355 then you have 3:55 gearing, IF you see 373 then you have 3:73 gearing. Post a pic of the tag if you have trouble reading it. Hope this helps.

Fred R.

Also forgot to mention this but ANY Dana 30 front axle from a grand cherokee years 93-98, any year Cherokee 90-01 (this is a favorable axle because the Dana 30 from a Cherokee is a high pinion and the ring gear is stronger than the conventional Dana 30) also with cherokees earlier than 90 you run the risk of getting a vacuum disconnect unit (VERY BAD) or any wrangler TJ 97-01 is a DIRECT bolt on, you just have to make sure that you have the same gearing...

Fred R.

The housing itself is broken. It's not my vehicle it belongs to one of my customers. She doesn't off-road except when a deer jumps in front of her. She took a nose dive into the ditch with it.

I am very aware that the front a rear gears have to match. My question was whether there were different ratios for that year. Apparently there are two choices.

Thanks for the info. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I betcha there are at least 4 choices for that or most years.. All the way from 3:07 to 4:11..
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Just went to where the truck is. It's a 3.73. Is that pretty much all I need to know? I need it to be a simple replacement with the same thing it already has.

YEP that is all you need to know. Also BigJim is right that XJ's and TJ's came with those 4 gearing options depending on what engine and tranmission that where on those jeep's so make sure you ckeck what the axle's gearing is before you buy. It will probably be easier to find the 3:73's you need if you look at Grand Cherokee ZJ's as they only came with two ratios which depended on the jeep having a tow package or not so it'll be an quicker find... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Fred R.

Ok, so what model year range will get me an exact replacement? I'm a bit comfuzzled. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

The thing is that it can be any year Grand Cherokee from 93 to 98 because in all of these years there were Grand Cherokee's with the 3:73 gears because they were offered with the tow package option. You will have a HIGHER probability of getting a Dana 30 with 3:73 gears out of ANY year V8 model Grand Cherokee as the vast majority of these came with the tow package and the gears you need but there were some I-6 that came with it to (my ZJ has an I-6 with 3:73's & tow package). Hope this helps.

Fred R.