Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

I think I will pass on that this time. At least if we are at bfe.

 

Just ordered this. Looking forward to trying it out.

Congrats dude! Regeared and locked F/R is where it's at! Hope to be doing it soon as well.

 

Got the rear diff in today after work and drove it around the block. Swap went quite smoothly. Front tomorrow followed by breaking them in.

 

I would hope it was easy. Expecially after we did James' in moab. But let us know how the front goes.

 

The E-Locker added a few minor complications. Also, I need to join James in some crossfit before I try that again. Laying on the ground lifting that diff up and onto the studs took took all my strength. Hoping I can get the front in there.

 

I'd recommend having an extra hand for the front. I didn't have any problem getting it out by myself but finagling it back in was tough. Fortunately I had a buddy nearby to help.

 

It helps to place a floor jack under the transmission on the bellhousing and jack it up a little. Allows more room for the pinion flange to clear.

 

Ya they aren't light at all. Inoted of crossfit you could come work with me for a while.

 

How life changing was it to be regeared? I loved it the second I pulled out if the garage

 

I had to get creative with the front. Held the diff up with my knees as I maneuvered it in with my arms. I assumed I looked like an idiot to everyone else in my apartment complex...

 

I used a jack....was pretty easy..

 

Back together and two break in drives down. The rear diff gets surprisingly hot in just a 20 minute drive. Got a second set of hands on the front diff, there's no way I could have done that by myself, but surprisingly, getting it back in was easier than getting it out. Jacking up on the bell housing helped a lot.

While I've only gone fairly easy on it, I'm somewhat surprised it doesn't feel lower geared than it is. Still running my 265/75s and even then it's not that low. Real test will be on the bigger tires seeing how it holds gears in the mountains, and in 4L on the trail. Can't wait to test it all out.

Have a few lingering issues though, main one being a little weep from the rear third member. Guess my form-a-gasket technique needs a little work. Not excited to pull that again, but at least it was way easier than the front.

 

I was expecting more of a difference too. It does hold gear better and I can now use 5th again. Can't wait to get it on a trail and test them though.

 

You'll notice more on the hwy and 4lo then anything for sure. I can pull hills in 5th now. It's great. Granted I'm a tad more over geared than you.

The heat is normal especially for the first few drives. Hopefully not over 200°. A laser temp gun is good to have to check your gears for the next 5k

 

4.88s and 33s with the manual is only a slight over gear from stock. So not a drastic change. But it still should make drivin it much better.

 

Mine have been running in the 170° range. I'm at 200 miles now. Trying to keep highway run short and checking temps. Your gears looked better then mine and your gear sets looked like they came out of a different machine/run.

 

Haven't measured it but I don't think it's getting that hot. Can just barely hold my hand against it after a drive.

What do you, or anyone else know about u-joints? Noticed just a touch of rotational play in my rear-most u-joint yesterday. Is that a stick with OEM item? Obviously want to get that replaced before it breaks in the middle of nowhere.

 

I found that OEM lasts longer and doesn't break as easy aftermarket. I don't run anything else. I carry a OEM as spare also.

 

That answers that.

Which one do you carry as a spare? I thought there were different u joints along the driveshaft.

 

After the 3 heat cycles of braking in how long are you guys running the front diff for?