I'm trying to find out how common this is. I see lots of people beefing up their axles with C-gussets, but I'm trying to find out how common it is for them to sustain damage.

 

I bent my housing very slightly but it was not bad, I was able to get sleeves installed so that should stop it. My Cs were straight though.

 

My ball joints are still good, too. Maybe I don't wheel as hard as I think I do ...





























I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I'll keep trying (though I've recently gusseted and sleeved the axles and installed Chromolly's).



P.S.--70K miles and four years on the rig.

 

Yeah, Mark. Why don't you go out and get some REAL wheeling done, and then come back and let us know! (Nice pics, BTW)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm heading to the mall...I hear there's a sale on khaki's!

 

You should add the option "they came bent from the factory"

 

Unfortunately, I have to question the validity of this poll (regardless of the outcome). Without an alignment there is no way to be sure you don't have bent 'C's. We frequently talk to people that are conviced they have no problem until they go in for an alignment and then find issues.

 

Mark D
great pics! I see AZ, UT, TX trails in there for sure. And I am sure OK trails, haven't wheeled there yet.

 

try a forum search.. .

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...our-front-axle

 

Good point. My Jeep was professionally aligned two weeks ago.

 

Ball joints get a far greater pounding on paved roads than off road. The shock loads are vastly greater hitting a pot hole at 45 mph than easing over rough terrain.

This goes to the argument we've seen about budget (read that as Chinese made) wheel spacers vs high-end domestic spacers. There's little risk in failure off road as compared to on road. A failure off road is usually just a big inconvenience, whereas a failure at highway speed has far greater risk of serious injury to the occupants and the Jeep.

Those of us who use our JKs as daily drivers should inspect the ball joints at least as frequently as those of us who use the JK mostly for weekend wheeling.