Upgrade u-joints?

[6.2Blazer]

The whole idea of keeping the wheel straight works alright...but I've still destroyed u joints even with the wheels facing straight forward when I had a 10 bolt front.

Agreed, but it does take a lot less to break a u-joint a full lock. With 35's and a front limited slip, I could pretty much break a u-joint at will in my old front 10-bolt by turning the wheel to full lock while it was in a rut or trying to climb a rock.

 

[tRustyK5]

Oops, almost forgot... ask Robzilla how much he likes his chromolys and CTMs!
Mike

Last I checked Rob wasn't running a big block, or a 4 speed or 38" TSL's...

I'd recomend joining up at BC4x4.com, funinbc.com for starters and keep a bit of mad money at the ready. I have seen enough D60 fronts go for right around $1000 cdn on those two sites.

Right now you're wasting good money on a lousy diff (for the application) The terrain you wheel is probably as hard on parts as Moab or Arizona...logs, ruts, mud, etc all take their toll.

Either that or drop down to some 35" radials and keep a supply of spare shafts and U-joints handy...

Rene

 

[jarheadk5]

[hijack on]

what gearing would you suggest for the 33's on a daily driver?

I have 3.73's in my '87 K5 with 33's and a 700R4 (overdrive automatic trans), and it was my DD until the body threatened to fall off... I recently drove a similar K5 with 4.10's and 33's, and it was a night-and-day difference. Mine was a bit of a dog off the line, his almost jumps. His mileage is better too, since the motor's not working as hard to push the truck.
If you have more gearing questions, you should consider starting a new thread about it - hijacking is generally frowned upon...

[hijack off]

 

[shanemcg45]

Thanks Ken. I just found out about the "hijacking" thing. I'm new.

 

[Thumper]

Well, against all advice and feelings, I just ordered up a set of chromoly axles for my D44. I talked to a guy today about it and all the advice I got from you guys. He said its prolly a bad idea to go with CTMs as well as the chromolys, but said if I went with Spicer u-joints, Id be ok. He wheels with the Highriders from Calgary, and said most of them run that setup in thier Jeeps... built 383s, big gears, and 44" Boggers, and he said the guys who break are the ones who are launching and landing on the gas, or really putting some power down in a bad spot. He also said that the odds are the hub will snap before anything else, so... I guess we will see in a couple weeks!

I will keep you posted, May Long is coming up... Hehe.
Later
Mike

 

[captaininsano]

I'm running 39.5" IROKs on 1/2 ton gear, nothing broken yet!

I'll post pics when it does... I'm in the same boat though, no dinero for the 1 ton stuff. I am trying to go lightweight, bobbed it, cut 100s of pounds of unwanted metal off, no more top, no doors. I think 1/2 ton gear can be made to work, but depends on driving style, and setup. I have seen guys break 1 ton stuff like nothing, on obstacles my rig will get over. The money pedal usually determines the outcome. Fun to watch 1 ton axles break!