Suspension or shafts? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

crtbc · 10-08-2005, 06:18 PM

98 tj - RE 4.5" SHORT ARM - D44/Ford9" - 35 MT/R's

Heres my problem...
I run AZ trails 3-4.5 in rating out of 5.5 every 3rd time I go out it seems like now I am breaking axle shafts. I was planning on going to chromoly shafts to eleviate the problem but then I was informed of another issue that might be contributing to my dilemma nad possible break my cromo's too

When I walk up to a rock, my suspension due to the short arms flexes down AND ALSO BACKWARDS so that when my heep starts to go over it has to fight its way to original position AND THEN up the rock so essentially the axle shafts are pulling double duty....

Now my question is this
Since I really do have l;imited funds is it better to get a long arm kit and switch to that.. or should I just get the cromos and that would solve everything? I'm basically wondering if the long arms would help so much that I would be able to run stock shafts without breaking them

Thanx for your time
Sincerly
Dumb Newbie

jeepin494 · 10-08-2005, 06:33 PM

Get the shafts, Your suspension will follow the same route no matter if it is long armed or not. Just my 2 cents.

xgeekstarx · 10-08-2005, 06:42 PM

you might be able to get the RE drop brackets and alleviate some of the control arm angle.

ipkyss · 10-08-2005, 07:24 PM

I know exactly what you are talking about. I had the same problem, only on an XJ. Definatly go longarm. It will be the best upgrade you can do. I have ripped mounts off the frame from the added stress when that happends. I am now 3" higher with longarms and never have the problem.

rockstar · 10-08-2005, 10:28 PM

shafts...

UglyZJ · 10-09-2005, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepin494

Get the shafts, Your suspension will follow the same route no matter if it is long armed or not. Just my 2 cents.

um..not exactly. The problem you are having is your control arms being to short, and the arc that the suspension travels in is not where it should be. You are going to keep breaking those axles (Im guessing d30/d35) no matter what, if you get new shafts, then it will be something else. I would suggest doing longarms and then saving for some real axles, putting money into the combo you have now is pointless

bulfrog3 · 10-09-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UglyZJ

um..not exactly. The problem you are having is your control arms being to short, and the arc that the suspension travels in is not where it should be. You are going to keep breaking those axles (Im guessing d30/d35) no matter what, if you get new shafts, then it will be something else. I would suggest doing longarms and then saving for some real axles, putting money into the combo you have now is pointless

Quote:

Originally Posted by crtbc

98 tj - RE 4.5" SHORT ARM - D44/Ford9" - 35 MT/R's

He has the axles

UglyZJ · 10-09-2005, 12:13 PM

oh,well didnt see that...i still stand by my statement about the long arms.

mugreentj · 10-09-2005, 02:11 PM

4.5 inches of lift is a lot on short arms. If you went with 3.5s and compensate with a 1"BL you might be better off.

bhenry · 10-09-2005, 04:05 PM

Before you spend alot of $ try redrilling your lower control arm mounts to alleviate some of the angle. Obviously you will move the holes down on the upper mount, and up on the lower mount. I haven't measured it, but I believe you can move the upper down app. 1 inch, and lower up app. 1.5 inches. Just be sure to leave enough material in the upper mount to retain strength. Btw cromo shafts rock.

crtbc · 10-09-2005, 05:39 PM

yes DANA 44 FRONT... FORD 9" REAR...

I'm still getting mixed results here

I have 4.5" springs 1" body 1"motor mount

can I get a general concensus before I decide to just say phucket and cut everything off and make my own 3 link out of 2 inch square tube and JJ's which would be alot more work for me right now and would rather not do unless I have to

XJ_ranger · 10-09-2005, 05:59 PM

un-balanced suspention and wheels getting bound is what kills shafts...

fix that and buy some more spicers...

