You're welcome.

 

So far the weak links I've noticed through this forum and my experiences:

Front Drive shaft...design flaw lets it hit the oil pan, and on 4door autos it contacts the skid too...I'm on my third one...
All of the U-joints... Jeep used u joints without full circle clips that have a tendency to fail


Thats about it so far...

I'm planning on notching my skid plate to allow more clearance and later on upgrading the driveshafts and axles shafts to preventatively avoid the most common breakage....


hope that helps

 

just so that i'm clear on things, the question at hand is "what component should be the weak link" and NOT, what are the weak links? i am reading this correctly?

 

That is right. But I'll take the latter as well so I will know what to replace 1st. Seems like being easy on the pedal and some spare stock u-joints should do the trick for the unexpected (or in this case...expected) breakage.
Thanks Wayoflife.

 

What he said.

And with the front locked do what ever you can to avoid turning the steering wheel hard. The easiest way that I can think to break something, is lock the front, turn the wheels hard and gas it. This is sure to be followed by a pop sound.

I carry a spare outer, axle u-joint and rebuild tools.

 

How much will I spend on a spare outer, u-joint and tools?

 

Harbor Freight sells a U-joint C-press for about $40.

You'll need a 35mm socket and a 13mm 12 point wrench.

I'd look around for a take-off outer and u-joint. I got mine free, from a buddy and I make them available to locals that want to borrow them.

 

I guess when the straps tear off the only thing you can do is pull the shaft and limp off the trail, right? Or can you fix this on the trail and how?

 

Well, my plan to to have my stock spares intact and ready to slide in for trips far from home, but I would like to hear specific advice on limping home with only one axle or drive shaft (front or rear). I know a fella who just went to Moab and broke a rear D44 axle shaft (TJ), and he ended up paying about $1000 for a chrome-alloy upgrade in Moab. I think they hammered him.