Rear swaybar swap out from Grand Cherokee to XJ

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bradleyheathhays

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Lexington, KY

• May 13, 2014

• #1

I heard a while back that I can get rear sway bar off a junkyard Grand Cherokee and swap onto my '96 XJ for much better stability. What years Grand Cherokees will this work with; what models should I be looking for in the junk yards?

Thanks

 

9

93gc40

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Visalia, California

• May 13, 2014

• #2

I think you miss understood. I think what you saw was referring to the front bar not the rear. The front from any year ZJ will fit, although IIRc only the V8 bars are heavier than the XJs bar. Don't know and have never heard of the rear bar being swapped in. Most people remove the rear bar from the XJ.

 

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bradleyheathhays

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Lexington, KY

• May 13, 2014

• #3

Ah gotcha. So suggestion for removing the rear sway bay is for trail riding XJs only? Mine's a on the road DD.

 

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davidb0986

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Collins, CO

• May 13, 2014

• #4

No, many remove the rear regardless. IIRC, the Upcountry equipped models came from the factory with no rear sway.

 

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93gc40

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Visalia, California

• May 13, 2014

• #5

The rear bar is mainly removed for off road use.. Beside the fact that it is sooo small it doesn't do much anyway. That said, the rear bar on a ZJ or WJ will be heavier than the one from an XJ. I wouldn't think it would be too hadr to adapt to an XJ. Doubt its a "bolt-on" mod, but shouldn't be too difficult to adapt.

 

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solomon7

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Portland OR

• May 13, 2014

• #6

Rear sway bar is unnecessary unless one is towing a heavy load at high speed on swervy undulating roads.

 

techno1154

NAXJA Member

NAXJA Member

Location

In the islands

• May 13, 2014

• #7

93gc40 said:

I think you miss understood. I think what you saw was referring to the front bar not the rear. The front from any year ZJ will fit, although IIRc only the V8 bars are heavier than the XJs bar. Don't know and have never heard of the rear bar being swapped in. Most people remove the rear bar from the XJ.

Click to expand...

I did not know the front sway bar on the V8 equipped WJ was bigger than the one on the XJ. I will be looking at this closely the next time I go to a Pick-Your-Part.

The plain Jane '94 XJ I used to have did come with a rear sway bar the removal of which was my first mod. I could not tell a difference with it removed. The Up Country I have now did not come with one.

 

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93gc40

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Visalia, California

• May 17, 2014

• #8

IDK, if the sway bars from the V8 ZJ is bigger, just an assumption. Since the tie rod is heavier, the sway bar may also be heavier. The WJ stuff may also be heavier, being a more STREET oriented rig in the first place. IF the WJ stuff can be adapted I doubt it matters which motor the donor has.. Cause I'd bet the 4.0 I6 is just as heavy if not heavier than the WJ 4.6 V8.

 

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O-Gauge Steamer

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Colorado Springs, Colorado

• May 17, 2014

• #9

If on road stability is the goal, then I would suggest that you look into the Addco line of sway bars. They have been building these for decades...

Link:
http://www.addco.net/aftermarket/catalog/jeep/

I am considering replacing the stock bars in the Wife's ZJ with a set of Addco units.

 

Talyn

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Radford, Communistwealth of Virginia

• May 17, 2014

• #10

Addco is the way to go.

The ZJ V8 bars are nothing to write home about and the WJ bars aren't much better... including the fact that they went with hollow bars at some point.

O-Gauge Steamer said:

I am considering replacing the stock bars in the Wife's ZJ with a set of Addco units.

Click to expand...

If you do go this route on the ZJ I recommend the Addco front bar for the earlier ZJ and change the end links to the earlier style (XJ style). The addco bars for the later ZJ have a goofy 90* piece to use the stock later end links.