Rausch Creek - 10-24-09

[Gonzowerke]

A good time was had by all, even Frank-of-the-broken-front-axle! He only got upset when we were threatening to change his name to "WJCan'tdo".


Those of you who missed it also missed a chance to bask in the rosy glow of my presence.


I forgot my camera at home, but others will be posting pics later. Hopefully there is video of the beltway boys dancing to a certain German member's Techno music.

SHPROCKETS!!!!!


P.s. I added another dent on the right rear corner, right at the top.

[H2_RECOVERY]

Nice Gonz! Glad you had a great time. do you have the itch to do more?

[Gonzowerke]

Nice Gonz! Glad you had a great time. do you have the itch to do more?


Of course I do! It has been killing me not being able to get out there.
I have a lot to do to her, both TLC and aftermarket, but now that winter is coming, the 13-14 hour days are going away, and I will have weekends free to come down from MD. and work on her.

[Frankpapa]

A good time was had by all, even Frank-of-the-broken-front-axle! He only got upset when we were threatening to change his name to "WJCan'tdo".

The axle didn't break until AFTER jmu-jeep started the WJCan'tdo thing. So I blame it all on him. :tinysmile_tongue_t:

Interesting, the break did not occur in the cv joint this time, but a clean snap of the shaft. If it was any smoother it would be shiny. Like a defect.

It also happened when I was going straight ahead, not turning -- I now know it was the instant my abs light came on.

It was an Advance Auto shaft, and I'm going to hit them up to replace it so I'll have a spare. But now I know, welding an extension onto the steering stop isn't going to solve the problem. It's either cromolly axle shafts and joints, or lose the locker, or swap axles.

Still at Pine Grove Comfort Inn, waiting for toy-tundra to return with a dolly. Issue with towing and the front wheels of his jeep that we just can solve. Tried lots of things and we were about to open up the diff. But he needs to get home and we concluded it was best to rent a dolly one way.

[H2_RECOVERY]

thats a great Idea.

[blthomas]

Glad to hear fun was had.

Maybe that moly set of axles is the ticket Frank?

It might be time for Dan to look at getting a full trailer for his rig. I'm pretty sure the Tundra could haul the Tj no problem if the trailer wasn't a heavy sumbitch.

Does his truck have the 5.7L engine?

Good to know you guys are playing it safe.

Travel well.

[JMUJEEP]

here are all the pictures I took and the video of the muddy hole... wish i could i have gotten more but the rain kept the video camera's in the jeep most of the day... http://rides.webshots.com/album/575250860tpDmij

[JeepPfeil]

good fun !

[Pacifier]

I'm glad you guys had a good time....

[TheYeti1775]

Glad to hear fun was had.

Maybe that moly set of axles is the ticket Frank?

It might be time for Dan to look at getting a full trailer for his rig. I'm pretty sure the Tundra could haul the Tj no problem if the trailer wasn't a heavy sumbitch.

Does his truck have the 5.7L engine?

Good to know you guys are playing it safe.

Travel well.
MilJeep pulls his on a trailer with his Tundra (think it's a Tundra). You can ask him how it handles. He did tow it to Texas with it.

[TheYeti1775]

And Frank, unless your going bigger, I say do the IRO Chromos.
If you want to go bigger plan the axle swap.

[Urbie]

i wish i had gone.

[blthomas]

i wish i had gone.

I've never been to Rausch myself. Sure wish I could have pulled it off myself. :tinysmile_cry_t:

Oh well, gonna get my pickup and Jeep ready, if I gotta go up on my own, then so be it.

[toy_tundra]

Glad to hear fun was had.

Maybe that moly set of axles is the ticket Frank?

It might be time for Dan to look at getting a full trailer for his rig. I'm pretty sure the Tundra could haul the Tj no problem if the trailer wasn't a heavy sumbitch.

Does his truck have the 5.7L engine?

Good to know you guys are playing it safe.

Travel well.


Yeah, it has the 5.7. It'll tow 10,000 lbs. I'm toying with the idea of buying a trailer, but I just don't have the money. Or a place to store it. Dollies are cheap (about $1000), but I can't even afford that.

It sounds/feels like there's a problem in the friont diff, so i need to tear that open and see if I threw a tooth somewhere along the way.

[Frankpapa]

Yeah, it has the 5.7. It'll tow 10,000 lbs. I'm toying with the idea of buying a trailer, but I just don't have the money. Or a place to store it. Dollies are cheap (about $1000), but I can't even afford that.

It sounds/feels like there's a problem in the friont diff, so i need to tear that open and see if I threw a tooth somewhere along the way.

