Somebody slap me n tell me why this won't work...

[WrenchMonkey]

Okay, I don't know if I'm thinking outside the box, or not even thinkin outside my butt. I'm sure someone will let me know...

As I understand it, the Dana 44 in the front of an old Scout was a pass-drop, low-pinion, standard-rotation setup. Anybody know if this is incorrect?

Okay, assuming this is right, it would all be exactly the opposite if what I'd want for my XJ, unless...

I flip the axle end for end.

Okay, bear with me. Obviously, the pass side diff is now on the drivers side. And just as obviously, the pinion moves up, cause the axle's upside-down. But this is where the abstract thinking starts to make my brain hurt.

Normally, if you were to flip an axle like this, the wheels would turn the wrong way.

(Say the driveshaft spins clockwise. The diff turns the wheels so that the top of the wheel turns forward, and the bottom move aft. If you flip the axle, what was the top of the tire is now on the ground. If you continue to spin the driveshaft clockwise, the top-now-bottom of the tire will still move forward. The wheel turns backwards. Got it?)

BUT! The Scout axle is standard rotation, while the XJ, we all know, is reverse. Doesn't this mean that the front driveshaft on a Scout will spin the opposite direction as the one on my Cherokee? And, if it does, doesn't that mean that I could spin it backwards and upside-down, and it'd go? Like forward?

Does this make any sense at all?

Can anyone see if any of my assumptions are off?

And is it possible that this might actually work?

Okay, commence with the finger pointing and giggling, I'm just dyin to get made fun of...

Robert

 

[Kejtar]

what about lubrication?? Since it's upside down everything changes... You'd probably be better of taking the tubes out and retubing it.

 

[xj92]

I'm no expert on it, but I see a few problems
1. The axle is designed to get oil to the gears, flip it upside down and the oil won't get to the gears.
2. The teeth are directional so that they have stronger engagement going forward, so you wouldn't have the strength spinning it in reverse. That's why an HP30 has a different gearset than a LP30.
3. Caster or Camber (I get the two mixed up) will be off.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Okay, I didn't even think of lubrication...

I did realize that steering would be a nightmare, if not totally impossible.

Just one of those, "Hey, why don't nobody do this?" kind of idea...

Thanks...

 

[Safari Ary]

What's throwing you off is that "Reverse Rotation" is a mis-nomer. In reality it is reverse spiral, which allows the gears to spin in the same direction even though the pinion is now on top as opposed to down low. So, your idea won't work, sorry...

Ary

 

[WrenchMonkey]

What's throwing you off is that "Reverse Rotation" is a mis-nomer. In reality it is reverse spiral, which allows the gears to spin in the same direction even though the pinion is now on top as opposed to down low. So, your idea won't work, sorry...

Ary

Well,. I figured it probably wouldn't work. I was just lookin for reasons why it wouldn't...

... and you guys have shown me several... :dunce:

Thanks again

 

[MaXJohnson]

as already mentioned, castor and camber would be off. Castor would be negative, which would be very bad. Also, steering axis inclination, SAI would be backwards. This would have major impact on tire scriub. The negative castor and reversed SAI would encourage the tires to turn rather than return to center.

You would have one wicked steering Jeep.

 

[BrettM]

one more vote for "you're out of your mind"

the axle WILL spin backwards, which would be pretty entertaining to see what breaks first when you throw it in 4 wheel

all aspects of the steering would be way off

don't feel too bad, this gets asked a couple times a month

 

[Stick]

OUCH !!! just thinking about that made my head hurt.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

don't feel too bad, this gets asked a couple times a month

THAT was the one thing I didn't wanna hear. I don't post much, but I read a LOT of what goes on here, and never saw it proposed. I even did a search, and didn't find anything.

I just hate rehashin schidt everybody's seen before...

But thanks again for all the <ahem> insight

Robert

 

[BrettM]

don't worry about it, when I say a couple times a month, I'm probably thinking between the 3 boards I frequent. But it has been brought up here occasionally. Really I see it that it's more the fault of people incorrectly calling the axles "reverse rotations" when in fact the rotate the same way.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Yeah, that's new to me, I had never heard that before...

Learn somethin new everyday, huh? Guess I'm covered for today...

Thanks,
Robert