Jeeps running stock driveshafts with 4" lift.
#11
JK Newbie
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So from reading your replies I can assume its more common the boots rip and that's what cause people to replace their driveshaft? For some reason I had it stuck in my head the driveshaft itself would bind and rip off. I can live with keeping an eye on the boots. Thanks for all the replies. I plan on installing a Rubicon Express 3.5 Super Flex tomorrow. I was debating on waiting until I could afford the driveshaft and do it all at once. I've already installed the exhaust spacers. Before I started the exhaust mod I thought there was no way it would take 2-3 hours like the instructions said.....2 hours later I was finally done. Granted that included a trip to Lowe's to get new bolts being mine stripped out.
#12
#13
JK Jedi
Lots of factors go into a ds failing. Just lifting it places the boot at the joint in more of a bind where it will wear faster. Travel of the shocks will have an affect as well. the more droop you have the more the bind. Wheeling in mud and sand can cause more debris to wear on the joints. The exhaust spacer is for clearance so the ds will not make physical contact with the exhaust but this is really dependent on the amount of down travel you have, if you don't wheel you may not even need the spacers.
When lifting you don't have to replace driveshaft but just have it in the back of your mind that they will wear faster and need attention at some point.
When lifting you don't have to replace driveshaft but just have it in the back of your mind that they will wear faster and need attention at some point.
#14
JK Super Freak
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I went through 2 stock drive shafts with a 3" lift before I replaced with an after market and ripped the regular boot and the CV boot on both. I did drive around both times for several months before replacing and just kept watching the CV boot and packing it with grease as best as I could until I could replace it. Have an Adams DS now and I have not had a problem since.
#16
I have a 2012 JKUR with a 3.5 inch AEV lift BF Goodrich 35-12:50 17 with the discontinued AEV beadlocks I had 78,000 miles on my front drive shaft. It started clicking when off road so I took it to my Jeep Dealer and they replaced it ... They also found a torn boot on my rear driveshaft. They fixed it all and gave me a rental car to boot.. Those driveshafts did the Easter Jeep Safari in 2014. I did Fins and Things, Golden Spike, Hells Revenge, Poison Spider Cliffhanger 7 mile rim, then afterwards drove to Yellowstone Mt Rushmore, and then back to Florida with no issues at all.
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I have a 2012 JKUR with a 3.5 inch AEV lift BF Goodrich 35-12:50 17 with the discontinued AEV beadlocks I had 78,000 miles on my front drive shaft. It started clicking when off road so I took it to my Jeep Dealer and they replaced it ... They also found a torn boot on my rear driveshaft. They fixed it all and gave me a rental car to boot.. Those driveshafts did the Easter Jeep Safari in 2014. I did Fins and Things, Golden Spike, Hells Revenge, Poison Spider Cliffhanger 7 mile rim, then afterwards drove to Yellowstone Mt Rushmore, and then back to Florida with no issues at all.
#18
#19
JK Junkie
Yea that's exactly where I tore mine with 2.5" of lift, at the rzeppa joint.
Last edited by DunnyBunny; 07-02-2015 at 04:49 PM.
#20
I have 90k miles on my JKUR (stock shafts), and am narrowing down a vibe under throttle at hwy speed which seems a little more noticeable after installing 3.5 lift, and notice some "play" in the slip joints themselves... Wondering if I should be greasing these, and if so - was just reading about the "clunky steering - intermediate shaft grease thread" HERE , and wondered if you could use that heavy open gear/5th wheel grease on the DS slip joints as well.... If it holds and gets tacky on your steering shaft, would that not be ideal for the DS slip shaft area as well???
Thoughts?