Jeep Cherokee Rear Axle Build
Here are pictures of the first trial fit of the rear axle. Far from done but it’s progress!
It looks good but it is very tight against the leaf springs. There may be 1-1/4″ of space between the tires and the leaf packs.
The passenger side is reasonably flush with the fender flare.
Here is the driver’s side. It has similar spacing. About 15 minutes was spent sliding the axle side to side to try to get the axle centered. This was “close enough” and will be rechecked and measured before the axle spring perches are welded onto the axle tubes.
Here is a photo of the backside of the wheel. It is hard to make out much detail. The Wilwood spot caliper used to act as a parking brake can barely be seen.
This axle is made up the following components:
- 1977 International Scout Dana 44 axle
- ARB air locker
- 4.56:1 gearing
- WARN full float axle shaft conversion
- custom rear disk conversion brackets
- 1993 Suzuki Sidekick front vented rotors and calipers
- Wilwood spot calipers for parking brake
- Cragar Soft 8 wheels (16×8-5″BS)
- Truxus MT 265/75R16 (~32×10.5×16)
If a larger tire is used in the future spacers may need to be added of the wheels changed.
The aluminum differential cover is just a spare part that was lying around from another project. It will be used to break in the gears since it is finned and made of aluminium. It will heep the gears cool during their break-in.