I am asuming from your description that you are blowing the front shafts - not the 31spline 9" shafts...

ipkyss · 10-09-2005, 06:46 PM

Buying shafts might cover up the problem but, it will not solve the problem.

00pumpkin · 10-09-2005, 09:27 PM

i know what you mean, i use to have a short arm setup like that too.............i would fix that and go long arms, totally changes everything, especially if your running the 4.5" coils with short arms........with 35's though i cant believe your busting that many 44 shafts...........

arizona98tj · 10-10-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crtbc

98 tj - RE 4.5" SHORT ARM - D44/Ford9" - 35 MT/R's

I run AZ trails 3-4.5 in rating

Which trails are you doing where you are blowing out a shaft?

It sucks when you come up to a ledge, your front tire drops a bit as it goes into a hole....you watch your suspension flex and move the tire towards the rear of the vehicle.....then as you continue to move forward, the tire has to move to the rear while trying to climb. Been there, done that with a 6" lift and short arms. While I was not loosing front shafts, I sure as heck enjoyed the conversion to LAs.

twistedtj · 10-10-2005, 03:26 PM

Putting in the long arm kit was one of the best mods I did. I too have the 4.5" RE, 1" body and MM lift. Do the long arm kit. I HAD to do the LA with my 4.5" RE Kit. It was more like a 6" lift. The ride and off road capabilities sucked with the short arms. Once I did the LA it was a totally different ride on and offroad.
I drove my Jeep with D30 and D35 with 35" tires and finally broke a rear shaft after 2 years when the Jeep was sideways and pinned up against a wall, then went 8.8 never broke, then went to D44 front and now a 9" rear and 38's.

35xj · 10-11-2005, 06:15 AM

weld a small hoop onto your axle, attach winch cable to it, tighten cable when going up onto big obstacles.

TwistedTJTank · 10-11-2005, 08:35 AM

Long arms did mine a world of good. You can make your own for not a lot of $$$.

crtbc · 10-11-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35xj

weld a small hoop onto your axle, attach winch cable to it, tighten cable when going up onto big obstacles.

Thats kinda what I was thinking for a quick fix... I will prolly get long arms when the money comes in but right now im kinda livin paycheck to paycheck

Quote:

Which trails are you doing where you are blowing out a shaft?

I broke my driver stub on Landslide in the white tanks and I broke my pass. inner on Highway to hell

under_psi · 10-11-2005, 06:29 PM

i would personally get the shafts....seems like you wheel pretty hard...that should help ease your mind a little while on the trail, then go LA....

10-08-2005, 06:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
crtbc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Member # 28599 Location: AZ Posts: 645	Suspension or shafts? 98 tj - RE 4.5" SHORT ARM - D44/Ford9" - 35 MT/R's Heres my problem... I run AZ trails 3-4.5 in rating out of 5.5 every 3rd time I go out it seems like now I am breaking axle shafts. I was planning on going to chromoly shafts to eleviate the problem but then I was informed of another issue that might be contributing to my dilemma nad possible break my cromo's too When I walk up to a rock, my suspension due to the short arms flexes down AND ALSO BACKWARDS so that when my heep starts to go over it has to fight its way to original position AND THEN up the rock so essentially the axle shafts are pulling double duty.... Now my question is this Since I really do have l;imited funds is it better to get a long arm kit and switch to that.. or should I just get the cromos and that would solve everything? I'm basically wondering if the long arms would help so much that I would be able to run stock shafts without breaking them Thanx for your time Sincerly Dumb Newbie

10-09-2005, 12:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
UglyZJ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 45364 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 158	oh,well didnt see that...i still stand by my statement about the long arms. __________________ 8 lug ZJ

10-09-2005, 02:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
mugreentj Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Member # 46710 Location: WV Posts: 17	4.5 inches of lift is a lot on short arms. If you went with 3.5s and compensate with a 1"BL you might be better off. __________________ go watch my videos - youtube.com/mugreentj

10-09-2005, 09:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
00pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 38716 Location: Auburn, AL Posts: 612	i know what you mean, i use to have a short arm setup like that too.............i would fix that and go long arms, totally changes everything, especially if your running the 4.5" coils with short arms........with 35's though i cant believe your busting that many 44 shafts........... __________________ America is all about Speed. Hot, Nasty, Badass Speed...... Last edited by 00pumpkin; 10-10-2005 at 02:11 PM.