I wouldn't doubt there's a problem in the front diff now... but I'm pretty sure like Mike said, it all stemmed from not coming out of 4wd. First thing might be to look at linkage to see if there's a visible (and easy) reason for the core problem.

[Frankpapa]

And Frank, unless your going bigger, I say do the IRO Chromos.
If you want to go bigger plan the axle swap.

Yeah, I was almost there before... then discovered instead of a lifetime warranty, there may be none at all for offroad use. $800 for a set, and do it again if one of them breaks. But it's either that or lose the locker at this point.

[Pacifier]

Lose the locker and replace the front axle. It will still be cheaper the the chromolly axles.

[Frankpapa]

Lose the locker and replace the front axle. It will still be cheaper the the chromolly axles.

If I lose the locker, don't need to replace the front axle. But man, that aussie is hard to give up.

When I fix up the d44a axle that I already acquired for the rear, and get it trussed, there's an aussie available for that. It didn't work out so great for Taousakis at first, but he says it's fixed now.

[toy_tundra]

Did you get one of the XJ axles today???

[JeepPfeil]

http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv354/JeepPfeil/

theres a few pics of me on the comp course

[blthomas]

If I lose the locker, don't need to replace the front axle. But man, that aussie is hard to give up.

When I fix up the d44a axle that I already acquired for the rear, and get it trussed, there's an aussie available for that. It didn't work out so great for Taousakis at first, but he says it's fixed now.

What about doing Detroit Truetrac's, they aren't as stiff as lunchbox's if I understand correctly....

Maybe one on each end?

[toy_tundra]

So, I'm sure I'm not the first person to have this problem...how do you get a diff cover bolt off when the lower half of it has been smeared off by rocks?? Nothing I do works. The wrenches have nothing to bite on.

[Frankpapa]

My problem was different but the same... stripped out hex head on those damn Warn replacement bolts.

A number of people suggested good ideas, but the one that worked best was mostly Diego's. Grind a slot into the head, try loosening it with a screwdriver. If that doesn't work, use a small chisel and hammer to tap the bolt in the right direction. You only need move it a little bit and it will be loose enough to get the rest out. These bolts aren't especially tight.

[Frankpapa]

Also, I think I used a dremel tool rather than a grinder... you only need a small slot in the bolt head.

[cococj]

If that doesn't work, drill/grind/cut the entire head off and then when you remove the rest of the bolts and the cover, the remaining bolt will be sticking out so you can get ahold of it. Should then be able to remove it by hand.

[toy_tundra]

Thanks for the suggestions...I tapped the hell out of it with a punch and hammer, that may have loosened it a bit. Switched ratchet heads and was able to get it off. And, oh my...what I found inside. Frank, I think I found the problem. Pics to follow.

[Frankpapa]

If that doesn't work, drill/grind/cut the entire head off and then when you remove the rest of the bolts and the cover, the remaining bolt will be sticking out so you can get ahold of it. Should then be able to remove it by hand.

Another clever idea... which I would have done if all else failed. Figured it was best to take one step at a time to the point of no return.

[toy_tundra]

Spider gears? Who needs spider gears? And, uh, who wants to help me install new ones???



http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/toy_tundra/carnage/DSC02629.jpg



http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/toy_tundra/carnage/DSC02630.jpg


http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/toy_tundra/carnage/DSC02631.jpg

[toy_tundra]

OOh, what's that pretty silver liquid? Oh, that's what's left of my TEETH!


http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss141/toy_tundra/carnage/DSC02634.jpg

[toy_tundra]

The ring and pinion are fine. The spider gears are toast. I have a 4.56 R&P in the garage. Hmmm, time to upgrade everything?

Between the upper and lower spiders, there are about 6 teeth missing. When you spin a wheel, you can see it get hung up on the empty spaces.

Anyone know who makes the strongest spider gears?

[H2_RECOVERY]

Nice you need some pinion gears.

[Frankpapa]

Can't offer much expertise, but I'll help.

If you're upgrading to 4.56, I guess you'll be tearing into the rear too. If you don't actually need to replace R&P (Mike?), you still have to pull the ring gear to get the carrier out. I found a big vise helps for getting bolts off the ring and then back on.

Here's an idea: instead of new spider gears, throw an aussie in there!

[Flexxj90]

Nice you need some pinion gears.
screw it, just weld the thing up... No need for spiders then...:tinysmile_shutup_t:

[blthomas]

Spider gears? Who needs spider gears? And, uh, who wants to help me install new ones???


Dan, this is what happened to my D30 on the CJ last trip to the gulch.

