I posted this with the So Cal Ski thread, but I wanted to let other people know of this.

My JK's Transfer case blew apart and shattered and cracked the case. There were pieces in the skid plate and I blew out alot of smoke from all of the gear oil pouring out at 75 mph.
We towed the thing to a Jeep shop , rented a car and completed the trip.
Then picked the JK on the way out.

The final bill is about $1700.00, $1400.00 for the case $275 for the Drive line repair.
The front drive line was the issue. It cracked at the U Joint from being unbalanced and probably having a weak point too. And then the Transfer case shattered.
When I talked to the drive line repair shop today. They said that due to the drive line having a added weight at the transfer case end (I never noticed it). The shaft already had some type of balance issue. They tried to correct it, but sometimes they don't get it exact. And with using 5:13 gears the drive line spins so fast that the slightest out of balance will cause a wobble and if but caught could fatigue the transfer case housing metal which is very brittle.

If you have a drive line hum and have 5:13 gears you may want to pull the drive line and have it balanced for under $100.00.
It could save you a lot of money in the long run.


Here's some pictures of the case.

Here's the front drive line u joint that failed.

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Here's the transfer case.

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DUDE!

So you never had any vibrations to pre-warn you of this at all?

 

Yes I did. I got it at 85 mph and it was louded and sounded like a train.
After I had front coilovers put on the hum went away. So I thought I had no issues.

 

Wow, thanks for the pics.

Were you running the stock shaft? (didn't see this listed in your mods)

 

Holy Crap!!!

 

Looks like he has JE Reel 1350's.

That is friggin unreal!

 

Scary. I also want to know if you were running the stock shafts. 85 is pretty freakin' fast with 5.13s so I'm sure that didn't help things.

 

Front drive line was/is a JE Reel 1350.
I'm having repaired and balanced at a well know company in Utah.
I should get it back Monday.

 

Front and rear drives lines are JE Reel 1350, which are good drive lines.

 

They are very good shafts, but even they are not bullitproof. Geez....85 MPH and 5.13s? That mightta had a little to do with it....ya think? I think 70 is as fas as I've ever driven mine. They just aren't made for it.