Bob's Place?

[Letterman]

Broken axles suck!

The U-joints on stock axles are the first to go:

the U-joint moves and the weak C-Clip pops out, then the cap flys off and there is too much play and the ears are too weak to hold together. Full circle clips help, also tack welding the caps in can help too.

As Bryan C. was posting about, if you drive on a broken front axle the inner axle shaft can slid out and catch the stub, then it will ride up on the outer and push the knuckel apart. Good buy ball joints then the only part holding the wheel on is your stearing and a break line. At highway speed this could be really ugly.

I would never do that . . . again:

Tank Traps at 5pm on a sunday was not the best idea I had that weekend:

Got home at 4 am . . . .

 

[AirForce_XJ]

After I get back from this up coming deployment i am gonna dump some money and by upgraded front and Rear axles (D44's in 4.56) That way i have less to worry about and i will save some gas and not put so much strain on my axles running 35's with the gearing of 3.55. I am still on thge learning curve with all this, but point taken. Starting to stock up on extra parts and keeping my tools in the jeep from now on. :idea:

 

[Bryan C.]

After I get back from this up coming deployment i am gonna dump some money and by upgraded front and Rear axles (D44's in 4.56) That way i have less to worry about and i will save some gas and not put so much strain on my axles running 35's with the gearing of 3.55. I am still on thge learning curve with all this, but point taken. Starting to stock up on extra parts and keeping my tools in the jeep from now on. :idea:

Don't feel bad, we all usually learn thing the hard way. Glad things didn't go totally wrong for you. :cheers:

 

[playwithit]

Back from Bob's, it's nice to get in and out of there early, gotta get the yard work done sometime.

Beautiful day, trails were empty except for a couple of toys, a 250 ford 4 door playing in the 4' deep mud pit and stretched, tubed Sammy attempting upper hells revenge. He made it half way and they were trying to recover him when we left.

I wish their was some of the sierra chapter guys out.

I am really learning how to drive the XJ and am finding it to be very capable on the 31's. The suspension loves to talk to me when it's flexed out.

Well, the grass isn't gonna cut itself:laugh:

 

[Letterman]

After I get back from this up coming deployment i am gonna dump some money and by upgraded front and Rear axles (D44's in 4.56) That way i have less to worry about and i will save some gas and not put so much strain on my axles running 35's with the gearing of 3.55. I am still on thge learning curve with all this, but point taken. Starting to stock up on extra parts and keeping my tools in the jeep from now on. :idea:

I think one should learn to drive what they have now, learn how to drive to not break, because I beleave seat time is the best education.

Then start to streach yourself, once one can understand what can be done and can't be done in the rig they have today, you can understand where you need to upgread.

Just a quick example, look at our own Bryan C., he has wheeled harder trails then most anyone I know on 33's. A few years back we ran Highway 19 and 20 in JV, not easy trails on 37's, but Bryan C. showed some mad skills on 33's:

It is not hard to see the skill of a driver, and the experence one has under his belt, compaird to some that over build before they can even understand how to drive.

Big axles and big money parts may look good in a parking lot, but seat time is everything. I am not trying to talk anyone out of building big but most of the ones I have seen that have gone big, first learned how to dirve, then bilt the bad ass rigs:

Back when I first started wheeling the rig I have now, I was out 2 or 3 times a month, now I have kids I am down to 1 good wheeling trip a month, and most who have wheeled with me know that I need much more seat time, I still just drive the trails to make it home after the trip. :gee:

 

[AirForce_XJ]

I think one should learn to drive what they have now, learn how to drive to not break, because I beleave seat time is the best education.

Then start to streach yourself, once one can understand what can be done and can't be done in the rig they have today, you can understand where you need to upgread.

Just a quick example, look at our own Bryan C., he has wheeled harder trails then most anyone I know on 33's. A few years back we ran Highway 19 and 20 in JV, not easy trails on 37's, but Bryan C. showed some mad skills on 33's:

It is not hard to see the skill of a driver, and the experence one has under his belt, compaird to some that over build before they can even understand how to drive.

