With the big snow in Virginia this week, couldn't resist a spin in the 30" of snow. Got a little delayed .... (actually Fn stuck bad). In the process of getting out, was not paying attention to the skinny petal. Heard a pop (in low range, w/both axles locked).



So..... now I'm at a crossroads. With 37's do you replace the front axles? If so with what? RCV's? Superior? or go buy a new prorock 44 and then upgrade the axles? Maybe just raid the savings and go get a D60 and sell the 44?
Help! What to do? Gotta get something on order on Monday!

 

Do you mind providing a few more details like:

How deep was the snow your were stuck in?

Was on or off road?

Were the wheels turned?

It's not obvious to me from the pic, what was the damage? Did the joints or the axle snap?

 

30" plus of snow
Two tires on road, two in the ditch next to the road
Tires were turned, back and forth, trying to crawl out
Both the axle snapped, broke the end off and destroyed the stub shaft.

 

don't feel bad, i did the same thing yesterday, but i'm on the stock d30 on 33" tires

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modified-jk-tech-2/stock-d30-front-31in-snow-4lo%3D-117926/

 

That is some major carnage. I hope you are able to get back on the trail soon.

I've been in a similar situation but I was half way in muddy ditch instead of snow and the temperature was probably 30 deg higher, so I can understand what you were trying to do.

However, you were really pushing the drivetrain to the limit: locked, 37" tires, wheels turned, probably plowing with the bumper and undercarriage and the shafts were very cold and a pair of wheels on surfaces with different traction.

The reason I mention this is because I don't think its possible to build up the D44 to take that kind of loads particularly in cold temps.

I'll let others who are more knowledgeable in building bullet proof axles with suggestions. But if you make the axles bulletproof your are going to transfer the problem to the driveshafts or even worse the TF and Tranny.

 

I like the pro rock option. A much stronger housing, ARBs, RCVs, it sounds like a winner.

However, when I priced it out the D60 was not much more than the pro rock d44. The only problem with putting a D60 in the front is you would almost certainly want a rear D60 as well to keep the widths and bolt patterns the same. That's where the D60 gets way more expensive.

 

There is a company that makes a ball joint style replacement shaft (i cant think of the name off the top of my head right now) for the D30/D44 that are supposed to be as strong as the D60 shafts. They have a continuous tuning speed no matter what angle your tires are turned at. JP had a write up on them a couple months ago. My issue is at my friends house so i cant look it up right now. It has a Yellow XJ on the cover.

 

https://www.rcvperformance.com/store...hp?cPath=24_52

another option

 

Those are the ones i was talking about... Thanks for the link. I couldn't think of the name to save my life!

 

Thanks for all the replies .... I've decided to go with the Ten Factory Dana 44 Chromoly Front Axles Shafts, from where else? but Northridge! Dave said I could get them shipped overnight (for a small fee of course) but anyway .... hopefully have them tomorrow and installed tomorrow night, ready for the next big snow storm coming our way Tuesday night .....