Rubicon Bent Axle

[cjlewis]

Took the Jeep to get new gears and axle sleeves only to find out the axle is already bent. Being new and fairly conservative with my wheeling, I can only assume my inexperience and/or poor drive contributed to the situation.

So instead of a new camping trailer I'm getting a new Dynatrac ProRock 44. I opted for the 12" heavy duty tubes just to be sure. Apparently I am getting a 182% increasing in strength compared to stock. I do know my wallet is 182% lighter! Hopefully this combo will hold up better as I really need a new camping platform. :sombrero:

Interestingly the Jeep dealership has Dana 44 front axles in stock. :Wow1: Apparently there are expecting more poor drivers.

 

[NOMADIC_LJ]

Nice! that Dynatrac is pure beef. What size tires are you running?

 

[cjlewis]

Nice! that Dynatrac is pure beef. What size tires are you running?

35" still can't believe I bent it. I assume I hit a deep hole to hard, who knows.

 

[CH10]

Nice choice, I got my Prorock 44 about three months ago and love it. I got mine with a Poly Performance track bar bracket welded on, had to do a little cutting to make that work with my RK track bar so the extra work there was my fault. Other than that it dropped right it and it has performed well so far. I was so impressed with the quality that I ordered a Prorock 60 for the rear too even though I had just planned on regearing the 44.

 

[Bigjerm]

Jealous. I wanted to go 60 in the rear, 44 up front in the LJ with 37's and maybe 3" of suspension lift. I will make it 1 day.

 

[cjlewis]

I'm praying the rear holds as my wife is wondering why Jeep's cost so much. :Wow1:

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I haven't bent or broken an axle in 12 years....knocks on wood for good luck

 

[Hilldweller]

It's not you, Chris. If you run 35s and wheel at all, it will bend. You were good actually; bad drivers crack them open.
The tube on the 44 bends just as easily as the 30.

Your 401k is bled anyhow. Crack it open and get the trailer. The girls will get scholarships or work at the Kilt...
Go for it.

 

[cjlewis]

Talking with the guys from Dynatrac, their ProRock 44 business was started and grew due to the high failure rate of the tubes. I was even told the tube thickness is not uniform, that it actual tapers down. Seems hard to believe but here I sit with a bend one.

As for the trailer, I see this as an opportunity to purchase a ExpoTrail (later) rather then the Jumping Jack (now). I am bummed though as I had planned to pick it up next weekend.

This weekend I'm heading up to Mtn. Aetna to bend it a little more as I wait for the new one. :wings:

 

[Metcalf]

Its odd for sure.

The Teraflex guys are pounding there Dana 30 without sleeves on the 'PreRunner' jeeps.

Some axles seem to bend on the first speed bump.

I almost have to wonder if its a quality control problem rather than a design problem.

That dynatrac housing should eliminate any worries....

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...
The Teraflex guys are pounding there Dana 30 without sleeves on the 'PreRunner' jeeps...

But do they?

http://www.teraflex.biz/jk-axle-sleeve-and-gusset-kit.html

 

[Ryanc]

Who told you it was bent? And how did they know?

 

[Hilldweller]

Who told you it was bent? And how did they know?

Good question. Was it the same shop that screwed him on his tranny cooler install? :costumed-smiley-007

But really, I've seen a few smiley-shaped D44s already and one with a funky tear in it. Doesn't surprise me.

 

[cjlewis]

Who told you it was bent? And how did they know?

Southern Offroad informed me of the situation. The Jeep was there for sleeves and gussets as well as new gears. I mentioned there was some front-end shake and thought the tires might need to be rebalanced.

They decided to throw it on the alignment rack before they did anything (citing it sounded like the axles might be tweaked). The measurements indicated that one side was out .1 degrees and the other .9.

I pressed them on whether it was the axles vs the C's vs the tab but they said it was like the axles. They offered to try sleeving the axles first but I assumed even if they could something still might be wrong.

Is there any easy way to verify the issue?

And no Bill, this is not the place the installed the transmission cooler with duct tape.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

You paid someone to install a transmission cooler?? This bewilders me....