Front Diff Reinforcement Collar

XJMA · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:32 am

Ed wrote:

Quote:

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm straining my eyes here and really can't see the crack!! Is it that slightly moist spot near where the joint is from where they cast it?

Also, under what conditions did this fail? What size tires, lift, etc? Did you bang the jeep hard off of something?

Also, I'm not seeing how this part could crack. Heat? What would put so much force right there that it would crack? The pinion torquing in it's bearings? Strange.

Here's a broken one.

The pictures at the start of the thread are of an intact diff. Once it's broken it's too late to do anything except replace the whole diff casing. The collar is (possibly) a preventative measure, not a fix.

As posted in the other threads on this subject, it seems that it happens when your wheels are freely spinning and suddenly grip. Like if you get airbourne!

wow, that is an issue!! does it only happen to people who jump their jeeps, or does it happen if you're trying to get up something and have to spin alot of tire to do so??

something fishy is going on with that pinion for sure. the pinion bearings must be wanting to take a hike, and the aluminum is just not strong enough to tell it no. I agree with you guys' theory of why it's happening, but I have an idea to add to it. I wonder if having the diff not so rigidly mounted would help?? Like have it mounted up with really stuff poly bushings, so it was essentially not going much of anywhere, but with a big shock load, it may be able to move. I'm saying this because it seems to me that if the wheels are spinning, and then they catch, the pinion is going to be forced downwards. It seems to me that the diff is mounted very rigidly. If there were just the tiniest bit of give in the mounts, so that under these extreme, yet rare, stresses the whole diff could rotate down slightly, transferring the brunt of the strain to the diff mounting system, rather than exclusively to the pinion bearings.

What do you guys think?

JC · **Joined:** Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:13 pm **Posts:** 17

I just ordered mine thanks for the help. I will install it as soon as the rest of the parts get here.

Thanks
JC

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:51 pm

Nobody has anything to say about changing the front diff mounts?

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:20 pm

JC wrote:

I just ordered mine thanks for the help. I will install it as soon as the rest of the parts get here.

Thanks
JC

Did I miss where these are being ordered from ???

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:55 pm

Quote:

I found some in a 3 9/16 inner diameter. Problem is they are $80 a piece, vs $20 a piece for the 3 1/2 diamater from the same company.

Thier website is at www.staffordmfg.com and the part number is 8L309. I called direct and they told me a better price is available from local distributors. Local Distributer in Wood Dale, IL quoted me the $80 price. I might just go with his 3 1/2 version and sand it - still cheaper than McMaster Carr.

In any case, it seems a perfect size is available, we just have to find out where to get em cheaper. Anyone have contacts in this industry? JeepinAl?

I think pixldzn is working on getting us a discount.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:32 pm

No contacts with these things, sorry. What you can do is get the 3.5 dia, and ask a machine shop open them up to the correct size. To sand them down, or file them, may make them "un-round" stressing the little bearing area, even more. I asked my guy if he would make up a bunch of alum rings, he said it was a special job just for me, and he wasn't interested, since he is real busy with the Gov't work. One of the thingds I was thinking of, if these rings are steel, to weld straps to the sides and bring them around to bolt to either the mounts, or cover bolts. The diff mounts do move alot. I was under mine pushing and pulling, and my mounts are fairly shot. This maybe add to the problem. Once they set the diff in motion, they come to the end of the elastic part stop the diff short transferring the stress to the diff and pinion area.

Al

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

I know you guys are working a deal on the 3 9/16 one which is cool. I might even pick up an extra. And from the looks of this picture you can see the area where we put the clamp looks awful thin. So this collar idea actually look even better.

Just want to mention a couple things. First 3/4" is just about the correct width. Fits perfect. 1" might be okay, but the 3/4" work great. Second I measured it with a digital caliber and it came out to be just about 3.56 with is 3 9/16. However, I simply sanded away slowly until she slipped on. So therefore mine might be 3 9/16 plus one 64th or something. It's very difficult to exactly measure the diameter of the collar, you'll see what I mean when you get one. The meausement I took on the diff was about as good as you can get. The surface is a little rough so it is impossible to get any accuracy much past the 2nd decimal place. I must of took a measurement about 10 times to make sure it was consistent. All I'm trying to say is that if you get the 3 9/16 collar it might just be a tiny bit (I mean tinny tinny bit like 1/64" or less) to small or too large. Or it might be just perfect. However, If I had to do it again I would look to get the 3 9/16" because I think it should fit right on or be very very darn close.

IceColeNH · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:50 pm

I contacted a company Ruland Numar who has the correct size needed.
Their price varies with quantity, of course. $103 down to $52.
I am still in contact, looking for local distributors within my area.
For the $52 price, an order of 15 to 49 would have to be purchased. I can ask about a higher quantity.

chemguy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 9:57 pm

Count me in Ice.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:19 pm

I want one, too--up to $100 or so. Would be great to find it cheaper, though...

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:38 pm

Troysterr wrote:

I want one, too--up to $100 or so. Would be great to find it cheaper, though...

We each need two, so it is $52 each, or $52 for a set of two? Depending, I may still go with the other size and have em machined.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:56 pm

Quote:

I contacted a company Ruland Numar who has the correct size needed.

Is this just bolt-on with no grinding or anything else needed? And do we need 1 or 2? I'll probly go in as well.

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:19 am

Put me down for one.

IceColeNH · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:19 pm

My bad, prices are for each. I am still waiting to hear back from them.

PitViper · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:35 pm

How about just building up the area with JB weld... or belzona?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:48 pm

PitViper wrote:

How about just building up the area with JB weld... or belzona?

Yes! Why didnt I think of that!

Ed · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:35 pm

Quote:

We each need two,

Do we? They wrap around where the input shaft goes into the front diff don't they?

I don't know about you, but I've only got one input shaft on my front diff.

Put me down for one (or two, or whatever!) assuming someone would be able to arrange shipping to Australia.

XJJeepGirl · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:39 pm

I want one too

Catherine

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:46 pm

If pixeldzn is not going to order them, count me in on this order.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 5:02 pm

This may of already been covered, but why are you all not getting them from the same place eddo did. Much cheaper I think at $36 for the steel one.

Front Diff Reinforcement Collar

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