Jeep XJ Cherokee to WJ Knuckle and Brake Swap and your options. 

Thanks for the compliment! I drove it to Moab for EJS and back and the brakes did amazing!

Thanks for the concern but they're rated at 3 tons each and the whole jeep is maybe 2.5 tons.

hello , can you send the link to the rotor drill jig. thanks.

Can you use spacers and the wj hub and rotor to change to 5x5 along with the wj brakes

Who is SFR?

@@garyvanmeter4911 Stinky Fab Racing

Thanks CK!

Thanks!!

My pleasure. I appreciate the compliments!!

Thanks!!

I had to google that, hadn't heard of that kit. Not cheap but very cool.

For sure not cheap, but worth it if you are doing enough highway miles. I was able to find mine at an unbeatable price, like half of what they usually go for. There are two kits, and WU07 and WU08. The 07 kit basically uses the hubs from a Ranger, so you get to keep your 4.5" bolt circle. The 08 kit uses a much stronger Ford half ton hub, but you also change to a 5.5" bolt circle. It holds up to bigger tires much better. I got tired of swapping out the unit bearings every couple years. The draw back is that you pretty much get stuck with the factory brake calipers, until now. Most sane ppl will just go to 1 ton axles, and then you solve two problems at once. Overall, I'm still below the cost of going with 1 tons, and the WJ brake works well on the CJ7 rotor, they are very similar in diameter and thickness.

@@7t2z28 That's awesome! I'll have to keep these kits in mind.

That’s a fantastic idea! Awesome to know it’ll go right in. Thanks for sharing this option!!

@@4HIGHGARAGE I measured everything multiple times before pulling the trigger on the swap. I think the spring perches were out slightly wider but all the link brackets lined up. Since the bolt pattern is now different, I could use gladiator/JL rims from ebay for correct backspacing with no wheel spacers

@@mackenzieclancy959 I assume this gave you 5 x 5 on the front, but rear was still 4.5 x 5. So did you use spacers for the rear to make them all the same? I like this idea as everybody with a JL sells their takeoff wheels and tires.

@@garyvanmeter4911 I also swapped the rear out of the wj. Unlike the front however nothing lined up, I cut off all the brackets and spring buckets and welded on new ones in the right place. Spacers on the tj axles would have worked too because they're narrower than the wj that I swapped into the front

Tim the knuckles should be the same between a 4wd or 2wd axle. So the brake upgrade should work. I'm not sure how the steering will clear the sway bar bracket on the passenger side. You'll have to just plan on doing some custom work there like I did. Just may not be the same. If you haven't watched the follow up video to this one it's on the CavFab steering instal. You'll see what I had to modify in that video.

Glad it helped. Thanks for the comment.

I had my Miller 140 turned all the way up for welding the spacers. Couldn't say the exact amps, just all of them. I have a second video where I do the CavFab steering set up install for tie rod, drag link, and track bar. I also show what I did for the swaybar link mount.

You could mill the hub. However, the bearing hub is a replacement part so the next time you need to replace the hub bearing you’d have to mill the new one. As far as years go I believe all Dana 30 axles this should work on with the exception of JK and up axles. I wana say at that point they changed the axle end or “C” end and the knuckle is different.

It still bolts on and off like usual. At 14:53 in this video you can see me bolt it on.

@@4HIGHGARAGE ahh yea sorry you welded it to the knuckle not the hub! No worries! Cheers

Thanks Bryan. I do mention and show it in my conclusion. It’s at the 22:50 mark. They are also only used if you’re going to run the WJ hub and the 5x5 lug pattern. What I forgot to give is the specs on the longer bolt I used. I also have had a few other questions people have asked so I think I’ll shoot a follow up video stay tuned.

@@4HIGHGARAGE Thanks for the response. I am going to stay with the XJ hubs, and am going to drill WJ rotors instead of using the ford rotors. So if I understand correctly...I shouldn't need the caliper spacers? Thanks in advance I appreciate any help. Never mind I just watched the end of your video a little bit more completely and you answered my question and in your comment to I just noticed. Great video thanks again!

Just being silly. Gota come up with some new pocket snack ideas. LoL.

Since a spacer is needed to just the JL Rubicon rims anyway I just went with a Spencer/adapter.

In Texas everything is hot. LOL. If the sand was outside in the winter the shock of the cold sand probably would be a problem but the sand will take and hold the heat from the knuckle and then slowly cool it down. The casting was likely made in sand for the same reasons. However the oven sugestion is still a better idea. Could have saved me 40 bucks in sand! Thanks for the idea!!

@@4HIGHGARAGE If you use the oven I'd wait till your wife is out shopping. Mine wasn't impressed. 😉 When I was a young man a farmer I worked for showed me how to braze a cracked exhaust manifold using a coal fire. The pre and post heating was very similar but slower.

@@MatthewBerginGarage Thanks! My wife doesn't watch my videos so I'm good. Hahaha

Yes it is mandatory. The XJ caliper will not mount to the WJ knuckle. You can still use your XJ hub and rotor so you can maintain your rims and tires.

I know it wont work for stock XJ or ZJ steering because those are a Y-link style steering. It might work with a stock WJ steering since they're WJ knuckles.

No. You're upgrading to WJ style steering.

@@michaelengelhardt5296 If I remember correctly they’re in the same place. All the Cherokees from 2000 forward including the grand Cherokee (WJ) were all a low pinon Dana 30. Keeping the high pinon Dana 30 in my 1999 XJ is preferable. Keeps the pinion and front driveshaft out of the rocks.

@4HIGHGARAGE ik they are both high pinion d30 but the wj is 65 in mounting surface instead of 60 inch. But idk about control arm mounts, tracj bar mount or spring perches.

@@michaelengelhardt5296 Ah I didn’t remember that. Guess is the control arms line up it be a decent swap. I’m running spacers for the JL rims I’m running even though it’s the same lug pattern the wheel offset requires the spacer. So a wider axle would do the same thing.

I didn't try but word is they will work with the right back spacing and maybe a little clearing of the calipers.

Bushwacker www.bushwacker.com/jeep-flat-style-flares/1999/jeep/cherokee

Ford explorer sport track if I remember correctly.

OEM number- original manufacturer number.

@@pedrocastelar7524 not sure but i used Raybestos 680027 is it's part number. Hope that helps.

I'll be honest I can't say. But this was a major question needed to be answer in my video. I just forgot about it since I was going with a 17" rim. I think I'll have to gather a few of these questions and do a follow up video. Stay tuned.

I did it using 15" rims and there is just enough clearance, but I think it also depends on the rim itself and the backspacing that it has.

@@gzrgldr8288 100% agree. Thanks for sharing!

They’re the stock XJ lug pattern so you can use your same rims.

@@4HIGHGARAGE ok, but is there still a 2mm offset issue if you go with the WJ rotors and Xj hubs?

@@bmonden no. The WJ hat should have the right offset and be centered in the caliper.

This is true!

Fair point.

Hahaha. Just some stupid fun. You should check out my headliner video for even stupider snack time.