07 ruby left front lower balljoint broke driving down highway also broke axle shaft. has 4" tuff country ez flex lift with 35" tires standard offset. has 16,000 miles dealer is warranting 8 weeks for parts is this a manufactures defect?
the dana 30 in my cjs is built heavier on the ends

 

again..

I have heard of this a few times now, and I think all on Rubi's.

Makes me glad I have the d-30

 

Whats going on here, i had my left front axle snap along with the u joint while in 2 food deep powder snow. I was in 4 lo, lockers on, and trying to make a U turn...any idea guys?

p.s. the jeep is in the shop now and wating for the final word, but i know they will cover it.

 

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I think the D44 and D30 share those same parts.

 

Turning with lockers on really puts a bind on the front. You need to go slowly and not turning wheels all the way. You were on snow and it should not have broke, but you caught some traction somewhere causing it to break. This is my opinion only.

 

I don't think I've ever heard that one...

 

yha i thought i may be in the wrong for the sharp turn...but being that i was in snow with very little traction...didnt think it would hapen...do you guys think there may be damage to the gears?

 

Front axle u joints are a weak point for Jeep CJs, YJs, TJs, and JKs. While Jeep and Dana should be ashamed of them selves for not fixing the issue, the problem is widespread and well documented. It also appears that then "new" front 44 in the Rubi JK is not really any stronger in this respect than any of the others.

There was a picture floating around for awhile of DCX guys welding one up on a JK on the Rubicon trail even before the JK's official release. Its not like they didn't know.

I have paid my money to replace ujoints and shafts on 3 different Jeeps now. I expect my money will go to this area on my JK as well.

I suggest you mark your caps and ears with a center punch. When the ujoint caps start to turn in the ears on the shaft they are nearing failure. It means the shaft ears have stretched enough that the u-joint caps are not tight. Shortly after this, often when under stress, the ear will crack or the ujoint will pop a cir-clip and spit a cap.


x2, please post a picture of the BJ that failed on the freeway. We want to know what to look for, this could be a dangerous issue.
Mine have already begun to turn and I will upgrade the shafts soon.

 

heard of tj doing this and seen the aftermath but hey we wheel hard