I broke bolts on my outer hubs too, but the major damage was the spider gears.

You can get a spider gear set from q-tec if no one has any to give you (hawaiiCj hooked me up bigtime)

Or you can weld, lunchbox. I'm not locking the D30. I think I'll end up breaking shafts and u joints. Rather build a better axle.

HawaiiCJ told me I could replace my spiders with the carrier in the Jeep.

Now that I've looked at it, I'm not so over whelmed. I have it torn down and all I need to do is swap spiders and reinstall everything.

Just need a couple hours back to back where I can get it done and that may be this weekend.

I'd be willing to give a hand if you want, maybe a shop night?

Mine were so blown apart I actually blew the two on the pinion side completely into halves and nothing was spinning anymore.......:tinysmile_hmm_t2:

I'm going to put it back together cheap and start building a D44 I have for it.

[toy_tundra]

Ouch! Yeah, I'm not locking the 30 either, at least not with stock shafts. Maybe with chromoly super 30's, but that's it. I'd rather throw a D44 up front before I start getting lockers and all that. I am working this weekend, unfortunately, otherwise I'd help you out so I can learn too :tinysmile_fatgrin_t

[blthomas]

Have you had your front apart at all?

Biggest challenge I had was the manual hubs, and then the spindle itself. Man those were rusted on.

Thank gawd for the slide hammer tool I used.

I think my front end had crap in it, and I chipped one, then it all went to hell...... :tinysmile_fatgrin_t

[toy_tundra]

This is the first time I've ever taken the diff cover off. Actually taking it apart should be interesting. I'm pretty sure I can get it all apart, it's getting things back together that I'm worried about.

[Frankpapa]

When you planning this, Dan? why don't you post up and let's see if we can get you some help.

[JeepPfeil]

btw, frank, I might be able to get my hands on an arb air locker that will fit your rear, otherwise, the same guy has a aussie rear in his xj, that has a d35 that he might want to get rid of (well if the locker works in the D44 of my CJ I will take it)

[toy_tundra]

As soon as I order some gears, I guess. Just going for the quick fix here, don't have the time or money to upgrade everything at this point.

[richs347]

You need to go get some credit cards and join the rest of society.. What the hell are you thinking trying to build a up Jeep and not go into debt. I've learned that half a$$ing it at times will get you in the same amount of trouble as keeping it stock. You just end up pushing the problem to the next component.

If you want to get started, I can loan you one of my credit cards to pay on and see how it works for you.

...but I truly understand being a responsible adult.

[toy_tundra]

Ha ha ha ha! Nice...I already have more on credit cards than I would like. Don't need to feed the fire there. More worried about grocery money now. :tinysmile_twink_t2:

[blthomas]

As soon as I order some gears, I guess. Just going for the quick fix here, don't have the time or money to upgrade everything at this point.

I'll put up a wanted ad on Creepers if you want. I swear if our Mike doesn't have it, then one of those guys does.

I don't know shiat about TJ's or much in general, but maybe we can find you a used set.

Worst case maybe Diego discount price somewhere might be cheaper than Quarratec or something like that.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/52412_09.htm

Find someone who did a lunchbox and you should be able to get everything on the cheap.

[toy_tundra]

Just ordered a new set of Yukon's from Randy's Ring & Pinion, same price. I don't want used gears, you never know what the last guy did to them ha ha. I only got the spiders for the front, just don't have the money to upgrade the rear to 4.56 yet.

[blthomas]

With ya, lots of folks told me to lock it, or put in bigger gears. I don't have that coin to throw around. Right now anyhow......

[Frankpapa]

btw, frank, I might be able to get my hands on an arb air locker that will fit your rear, otherwise, the same guy has a aussie rear in his xj, that has a d35 that he might want to get rid of (well if the locker works in the D44 of my CJ I will take it)

I don't lock the rear :tinysmile_fatgrin_t , not with a d35 anyway.

When I get the d44a prepped and trussed, that might get a locker.

[JMUJEEP]

nick,

did your buddy post all those pictures he was taking?

[JeepPfeil]

nope, part of the ones, I put up on an earlier post

[JeepPfeil]

well steven put the pics up, here they are

http://s978.photobucket.com/albums/ae269/LittleGreenXJ/

[Frankpapa]

Dayumm, I loved wheeling the WJ locked. Just couldn't go on replacing axle shafts.

With the D44a in rear, I guess I'm going to have to wheel it again and see what happens. Too bad there's no selectable locker for that axle.

[LittleGreenXJ]

Is there another trip coming up? let me know.