'97 Jeep XJ Brakes

[Ah Pook]

Stopped into the local O'Reilly's today looking for brake parts. Asked for rear drums and shoes and the counter guy asks 9.25" of 10". I gave my best dumb look. Did a '95 XJ years ago and there were no choices? The odd thing was he kept asking if it was a Wangler. Calling NAPA tomorrow but was wondering if one was more popular than then the other. Of course both have to be ordered.

So far, my solution is to get both and go from there.

TIA!

[BPTactical]

All the parts your car will ever need
RockAuto

[ray1970]

Most parts people these days don?t know parts. They have a computer that prompts them to enter information to drill down to where the parts are.

I?m no parts guy but if you didn?t know which deferential you had I would have looked up the drums and pads for both options and looked to see if the part numbers were the same. Chances are they used the same drums and shoes regardless of which axle it had.

On a related note, I switched where I get my Harley parts when I found a guy that knows his stuff. I went to two different dealers looking for a belt and was told by both of them that it was on national back order for months. Tried a third dealer and the guy looked it up, referenced that it was on back order, and asked if I cared whether the little Harley logo on the belt was orange or white. Apparently this unobtainable belt was just the latest iteration of the past and this guy had plenty of belts in stock if I didn?t care that they weren?t the latest and greatest part number with the orange logo. This guy knew parts. The other dealers only knew what the computer told them.

[Erni]

Fun fact. When orileys orders your parts they get them from rock auto.

[Great-Kazoo]

They have this thing called a Vin # to verify what it is. When in doubt, i provide that and usually resolves the issue. Easiest way is to pull the wheels and measure them, or look at the drum, the size is on the drum.

[SouthPaw]

Buy both, return the ones you don’t use.

As a former auto parts guy, you do sometimes get prompted with weird questions. Chrysler did have some different axle choices in the 90’s-early 2000’s. Chrysler 8.25, Dana 35 and Dana 44. I can’t confirm, but they may have used a different drum between them.

[eddiememphis]

They have this thing called a Vin # to verify what it is. When in doubt, i provide that and usually resolves the issue.

That works at the dealer, not at the junk parts stores.

Did Rock Auto resume shipping to Colorado? I know for a while they stopped when they had to start collecting sales tax.

[thebolt]

Rock Auto is shipping to Colorado. I received an order today.

[XJ]

Swap in an 8.8 and you’ll have disks back there.

[Great-Kazoo]

That works at the dealer, not at the junk parts stores.

Did Rock Auto resume shipping to Colorado? I know for a while they stopped when they had to start collecting sales tax.

He went to oreally. Any reputable auto parts store can identify what parts are needed by the vin #. Unfortunately, i can identify what parts i need, before most of "todays counter help" can, on their computer system.

Either way it's not an issue as we're going to stick it on the lift in my shop, this monday.