gussets are good insurance, had mine done when I got a regear, as the axles were already out so it was a good time to get then done to save on labor.

 

I got the TeraFlex gussets. If you have a friend that can weld then you're good. Weld a little and make sure the ball joints don't get too hot. A wet rag or three helps this. A friend welded mine and didn't take nearly as long as expected. He was persistent on keeping wet rags on the ball joints. They were $40 or so and no install charge, so it was cheap insurance if I need it.

 

I guess you didn't bother to open the link and look at the pics?

 

Haha. I actually did, just am clueless and didn't know exactly what I was looking at! They need a Wrangler for Dummies book.

 

It is one end of the front axle. The tire/brakes would be just to the left in the first couple of pics.



The first pic is a stock 'C' - it is facing backwards in that pic, but you can see why they are called c's. (you can also see the upper balljoint on top of the C, and the axleshaft coming out right in the middle of the upper/lower c's.)

The second pic shows the upper gusset placed on top of the upper c.

The third pic shows both the upper and lower gussets placed on top of the upper and lower c's.

The fourth pic shows the upper and lower gussets for both ends of the axle. (lower gussets on top, upper gussets on the bottom of the pic).

The fifth pic is a single lower gusset that has been pre-fitted to a c, and then welded.

The 6th pic is a close-up of the lower c gusset welded to the lower c. (and you can kinda see the upper gusset above it.)

The seventh pic is just another angle of the welded lower gusset.

Clear as mud, huh...



Another note of caution is that welding is kinda hot. If you notice the placement of the upper and lower balljoints, they are real close to where those upper and lower gussets are being welded on, and the grease inside the bj's is very susceptible to getting fried. Extra care should be taken to keep them cool if they are not removed during the install.

 

When doing the gussets it is recommended that you also change out your ball joints (you dont have to though) BUT if keeping factory you need to tell welder to take their time and do a little at a time so you dont heat up the plastic inside the factory ball joint. After markets are metal and way more durable btw

 

you have a lot of researching to do...

 

i bent my axle housing and not my "c's" playing in the sand and rock here in socal.

 

My housing is slightly bent aswell. Sometimes it can be a combo of both, then sometimes peoples housings crack open.
Never ending money pit, but a fun one.

 

Get sleeves