So I got a good deal on 35's yesterday.

Now my questions is, what's going to break first...

HPD30

4.56 gears
Lockright Locker
Stock Shafts with x297 U-Joints

I'm hoping the Shafts & U-Joints will go before the Gears, Id even take a sheared pin in the lockright. I just don't want to grenade my Gear Set.

Anyone got experience? I'm pretty light on the pedal, But have had the Jeep on three wheels before. Never Broken a shaft or joint on my 33's setup the same way.

 

I'll be where you are now soon, very soon. From what I've seen / heard, just be aware of what is upfront. Watch that skinny pedal. I was gonna buy chromo front axles, but figured I want the axles to be the weak point. Don't wanna put any more money in my diffs.

Good score on the 35's. I'm planning on 35 generals.

 

I have almost an identical setup but with as Aussie. I'd say ujoints would be first to go, but then again it depends on the situation. I would invest in a spare set of stock shafts as some cheap insurance.

 

Upgrade to alloy shafts and carry your OEM shafts for spares.

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...-27-Spline-Kit

 

I understand the carrier becomes a weak point as well, using an auto-locker.

 

Sorry, but this is not what I'd want to do I know.
Upgrading the Shafts will move the weak point to the carrier.

I've got spare shafts and can swap those on the trail quick.
I don't see fixing a carrier as a trail repair...

 

x2 this is my fear

I've heard that's the next thing to go after the shafts.

What I can't confirm is if this only happens to guys that upgraded their shafts.

 

the 4.56 pinion, and the 297x joints are going to b ur problem. I think the gears will b ok, atleast for a while if ur not cautious. And I would swap out the 297's for some Spicer 760's. My d30 & 35's will destroy any 297 ujoint even knockoff 760's but the genuine Spicer joints, I actually wore out the the joint and had to replace it.... once.

Chromoly shafts are a waist imo. With 297's ull brake a ujoint which will still ruin the shaft. Or u put good joints in them, like the Spicers or some other high dollar joint, then all that force will go right to the next weakest link... that pinion gear. Id rather swap out a shaft on the side of the trail, over fighting a busted r&p off that trail.

Kinda like a fuse.


All this said, if ur not hard on it or don't ruin aggressive trails, ull b fine just the way it sits

 

There will always be a weak link.

Based on the OP's description of his rig and driving style....he's not going to grenade a carrier.

 

Sounds Good, One thing I'm not clear on is:

Run 297's or 760's?
You said your 35's eat 297's but upgrading the ujoint then shifts the weak link to the inside, if I'm understanding you correctly.

 

Well yeah basically. If something is braking, and u beef it up, that force will try and find the next weakest link. The goal of every jeeper is to get rid of the weak link but that **** gets expensive.

The 297's I used to run are ur every day run of the mill, parts store ujoint. The Spicers are much better quality but still only around $25 each.

 

THIS! so much this.

go get a hardened cross pin for your carrier, spicer 760's , FULL CIRCLE SNAP RINGS, and chromos as money permits. you're not going to break that setup. the D30 is not a toothpick it's a really stout front axle if you put it together right

 

Love hearing this, so many people $heit on the D30's.

 

My HP30 with a Lockrite is holding up fine on 35's. I've broken rear axleshafts, and even bent my D35 housing, but the 30 up front was still fine when I pulled it out.
I've also got a friend with a YJ on 35's with a locked HP30 up front, that Jeep has been wheeled hard for years, all over Moab many times, the 30 has never broken.

 

x2