Big axles and big money parts may look good in a parking lot, but seat time is everything. I am not trying to talk anyone out of building big but most of the ones I have seen that have gone big, first learned how to dirve, then bilt the bad ass rigs:

Back when I first started wheeling the rig I have now, I was out 2 or 3 times a month, now I have kids I am down to 1 good wheeling trip a month, and most who have wheeled with me know that I need much more seat time, I still just drive the trails to make it home after the trip. :gee:

I think you misunderstood my reasoning for building up my rig. Its not because i think it will make me a better driver. If i know what the weak links are, i can fix them now and then wheel without worrying about whats gonna break. Preventative Maint. is easier to do then fixing something that is already broke. If one thing breaks the chances are that some other link in that chain is on the way to the trail trinket table as well. paying for something once is better then paying for the same part breaking 4 or 5 times.

I am no where near saying a am a good wheeler. I am still learning and will be for a long time. But being around vehicles for a good long while and dealing with different types has made me think ahead a little more. If my rig can handle the hard stuff, i can test my limits and know what I can and cant handle. but this is just IMO. Some might say its a waste of money but i say better to spend alot now once than alot over time. eace:

 

[Letterman]

I really can’t spell at all! :doh:

 

[playwithit]

Compared to the rocks in the pictures Letterman showed, I am sure my couple pics seem pretty tame. We spent our time wheeling not shooting pictures. I have pushed the little XJ pretty good and it has taken everything I have dished out. I am still learning lines and the capabilities of my rig.

I am not looking forward to breaking and I think that was Chris's point. Should be no down side to beef'n the axles. AirForce_XJ is not afraid to attempt much of anything and on those unlocked 35's with unmodded axles, problems will occur. He has pushed me to try thing's I may not have done. As Bryan, Letterman, Phil, Opie and many others know, behind the wheel experience is invaluable and costly at the same time.

Now who has a running Jeep that want's to go to Bob's on Sunday?

 

[hiimmred]

I may be down for a trip to Bob's in a couple of weeks (I've never been and you guys have made me curious)...we've got Hollister next weekend, then I am tied up the following weekend. So maybe in 3 weeks? I'm chomping at the bit here, first big trip this year is dependant on snow melt by Memorial Day weekend, my friend and I want that trip to be the Rubicon. I need some rocks to crawl on, withdrawal very strong right now!!!!!

 

[Rob707]

Compared to the rocks in the pictures Letterman showed, I am sure my couple pics seem pretty tame. We spent our time wheeling not shooting pictures. I have pushed the little XJ pretty good and it has taken everything I have dished out. I am still learning lines and the capabilities of my rig.

I am not looking forward to breaking and I think that was Chris's point. Should be no down side to beef'n the axles. AirForce_XJ is not afraid to attempt much of anything and on those unlocked 35's with unmodded axles, problems will occur. He has pushed me to try thing's I may not have done. As Bryan, Letterman, Phil, Opie and many others know, behind the wheel experience is invaluable and costly at the same time.

Now who has a running Jeep that want's to go to Bob's on Sunday?

Ill be there on sunday. Play around on lower hells and probably give upper hells a try.......

 

[Bryan C.]

Compared to the rocks in the pictures Letterman showed, I am sure my couple pics seem pretty tame. We spent our time wheeling not shooting pictures. I have pushed the little XJ pretty good and it has taken everything I have dished out. I am still learning lines and the capabilities of my rig.

I am not looking forward to breaking and I think that was Chris's point. Should be no down side to beef'n the axles. AirForce_XJ is not afraid to attempt much of anything and on those unlocked 35's with unmodded axles, problems will occur. He has pushed me to try thing's I may not have done. As Bryan, Letterman, Phil, Opie and many others know, behind the wheel experience is invaluable and costly at the same time.

Now who has a running Jeep that want's to go to Bob's on Sunday?

I'll probably still be at Hollister on Sunday. The spring Hollister run is this Saturday.

We are all still figuring out how to drive, and how far we can push our Jeeps. For me Highway 20 was without a doubt the hardest, most technical trail I have ever run. I winched multiple times, broke a rear axle, toasted my Detroit, and winched the final obstacle without even trying it because I only had stock spare shafts at the time. I didn't want to be even more a trail tampon than I already was. Seems like the runs where nothing bad happens I don't really remember, but the bad days are always fresh in my mind. Live and learn.

 

[AirForce_XJ]

I have to add another day to the fix on mine. Got everything disconnected, ready to drop the tranny, but my help had to go to work. I have dropped a tranny alone before....in a VW. Dont wanna break myself or the Jeep. All this for a damn slave cylinder. :flamemad:

 

[AirForce_XJ]

Trail worthy again:conceited