Baystate Jeepers

Well, all was well this afternoon till all of a sudden...

Boom, Crunch, Crunch, BANG bang...

I thought I lost a Driveshaft just as I was coming to the exit of the Highway...

Let's say that wasn't the only thing., The Pinion exploded inside the Differential, cracked the side wall of the pumpkin and the Stub of the Pinion and the ass end of the driveshaft is somewhere out on 495 north near the Rt 62 Exit...




I managed to drive it with the front wheels to get it off the highway, looked at things, and got it the rest of the way home after putting a limiting strap on the driveshaft to hold it up. I went under it at home to see the damage. Rear Axel it totalled, Driveshaft too..

I'm now desperately looking for a pair of Rubicon takeouts. If anyone has a set or sees a set, please let me know ASAP. I prefer a Rubi set, as I don't want to have to regear for the Stock Dana 30 front (or gear the 30 to the rear for that matter), and would rather just replace both at the same time (and lockers to boot).

send me a PM and I'll email you back ASAP, Note I leave for Spain on the 16th and arrive back on the 26th. so if you ping me at that time I'll be on a different time schedule and may not contact you back right away...

I've seen them quite a lot on Failbook marketplace. I think I just searched "Rubicon axles". I've spoken to other Baystaters who've done this too. You may have a drive. I had one set near Waterbury, CT, so a couple hours for me.

Found a set in Boston,

Does anyone know a guy named Marshall Harris?

ROFLMAO!!!

Still haven’t heard anything from the Facebook seller, but I contacted Steve over at Off-road Elements to find out availability and schedules to get on the list if needed, told him that i may have found a set. When i described them, and told him the sellers name, he told me he's literally looking at his Jeep. It's in the shop waiting on work. LOL!!!

They were going to be calling him today, i asked them to let him know that he has a buyer in this small world…

Here are the axle descriptions:
Dana 44 Axles for Jeep JK years 2007 - 2018
UPGRADED Rubicon D44 Axles
* 4.88 Gears (5k miles)
* 5 x 5 Bolt Pattern (5x127)
* E-Lockers Front and Rear
* G2 Rear Off-Road Chromoly Shafts
* RCV Fronts
* Ultimate 44 front housing
* ARB Differential Covers
* EVO Shock Riser & Skids - Rear
* Dynatrac ProGrip Braking System
* Teraflex Ball Joints
* SFR 1 Ton Steering

Well, the first set fell through.

But I found a set of bare OEM Rubi Axles in New Jersey. they are shipping directly to Offroad Elements down in Abington MA. My ride just got towed there and arrived. Now to pay for all the mods to the Axles and install labor. So far, 4K for axles shipped, 3.5 K for Trusses Reinforcements, wiring (for the lockers I'll now have, FINALLY). and then the installation labor...

Just got the Labor Estimate.. ~4.7K!
20 Hours = 3K for the installation of the Axles, and removal of the others (sending the D30 back to me, so I can try to sell it), 7 hours = 1.4K for the Welding and axle prep ($200/hour... I'm in the WRONG Business!!).
another $500 in Alignment and misc...

That all seems like legit pricing for a shop. You are paying the labor rate appropriate for also all the tools, consumables tech rate, payroll benefits, overhead and profit.

Yep, but still, I gotta learn how to Weld... $200/hour. Nice Pay rate (probably a lot less for the actual welder though of course)...

The New Axles made it to the Shop...

New Rubi Axles

New trussing and bracing on the Rear is complete (just painting left), now onto the front...

Front all welded up, Rear is in, and pics of the Damage to the Drive shaft Transfer case end (the other end does not exist), and the Diff internals...

I did a Wicked good job, Offroad Elements even said they have never seen a damaged diff so bad and still roll...

Yeah!! Install complete and she's back home!!










And forgot to show the new Adams 1350 Driveshafts front and rear...

Mike, sorry for the late reply, but this was right after we did Carnage, WOW! Were glad you got it fixed and better than before!