I chipped a ring gear yesterday, this is my first D-30 failure ever.
I was using my Jeep as a winching point to recover a Toyota that was having mechanical issues coming up a steep trail. He was pulling himself up when 30 feet from the top his battery died. I decided to just drag the junk to the top in reverse and in the process i must have chipped a tooth. I get a "whomp-whomp-whomp" noise that is consistent with ground speed. I have a tight spot in the R&P at the same spot in rotation each time i rotate the front axle.
It drives fine otherwise. I guess i'll throw in a new gear set and I'll get them cryod this time.
I was working it hard spinning all 4 full throttle in reverse, not the best thing to do to a HP front axle. In retrospect I should have turned it around and yanked the thing out.
Funny thing, 7 rigs went down the trail, 3 yotas, a sammie, 2 wrangles and my XJ, the 3 Jeeps came out, the sammie couldn't get gas on the incline and had to be winched, one yota couldn't get traction, one yota broke, and one yota quit. All 3 of the jeeps came out with ease LOL!
We had fun with the yota guys after the trail ride was over and the tops were popped.