10-10-2005, 03:26 PM	#16 (permalink)
twistedtj Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Member # 26201 Location: Trinity, FL (near Tampa) Posts: 325	Putting in the long arm kit was one of the best mods I did. I too have the 4.5" RE, 1" body and MM lift. Do the long arm kit. I HAD to do the LA with my 4.5" RE Kit. It was more like a 6" lift. The ride and off road capabilities sucked with the short arms. Once I did the LA it was a totally different ride on and offroad. I drove my Jeep with D30 and D35 with 35" tires and finally broke a rear shaft after 2 years when the Jeep was sideways and pinned up against a wall, then went 8.8 never broke, then went to D44 front and now a 9" rear and 38's. __________________ Just a spectator now....

10-08-2005, 06:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
jeepin494 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Member # 46186 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 66	Get the shafts, Your suspension will follow the same route no matter if it is long armed or not. Just my 2 cents.

10-08-2005, 06:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
xgeekstarx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Member # 53227 Posts: 58	you might be able to get the RE drop brackets and alleviate some of the control arm angle.

10-08-2005, 07:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
ipkyss Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 20983 Location: Hampden,MA Posts: 287	I know exactly what you are talking about. I had the same problem, only on an XJ. Definatly go longarm. It will be the best upgrade you can do. I have ripped mounts off the frame from the added stress when that happends. I am now 3" higher with longarms and never have the problem.

10-08-2005, 10:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
rockstar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39293 Posts: 56	shafts...

10-09-2005, 04:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
bhenry Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Member # 53544 Location: Texarkana, AR Posts: 3	Before you spend alot of $ try redrilling your lower control arm mounts to alleviate some of the angle. Obviously you will move the holes down on the upper mount, and up on the lower mount. I haven't measured it, but I believe you can move the upper down app. 1 inch, and lower up app. 1.5 inches. Just be sure to leave enough material in the upper mount to retain strength. Btw cromo shafts rock.

10-09-2005, 05:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
crtbc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Member # 28599 Location: AZ Posts: 645	yes DANA 44 FRONT... FORD 9" REAR... I'm still getting mixed results here I have 4.5" springs 1" body 1"motor mount can I get a general concensus before I decide to just say phucket and cut everything off and make my own 3 link out of 2 inch square tube and JJ's which would be alot more work for me right now and would rather not do unless I have to

10-09-2005, 06:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
ipkyss Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Member # 20983 Location: Hampden,MA Posts: 287	Buying shafts might cover up the problem but, it will not solve the problem.

10-11-2005, 06:15 AM	#17 (permalink)
35xj Rock God Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14780 Location: asheville nc Posts: 1,887	weld a small hoop onto your axle, attach winch cable to it, tighten cable when going up onto big obstacles. __________________ 04.5 cummins lb,qc,white, 4x4,,bddl, outlook,, exhaust 315 bfg's 02 WRX caged etc new buggy http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...43#post5890143 save tellico post #830

10-11-2005, 08:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
TwistedTJTank Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Member # 47487 Location: Lower Alabama Posts: 248	Long arms did mine a world of good. You can make your own for not a lot of $$$. __________________ I don't like repeat offenders, I like dead offenders. Mr. Ted Nugent

10-11-2005, 06:29 PM	#20 (permalink)
under_psi Rock God Join Date: Nov 2004 Member # 39348 Location: mississippi Posts: 1,097	i would personally get the shafts....seems like you wheel pretty hard...that should help ease your mind a little while on the trail, then go LA....

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