Transfer Case/Driveshaft
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
Transfer Case/Driveshaft
Hey guys,
Does anyone have a JK Rubicon transfer case/front driveshaft laying around? I bought a used 2007 JK in Logan, Utah. I was driving back to Vegas and my transfer case and front driveshaft blew up. The shop where my Jeep is currently (Beaver, UT) is giving me the run around. They ordered the wrong part and are now trying to charge way too much for parts and labor. So I'm bringing the Jeep back to Vegas this weekend. If anyone could help out, that would be awesome!
Does anyone have a JK Rubicon transfer case/front driveshaft laying around? I bought a used 2007 JK in Logan, Utah. I was driving back to Vegas and my transfer case and front driveshaft blew up. The shop where my Jeep is currently (Beaver, UT) is giving me the run around. They ordered the wrong part and are now trying to charge way too much for parts and labor. So I'm bringing the Jeep back to Vegas this weekend. If anyone could help out, that would be awesome!
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
Lifted
More than a couple degrees front axle pinion to driveshaft angle
Double cardan joint at the t-case (front)
Re-geared
Traveling at highway speed
Noticed some vibration before the explosion
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
It's lifted on 37's. The front and rear have been regeared to 5.38. I was traveling at highway speed and didn't notice anything until right before it happened. Like I said, I had just purchased it. It had a full over inspection prior and seemed solid
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Just to be clear since this was not answered: You had an aftermarket front driveshaft, correct? Not a stock front driveshaft? (snap a pic or three if you aren't sure.)
If it is what we are thinking, this isn't something an 'inspection' would have found. It's an issue concerning joint angles and the items ronjenx listed. More of a whole series of events that causes vibrations --> and ends with an exploding tcase. (And yes, it would have seemed solid during the inspection, and during any test-drive around town. It took freeway speeds and the increased driveshaft rpms to cause the vibrations to escalate to the failure point).
If this is in fact what caused the problem, you will want to double check the caster/pinion angle (the tilt of the front axle). Lowering the caster will cause worse steering feel (more flighty), but it will bring the pinion up, which will lessen the angles on the driveshaft joints. Two other possible fixes would be a very expensive aftermarket axle housing that has some angle correction built into it, or aftermarket manual hubs that you can engage/disengage to stop the shafts from turning. At this point, do as much research as you can before blindly buying new components and indiscriminately slapping them on. At a bare minimum, do NOT install a new front driveshaft until you have a handle on what is going on. There are no issues with not having that installed, you'll just be 2wd instead of 4wd.
If it is what we are thinking, this isn't something an 'inspection' would have found. It's an issue concerning joint angles and the items ronjenx listed. More of a whole series of events that causes vibrations --> and ends with an exploding tcase. (And yes, it would have seemed solid during the inspection, and during any test-drive around town. It took freeway speeds and the increased driveshaft rpms to cause the vibrations to escalate to the failure point).
If this is in fact what caused the problem, you will want to double check the caster/pinion angle (the tilt of the front axle). Lowering the caster will cause worse steering feel (more flighty), but it will bring the pinion up, which will lessen the angles on the driveshaft joints. Two other possible fixes would be a very expensive aftermarket axle housing that has some angle correction built into it, or aftermarket manual hubs that you can engage/disengage to stop the shafts from turning. At this point, do as much research as you can before blindly buying new components and indiscriminately slapping them on. At a bare minimum, do NOT install a new front driveshaft until you have a handle on what is going on. There are no issues with not having that installed, you'll just be 2wd instead of 4wd.
Last edited by nthinuf; Mar 13, 2020 at 11:27 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 509
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
Robbie at Motech can help you as he sells shafts for his V8 conversions which every one needs as stockers don't work. Also he has quite a few Rubicon cases as they must go to standard 2.76 ratio with the V8 conversion. I turfed mine. But as you have been advised by others, take a look at what is wrong first but definitely go for the TCase.