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Watched my buddy run 35s on stock axles for two years vs me swapping gears first
He drove a JKU through Moab for two seasons on factory D44s with zero issues while I spent $2,800 upfront on RCVs and 5.13s and still broke a u-joint last fall, so is it really worth the extra cash or just luck of the draw?
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bettywilson1mo ago
Right? It's all about how you drive it. I ran 33s on stock Dana 30s for three years in Colorado and never blew a thing, but my buddy with the same rig snapped an axle shaft just backing out of his driveway. Some of it is luck, sure, but most of it is how often you're bouncing off the limiter or trying to crawl up something you shouldn't be. That Moab trip your buddy did, he probably wasn't smashing it into every ledge like a madman, just picking smart lines. Spend the money if you want the peace of mind, but don't pretend it makes you invincible.
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joelp811mo ago
Bouncing off the limiter isn't the issue for most guys, it's shock load. I've seen dudes hammer down on 33s and never break a thing because they had a light foot and full suspension travel. But that same guy who smashed it into a ledge with the wheels cranked? Snap city. The real killer is when you're trying to crawl up a wet rock and you bounce the tire off it, then it lands and grabs hard. That sudden grab is what snaps shafts, not just sending it hard. So yeah, being smart with your throttle and line choice matters way more than just how hard you go.
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