How to Identify Which Front Axle You Have - Jeep Cherokee/ Comanche XJ + MJ

The Dana 30 is standard for all 4wd Jeep Cherokee XJs and Comanche MJs, as well as various other Jeep models. This video focuses on the XJ and MJ, as the Dana 30 has many variants and year changes are different between models.

1985-2001 2WD: Beam Shaft
1984-1991: Dana 30 Standard Cut, HP, CAD
1991-1995: Dana 30 Standard Cut, HP
1991-1995 (w/ABS): Standard Cut, HP (Thicker U-joints)
1996-2000: Dana 30 Standard Cut, HP (Thicker U-joints)
2000-2001: Dana 30 Reverse Cut, LP

All axle shafts are interchangeable: all 27 spline.
Low pinion uses the same axle shafts as high pinion.
All ZJs and TJs use LP axles.
NP242 Equipped XJs never had a CAD system.
YJ Dana 30s are equipped with leaf-under-axle spring perches instead of a 4-link coil setup, and all YJs have a CAD axle.

Jeep switched to a Low Pinion Dana 30 in 2000 so the driveshaft wouldn't interfere with the newly designed California Emissions dual catalyst exhaust manifold. Some 2000 models still use the Federal Emissions exhaust, so some 2000 models might still have a High Pinion Axle, but only early examples.

there is no such thing as a Dana 30 Rear Axle; it's probably the Dana 35.

I've experienced many Dana 30s in many Jeeps:
2001 LP Dana 30: 220,000 miles
1998 HP Dana 30: 235,000 miles
1997 HP Dana 30: 410,000 miles
1987 HP Dana 30 (CAD): 120,000 (Aside from the CAD system, nothing else is wrong with it)
None of them have been rebuilt.

This whole video assumes a previous owner hasn't swapped in a different axle, common upgrades are a Dana 44 or Dana 60.

Also check out the identically-formatted video about the Rear Axle: https://youtu.be/jDWZhzDSWlQ

How to Identify what Transfer Case you have: https://youtu.be/H88TFvHmfo0

Видео How to Identify Which Front Axle You Have - Jeep Cherokee/ Comanche XJ + MJ канала WAEMID IV