Axle shafts

My thoughts are you can expect the stock shafts to last indefinitely and that the lockers are more than good enough.

If you regear, then you might want to consider upgrading shafts due to the added torque. I stayed with stock 4.10 gears and stock shafts for several years (with 35s). Then when I went to 4.88's, I upgraded rear axle shafts at the same time to AlloyUSA ones.

The front ones I am still debating and so far, I haven't been able to justify the costs. I do have a new set of stock shafts as spares but if they do break, I'll upgrade for sure. To what, I'm not exactly sure yet.

"how long a stock axle shaft lasts" really is dependent upon how much abuse it is put through.

Mud running really is probably not a need for upgrading, but rocks could be, if there's much climbing involved.

I don't think there's any cut and dry answer. But since you are running 35s, it might be wise to upgrade sooner rather than later. Upgrade before one breaks, then you can used the stockers as trail spares.

I don't really abuse my Jeep. Untill its paid off I want to do my best to keep it uprite and together, lol. I will push it off road sometimes, but am not crazy. I guess I will wait a while and see how it goes. I am still running the 4:10s and plan to. I don't drive my Jeep daily and the stock gears work just fine for me. Thanks guys

The front ears begin to flex and elongate till one day they just give out. Even with stock stuff.

Upgraded Alloys or what ever the current vender of choice is would be a decent thing to do, IMHO. You don't need to go crazy with 30/30s and CTMs like I did.

All your stock stuff works with them.

OT, any good places to wheel in your area. New to the south.

inline6 said:

...............OT, any good places to wheel in your area. New to the south.

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Might want to check out Windrock in TN or Black Mtn in KY.

inline6 said:

The front ears begin to flex and elongate till one day they just give out. Even with stock stuff.

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I've seen pics of that happeneing as well, and I suppose it's more prone to happening the larger the tires are. What happens is the holes (aka, the axle shaft ear) where the U-joints are at on the front axle shafts elongate, then the ujoint cap spins, or does some other funky stuff, then a cap can fall out, and boom. broke!

One technique I saw was to paint a line across the ujoint cap and axle shaft "ear", then you can keep an eye on things.

desertfox1 said:

inline6 said:

The front ears begin to flex and elongate till one day they just give out. Even with stock stuff.

Click to expand...

I've seen pics of that happeneing as well, and I suppose it's more prone to happening the larger the tires are. What happens is the holes (aka, the axle shaft ear) where the U-joints are at on the front axle shafts elongate, then the ujoint cap spins, or does some other funky stuff, then a cap can fall out, and boom. broke!

One technique I saw was to paint a line across the ujoint cap and axle shaft "ear", then you can keep an eye on things.

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If you do a search I'm sure you can find threads with pic's of this on here. Go back a few years. Back then, even Superior and Alloy USA posted on here. I know I posted a question asking if anyone had actually broke or snapped a shaft besides the much talked about elongated ears.

the cap spin pushing the c clip off then you throw a cap i put two small tack welds to prevent it form turning it made them last 8 months longer i was throwing a cap every week for month then i went to 33in tsl and that was to much traction from previous damaged ears i egged them out on 31s

I run stock axle right now(36'' tsl also had 37'' irocks) I just brake the caps. The clips come off started welding them no problems sofar.

mikel said:

... Go back a few years. Back then, even Superior and Alloy USA posted on here. I know I posted a question asking if anyone had actually broke or snapped a shaft besides the much talked about elongated ears.

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When superior and Alloy USA were going at it, this seemed like such a dire and horrendous problem Not to say the shafts aren't a weak point but there is always a weak point. Having said that, I often crawl around under the jeep and one of the things I check (among many other things like stupid suspension bushings) is the ujoint caps.

Call David at Northridge. He won't BS you and you will enjoy great customer service.