Wandell

I was looking at front/rear axle complete kits and noticed that the G2 Axle kits are a good bit cheaper than the similar Alloy USA kits. Plus they include new differential covers. Are these kits good quality?

Mike H.

Back when I was buying axles, the G2 Placer axles were the way to go.
At $600 for rear and $1000 front, I'd say they are right there on pricing with Alloy USA.

TheDirtman

Made in China keeps the cost down.

Wandell

I should have been a little more specific. This is what I'm dealing with. Our JKU was hit last week on the highway. The front differential housing and axle are bent on the passenger side. The insurance adjuster put a new Mopar axle housing and passenger side axle in his estimate. So I'm considering going ahead and buying a complete ring and pinion kit and swapping my gears over to 4.88's or 5.13's from the stock 3.73's (since I'm running 35 inch tires). I just noticed that Quadratec has two complete kits available (Alloy USE and G2) but the G2 kit is a good bit less expensive and includes differential covers. I just want to make sure they are decent. The JKU's off roading is limited to muddy roads and fields basically, no hard core stuff.

larry0071

They are far better than the OEM housing. If your using money from Insurance to buy a housing, I would add a bit and get myself into a strongly discounted (by way of that insurance) axle that will serve me better over time. Teraflex has a Tera30 and Tera44 housing that is affordable as well, and made to accept your OEM internals.

jedg

So you're really asking about Ring & Pinion, not axle shafts or axle housings.

Wandell

Really, I was asking about all of the above. I kinda figured the housings would be pretty similar (with the exception of any extra gusseting or trusses) but my main concern is the ring and pinion gears and axle.
A complete, regeared, ready to bolt in front differential sounds great, if the price is right of course. That way all I would have to do is regear the rear to match. A local shop told me today that used OEM housings in our area are selling for almost as much as aftermarket units!
Is the Teraflex unit the best value for an aftermarket Dana 30? Who has the best price on them?

larry0071

You can call 4WD and get a Spicer Ultimate 44 loaded with locker, alloy shafts and gears of your choice sitting on your porch for around $3500 (maybe less, call (330) 482-6279 and ask for Sara Hobbs, tell her Larry said to call). My buddy just got one from her a couple months ago for his 2014 JK. It is a direct swap, no modifications, just swap the outer knuckles/brakes from your old axle and your up and running.

Wandell

Thanks! The Dana Spicer Ultimate 44 looks like a good option. I just read some reviews on it. It appears it's not built to the extreme for hardcore use, but it would still be an upgrade from my Dana 30. So this would be a direct bolt in for my 2011 JKU and would work with all the electronics?
Also, I'm under the impression that since I have 3.73 gears all I'd have to do out back is purchase a matching ring and pinion (probably 5.13's) with a minor installation kit and I'm good to go?
My concern is that I buy an aftermarket front axle and then the shop finds more damage when they go to install it. The front passenger tire took the impact which was hard enough to bend the axle housing and shear the shaft off the steering box! My drag link with the pitman arm attatched is laying on the ground! Of course, price is a concern also since I'm dealing with insurance.

Mike H.

Really?
I mean, mine are bought and in, so, it's moot for me, but I was told the G2 placer axles were US made...
I know they have 2 lines, one more economical than the placer... torx or something?

So, I've gone and done the rears, but, fronts will be up next, so, who is making axles in the US?