Thank you in advance, I may not be back on here for a few hours.
My daughter has a 12 2dr Rubicon, 6 speed, with a BDS 3-4 inch lift and 35" Nittos.
Yesterday, I noticed she had not had her axles trussed, and was concerned about the axle with the added strain of the wheels
and lift configuration.
Gussets had been installed, but I'm guessing it was for some component relocation, rather than a strengthening reason.
My question is, do the gussets add additional re-enforcement to the axle, or should trusses also be there?

 

Gussets strengthen the "C's", and are not used for any component relocation that I am aware of. They provide additional strength to that specific part of the axle. The added leverage of the larger tire compounded with road bumps, rocks, curbs, turning, etc done with a jeep can cause them to bend. The gussets prevent that from happening, or at least attempt to. A truss is a great for added reinforcement to prevent bending of the tubes from the additional stress of larger tires. It acts as a bridge to distribute the stress more evenly and strengthen the tubes.

What is necessary is up to you. I run a truss and gussets, but I also wheel in some rock gardens and wouldn't consider myself "easy" on my axle. I don't think I go crazy with the skinny and smash into everything I see, but I do tend to push it a little. It is really up to you to decide what you think is necessary for your axle. Some guys run 37's on a D30 with no issue, some bend D44s on stock street tires. Granted the tubes are the same, but just giving an example.

 

I don't think you could get a much better, more clear and properly worded response than that. Armed with his response above, it's up to you and your daughter to decide if she's going to be doing rough off roading or just driving to work and back and some gravel and dirt roads. Only you two know what the axle is going be exposed to, so with that you can decide to get in front of problems or not.... assuming that you feel the use could cause any issues.

 

Thank you for a very concise answer, and the seconding of it.
(My cable is running like it's on a 28.8 dial-up connection)

 

There really are no true trusses for the JK front. What Aztec markets a truss is just a tube reinforcement and a true truss would reinforce the axle from side to side to prevent deflection of the tubes to the differential. It does a nice job at adding a set of heavy duty brackets but I would not say anyone actually is benefiting more then that from their "truss". The inner sleeve reinforcement does not seem to be an answer either. The whole broken front axle is a bit overblown as I have seen reports of maybe a dozen on a vehicle that has sold over a million units. They are typically broken when abused. People running into a curb or ramming stuff off road. The inner C is not great with the larger tires many will gusset. There are thousands of JK's out there on 35's with no issues on the front 44.

 

I'm going through with this same decision. I just got my new jeep after trading in my old one and am getting ready to install my lift and 37" Discover STT Pro. Since I will have m axle out for lift install I figured now is the time to do the truss or sleeve. Right now will be going to Rausch Creek area but I'm military so I could end up in any different wheeling environments.

I'm going to install gussets for sure. Just don't know if I want to Truss or let it break and upgrade.

 

I have to disagree. The artec truss welds to the tubes AND the pumpkin tieing everything together and prevention tub vs pumpkin deflection.

The evo truss on the other had does not weld to the pumpkin. And creates the scenario you mention. (About same but less than sleeves)

Northridge 4x4

 

fine, disagree with me. It is not a proper truss. Welded to the cast center section you say, interesting. As long as you believe you are getting some benefit out of it is all that is important.

 

Just for clarification, you're saying that a proper truss is one, solid piece from axle end to axle end, right? Unlike those on the market that are multiple pieces, even if they weld to the center housing.

 

Yes a proper truss would go from end to end and over the differential. It is nearly impossible to truss a factory JK front axle due to all the links it has and clearance on the up travel. Several other companies sell a bracket they call a truss for the rear that just goes over the differential, these are actually a bridge to allow for more options on link mount and really do nothing to increase the strength of the axle.