Installing a Slip Yoke Eliminator (SYE) in a Jeep Cherokee
This weekend I installed in Jenny’s Jeep Cherokee the SYE equipped 231 that I built last fall. Our plan was to use a stock front drive shaft in the rear and to remove the transfer case lowering blocks that had to be used to align the drive shaft previously.
Before I began, I coated my hands with Market America Clear shield.
I began by removing the original transfer case. As described in a previous article I installed the SYE in a spare 231 case. The Slip Yoke Eliminator kit can be installed with the transfer case still in place under Jeep.
I began by draining the fluid from the transfer case. Then I removed the rear drive shaft and disconnecting the front shaft from the T case. To remove the transfer case, I supported the transmission and dropped the cross member. I also disconnected the exhaust that the cat flange to get a little more working room.
Next I used a 9/16 box end wrench to remove four of the six bolts that hold the transfer case to the transmission. I used a socket and long extension to get to the two behind the linkage bracket.
With the old transfer case out of the way, I put the modified case up. I had an assistant turn the output shaft to align the splines while I pushed the case into place. Then I tightened the six nuts that hold the case in place.
I lifted the transmission back into place and reinstalled the cross member. Next I reconnected the exhaust and the shift linkage. Then I filled the case with fluid.
The trouble began when I went to hook up the rear drive shaft. The shaft that I had pulled for this purpose would not reach. It was simply not long enough. It also had trouble sliding on the slip joint. So, I rummaged around the barn and found another front shaft. This one slipped in and out easily and reached just fine.
We bolted up the front shaft and took it for a short test run. A very short test run. As soon as we backed it out of the barn, it was obvious that the advice we had read in an internet forum about what shims to use was completely wrong. The drive shaft angle was completely wrong.
I made a few measurements and found we needed 7 degree shims. A call to our local 4wd shop revealed they did not stock them. We chased a few leads they gave us only to find dead ends. As we were ready to give up for the day and possibly the weekend, Jenny used her new Droid phone to research and found Summit racing, 142 miles away, had them. She called and found they had six and eight degree shims in stock but no sevens.
I expected our trip to Golden Mountain was postponed again, but she jumped in my truck and was waiting for them to open the next morning and had shims back at the shop by noon. Determined to go off roading this one is.
I unbolted the spring pack and installed the six degree shims. With it all back together and better aligned, we took it for another test drive. Much better, but there was still a nasty vibration.
Back in the shop I found that the shaft I had grabbed had a lot of play in the double cardon part. So we swapped her front shaft to the rear and made a test run. This time it was vibe free.
I hammered the other shaft apart and greased the splines to get it to slide. Once it was flexible enough I installed it in the front. A quick test run showed some noise but the vibes were at an acceptable level.
Monday we packed up and drove 111 miles to Golden Mountain Off Road Park in Sparta, TN. She had no problem going seventy miles per hour on the interstate following me with my rig on the trailer.
The SYE equipped Jeep handled very well on the trails. Jenny enjoyed the extra clearance that she got from removing the spacers as well.
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Jeep Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit (SYE) NP231 US $230.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday May-22-2012 10:13:35 PDT | Watch this Item |
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JEEP 231J TRANSFER CASE WITH SLIP YOKE ELIMINATOR US $879.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday May-22-2012 14:00:00 PDT | Watch this Item |
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87-06 Wrangler Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit NP231 Transfers US $179.95 Auction Ends: Tuesday May-22-2012 21:31:42 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Jeep Wrangler NP231 Mega Short Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit (1987-2006) US $299.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 9:00:45 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Jeep Wrangler TJ Slip Yoke Eliminator Drive shaft Kit # Kit11 US $419.98 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 17:10:29 PDT | Watch this Item |
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1987-2006 Jeep Wrangler NP231 Slip Yoke Eliminator NEW! US $179.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 19:30:21 PDT | Watch this Item |
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JEEP YJ TJ WRANGLER MEGA SHORT SLIP YOKE ELIMINATOR KIT # 18676.72 US $283.98 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 19:41:15 PDT | Watch this Item |
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JEEP MEGA SHORT SLIP YOKE ELIMINATOR SPEED SENSOR # 18676.71 US $75.15 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 21:47:25 PDT | Watch this Item |
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JEEP WRANGLER YJ TJ 87-06 SLIP YOKE ELIMINATOR KIT SYE # 18676.6 US $186.38 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 22:29:13 PDT | Watch this Item |
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Jeep YJ TJ Wrangler New Slip Yoke Eliminator Kit NP231 # 18676.6 US $179.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday May-23-2012 22:32:10 PDT | Watch this Item |
