With the many threads about "can I run 35s/37s/40s/54s on stock axles?" I thought it would be nice to have a thread of everyone that broke something running larger tires on stock axles to chime in. It would be helpful for others if you would say which axles, tire size, any upgrades to the axles, how many miles before you broke, and what type of wheeling. This would give people references to what has happened to others running doing what they are thinking of buying.
Dana 44, 37 Trail Grapplers, no upgrades at the time. Bent rear flange, twisted the splines. I upgraded to chromoly axle shafts. I have also gone through 4 front axle seals in 50K miles (20K on 37s). I wheel about every other weekend; Sidewinder, Gold Mountain, John Bull, Cleghorn, 2N17X, Superstition and a bunch of other easy to moderate trails.

 

This is an excellent idea!!!

www.overlandoff-road.com

 

Awesome post. Interested to hear who bent/broke what.

 

"I broke a stock sport rear D44 axle shaft on 37's with a detroit locker in the rear...."

 

Low blow

Did you get your way of life windshield banner installed today?

www.overlandoff-road.com

 

That's a lower blow... But no, I couldn't find one to match that off colored-rescue green diff cover

 

haaaahaha

 

I broke front passenger axle/ujoint/ball joint running stock tires on my stock axles
I bent rear passenger axle flange running stock tires on my stock axles.

Havent bent or broken anything in 3 years with 10 Factory Chromolies and 37's.

Oh and trails: Miller, Freeway Ridge, Borderline, Red Lake, Swamp Lake, BC109.

 

Last summer on built D44s running 37s on a light 2013 2-door JK:

1. Blown front ring gear

2. Synergy ball joints lasted 5k miles

3. Drag link ends (new drag link) lasted 5k miles

4. Burned up three rear wheel bearings

5. Burned up one front hub

Had enough of that and sold the axles.

 

I bent my rear passenger flange running 33s on my stock D44.