Axle and Bushings - where do I find this info?

[zeke2230]

All,

2000 XJ –

I’m going to replace bushings and get my 14 year old to help me put a 3" lift on, but need to know where to find the following info:

1) Size of swaybar bushings – 23, 24, 25 or 28mm?

2) Which Axle – Dana 35 or Dana 44?

Will the VIN help me get any of this? If so, how...

Sorry if they sound like noob questions, but I' venturing into parts unknown at this point.

Z

[stewie]

compare your rear diff to those here. note, i dont believe the 2000 came with a 44. if you have ABS than its a Dana 35 rear axle. if not, it will most likely be a Chrystler 8.25. the main differance is on the 8.25 there is a flat lip that extends down below the diff cover whereas the bottom of a 35 is oval.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1236/jeepdiferentialssl3.jpg

[zeke2230]

Super - I'm a pictures guy so this makes it foolproof!

Any photos of where I need to measure the sway bar for bushings size?

[tommyr]

Sway bar bushings.....A little tricky & how's your math?
Basically what you are doing is getting the circumference of the bar, dividing by PI and then multiplying by 25.4 in get the diameter in millimeters.

Put a small piece of paper (say 1 inch by about 4 inches) AROUND the sway bar and mark it with a pencil (carefully) where the loose end meets the rest that is wrapped around it. Measure (in inches ) from the edge of the paper to the mark you made (now you will have to convert your measurement to decimal (like 2 1/8 is 2.125, etc). Take this number and divide it by 3.14(PI), then take that result and multiply by 25.4 to convert to millimeters. Clear as mud right? Have your 14yr old help with the math LOL!

[zeke2230]

Ok, I measured the Sway Bar, but came up with 3.25 in which is 82.55 millimeters. I've got to be measuring in the wrong place... so my question is: Where do I measure for the replacement bushings??? The largest size is 28mm, so I know my 82mm measurement is WAY off...a photo with arrow would be appreciated (will keep me from messing up again!)

Thanks.

Z

[johnnyc]

You measure where the stock bushing is. But if I'm not mistaken, the sway bar is the same diameter for its entire length, except for the ends.

Forget all that fancy math. Use a crescent wrench and adjust it to the swaybar. Then measure the gap in the wrench.

Or do what I did. Take a tape measure and lay it on the bar and eyeball it.

Or use a digital caliper if you happen to have one.

[joecool]

Ok, I measured the Sway Bar, but came up with 3.25 in which is 82.55 millimeters. I've got to be measuring in the wrong place... so my question is: Where do I measure for the replacement bushings??? The largest size is 28mm, so I know my 82mm measurement is WAY off...a photo with arrow would be appreciated (will keep me from messing up again!)

Thanks.

Z
Hey, no offense, but you must not be very good with math. Anyway, you measured that the bar was 3.25" in circumference. So
3.25/3.14 = 1.03
1.03*25.4 = 26.1
So according to my calculations and your measurements you have a 26mm sway bar. HTH.
Later,
Joe

[zeke2230]

Actually, I didn't run the calculations... I used a website for metric conversion, but didn't divide by Pi first to reduce from circumference... When doing the formula I just came up with what you did... must not have had enough java this a.m....

My son got a kick out of my math woes though!

Thanks...

[tommyr]

Forget all that fancy math. Use a crescent wrench and adjust it to the swaybar. Then measure the gap in the wrench.

:doh: Now why didn't I think of that ??