As a Jeep owner, knowing your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is essential. It can be conducive when buying parts like axles, as it can help you verify their authenticity.
With your Jeep’s VIN, you can identify its axle model by running it through an online VIN identifier. This will provide your Jeep’s specifications, including the axle model. Alternatively, you can decode the VIN yourself, as each number and letter has a meaningful significance.
For example, the first character indicates the manufacturing location, while the second character reveals the manufacturer’s information.
So whether you’re a car enthusiast or just looking to upgrade your Jeep, decoding your VIN is a cool way to learn more about your vehicle, and I’m about to tell you just how to do it.
What is a VIN?
The VIN stands for Vehicles Identification Number, and every vehicle has one, making no two the same.
Let’s take a look at a breakdown of what this unique number means.
- The first three digits of the VIN represent the manufacturer and country of origin.
- The fourth to eighth is the Vehicle Description Section, which refers to the body, model, and engine.
- The ninth character is the check digit. This verifies its authenticity.
- The tenth character of the VIN is the year of the model.
- The eleventh digit of a VIN refers to the plant where the car was produced.
- The twelfth to seventeenth numbers are the VIS, or Vehicle Identifier, a unique serial number for authenticity validation.
Once you know your car’s VIN, it means you can find out everything there is to know about it, such as manufacturer details and model specifications.
The VIN is usually displayed on the dashboard or engine cylinder block and is a composition of letters and numbers 17 digits long.
If you’re struggling to locate the VIN, try checking the following:
- The cars service records
- Under the windshield
- On the steering column
- Near the firewall
- On the door jam
- Under the hood
Identifying a Jeep’s Axle Using the Vin
So while the VIN might not tell you precisely what the axle is, what it will do is help you to identify the axle model. Once you know this information, you can use the following chart to identify the axle.
| Jeep Model | Year In - Out | Axle | Ring Gear | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ, SW, SJ(G), VJ, PU | 1953-1972/1963-1974 | Dana 25, 27 9” Wide | D25 7-¾” D27 7-⅛” Brake Carrier - 3.73+ 10 Bolts | Carrier End Splines -27 AKA 186mm |
| CJ 5-8, MJ, XJ, WK (SRT8) TJ, Commando, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer | 1960 - Present | Dana 44 10⅜” Wide | Variable 10 Bolts Brake Carrier - Pre-2007 3.93+ after 2007 | Carrier End Splines - 30/31 AKA 220mm |
| CJ 5-8, YJ, XJ, TJ, MJ, KJ, WJ, ZJ, JL, JK | 1966 - Present | Dana 30 9” Wide | 1-⅛” Brake Carrier - 3.73+ 10 Bolts | Carrier End Splines - 27 AKA 186mm |
| CJ 5, CJ 7, CJ 8, Wagoneer | 1976 - 1986 | AMC 20 10¾” Wide | 8-⅞” 8 Bolts Brake Carrier 3.07+ | Carrier End Splines 29 Drum Brakes 11x2”/10x1 ¾” |
| TJ, YJ, ZJ, WJ*, MJ, XJ, JK* | 1987 - Present | Dana 35 10⅝” Wide | 7-9/16” 8 Bolts Brake Carrier 3.54+ | Carrier End Splines 27 AKA 200mm |
| MJ, XJ, XK, KK, WK | 1991 - 2012 | Chrysler 8.25” 11⅜” Wide | 8-¼” 10 Bolts Carrier Brake 2.56+ | Carrier End Splines 27, 29 Metric Ring Gear Bolts 2005-2012 |
Buying A Used Jeep
If you’re buying your Jeep second-hand, it’s essential that you obtain as much information as possible about your vehicle, including the VIN number. This way, you can research the history of the car before opting into any agreement or purchase.
At a Glance
As a Jeep owner, knowing your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is crucial, especially when it comes to troubleshooting and upgrading the axle on a Jeep.
Some online VIN identifiers may be unreliable, especially relating to your specific vehicle. Therefore, the actual documents you received when purchasing your Jeep are the most trustworthy sources, so be sure to keep hold of these when you obtain your vehicle.
