Hi,

I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the front
end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the collar was
permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently broke and now I have
no front drive.

My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.

Any opinions on this?

I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
spend on first. Has anyone out there rigged a cheaper home made
alternative to the Posi-lock?

For relatively little cost, I could replace the hoses and harness to
restore the vacuum actuation, but the system is known to be failure
prone. So, can I expect reasonably reliable operation with new hoses and
careful installation, or should I just weld it and forget it?

Thanks,

Steve

 

Hi Steve,
It was nice for a while to drive around like a Real Jeep, wasn't
it? Some here whom have never experienced the handling of free wheeling
front end will argue, though. Without taking it apart it would be hard
to say if your axle spines are all burred up like I see picture of on
the internet. I would say the repair would be more reliable if you
converted to the one piece TJ axle. If you liked the feeling you may
switch to Warn Hubs and stronger 44 axles at the same time:
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/yjwarnaxle/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Steve wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the front
> end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the collar was
> permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently broke and now I have
> no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
> having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
> Any opinions on this?
>
> I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
> ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
> spend on first. Has anyone out there rigged a cheaper home made
> alternative to the Posi-lock?
>
> For relatively little cost, I could replace the hoses and harness to
> restore the vacuum actuation, but the system is known to be failure
> prone. So, can I expect reasonably reliable operation with new hoses and
> careful installation, or should I just weld it and forget it?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve

 

Hi Steve,
It was nice for a while to drive around like a Real Jeep, wasn't
it? Some here whom have never experienced the handling of free wheeling
front end will argue, though. Without taking it apart it would be hard
to say if your axle spines are all burred up like I see picture of on
the internet. I would say the repair would be more reliable if you
converted to the one piece TJ axle. If you liked the feeling you may
switch to Warn Hubs and stronger 44 axles at the same time:
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/yjwarnaxle/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Steve wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the front
> end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the collar was
> permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently broke and now I have
> no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
> having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
> Any opinions on this?
>
> I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
> ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
> spend on first. Has anyone out there rigged a cheaper home made
> alternative to the Posi-lock?
>
> For relatively little cost, I could replace the hoses and harness to
> restore the vacuum actuation, but the system is known to be failure
> prone. So, can I expect reasonably reliable operation with new hoses and
> careful installation, or should I just weld it and forget it?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve

 

Hi Steve,
It was nice for a while to drive around like a Real Jeep, wasn't
it? Some here whom have never experienced the handling of free wheeling
front end will argue, though. Without taking it apart it would be hard
to say if your axle spines are all burred up like I see picture of on
the internet. I would say the repair would be more reliable if you
converted to the one piece TJ axle. If you liked the feeling you may
switch to Warn Hubs and stronger 44 axles at the same time:
http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/axle/yjwarnaxle/
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Steve wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the front
> end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the collar was
> permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently broke and now I have
> no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
> having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
> Any opinions on this?
>
> I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
> ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
> spend on first. Has anyone out there rigged a cheaper home made
> alternative to the Posi-lock?
>
> For relatively little cost, I could replace the hoses and harness to
> restore the vacuum actuation, but the system is known to be failure
> prone. So, can I expect reasonably reliable operation with new hoses and
> careful installation, or should I just weld it and forget it?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve

 

"Steve" <xjlfter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:kSLyb.2417$IF6.105913@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the
> front end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the
> collar was permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently
> broke and now I have no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering
> if having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel
> consumption.
>

The TJ and newer XJ owners will tell you that it doesn't make any
difference, but a good rule of thumb with any mechanical device is that if
it is making noise that you can hear then it is using fuel and wearing
something out. Jeep stopped using the vacuum disconnect to save the cost of
manufacturing a vehicle, and for no other reason. That is my story and I am
sticking to it. Otoh if you are short on cash or want to use it for other
upgrades then just weld the fork again. The actual amount of fuel use and
accelerated wear that you will experience isn't enough to worry about.

Earle

 

"Steve" <xjlfter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:kSLyb.2417$IF6.105913@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the
> front end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the
> collar was permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently
> broke and now I have no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering
> if having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel
> consumption.
>

The TJ and newer XJ owners will tell you that it doesn't make any
difference, but a good rule of thumb with any mechanical device is that if
it is making noise that you can hear then it is using fuel and wearing
something out. Jeep stopped using the vacuum disconnect to save the cost of
manufacturing a vehicle, and for no other reason. That is my story and I am
sticking to it. Otoh if you are short on cash or want to use it for other
upgrades then just weld the fork again. The actual amount of fuel use and
accelerated wear that you will experience isn't enough to worry about.

Earle

 

"Steve" <xjlfter@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:kSLyb.2417$IF6.105913@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Hi,
>
> I have a '90 XJ with the vacuum actuated axle engagement in the
> front end. The previous owner had welded the fork so that the
> collar was permanently locked on the axles. The weld recently
> broke and now I have no front drive.
>
> My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
> disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering
> if having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel
> consumption.
>

The TJ and newer XJ owners will tell you that it doesn't make any
difference, but a good rule of thumb with any mechanical device is that if
it is making noise that you can hear then it is using fuel and wearing
something out. Jeep stopped using the vacuum disconnect to save the cost of
manufacturing a vehicle, and for no other reason. That is my story and I am
sticking to it. Otoh if you are short on cash or want to use it for other
upgrades then just weld the fork again. The actual amount of fuel use and
accelerated wear that you will experience isn't enough to worry about.

Earle

 

>My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
>disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
>having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
>Any opinions on this?
>
>I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
>ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
>spend on first.
>Steve
>
If one of your upgrades is going to be an automatic locker for the
front, get the Posi-Lock, it's less than $200.00, and fairly easy to
do. There are people that have made their own, check on the
JeepsUnlimited forum, probably find something there.

Good luck
Tookie - Denham Springs, LA
88YJ,"Money Hungry"
4" lift, 33" TSLs, Lock-Rights
PosiLock, 4.10s

 

>My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
>disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
>having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
>Any opinions on this?
>
>I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
>ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
>spend on first.
>Steve
>
If one of your upgrades is going to be an automatic locker for the
front, get the Posi-Lock, it's less than $200.00, and fairly easy to
do. There are people that have made their own, check on the
JeepsUnlimited forum, probably find something there.

Good luck
Tookie - Denham Springs, LA
88YJ,"Money Hungry"
4" lift, 33" TSLs, Lock-Rights
PosiLock, 4.10s

 

>My first inclination was to simply weld it up again, but after driving
>disengaged, I've noticed less highway noise and I got to wondering if
>having it permanently locked might increase wear and fuel consumption.
>
>Any opinions on this?
>
>I know that the somewhat pricey manual Posi-lock shifter would be the
>ideal solution, but I have a long list of other upgrades I'd rather
>spend on first.
>Steve
>
If one of your upgrades is going to be an automatic locker for the
front, get the Posi-Lock, it's less than $200.00, and fairly easy to
do. There are people that have made their own, check on the
JeepsUnlimited forum, probably find something there.

Good luck
Tookie - Denham Springs, LA
88YJ,"Money Hungry"
4" lift, 33" TSLs, Lock-Rights
PosiLock, 4.10s