Full Float Problems..

I had a problem with bolts breaking in the hubs on my D30. I ended up doing one side in studs with lock-washers, and the other in Grade 8 with lock washers. My though was to see which set up was more durable, and convert the other side subsequently.

However, both have worked with minimal loosening. Still, I check the bolts and nuts before each day before a trail ride, and once again when I put the plow on in winter. Hasn't been an issue in years.

 

This is basically the idea. I put more money into it than I wanted, but changing gears and installing a power lock in a flanged axle, if i could find it here, costs the same amount. I already had this housing and all the other junk, so what this axle cost me differently without the initial outlay of buying a whole new unit was just the axle shafts and getting them splined. 250 bucks or so plus 200 bucks for the locking hubs?

Just trying to make junk work a bit longer really.

 

That concept has driven $25+ billion in Viagra sales.

 

If this is your daily driver, why not just put drive flanges on the back? Put the hubs on if your going to flat tow. I like the idea of cone washers but they require a tapered hole to seat properly. How about a steel sleeve that reduces the ID of the hub. If the broken studs that need to be removed are difficult, how about drilling and tapping to 7/16” and grade 8 studs? That way the hub could be reamed for a tight fit on the stud.

 

You're reading my mind! I want cone washers, but how to cut the same cone and in the right place? Complex machining for me and I would probably need to buy some tooling. Defeats the cheap idea. The 7/16 studs are a great idea, but I don't think there is enough material in the hub to allow that. I have another hub that i can use, just need to press out the lugs. I want to try and extract the broke off studs in red permanent locktite to say I did it though. Bought a left handed drill bit to see if I can just turn them out after I heat it up real good and make the magic locktite smoke appear. I also bought some real studs with a raised portion that will fit in the non-threaded portion of the hub and the holes for the locking hub, but they only had 4..

I looked at quadratrac drive flanges, but again I am cheap and I have the lockouts.. soooo.

Didn't get to it today, as I was busy with real work. Maybe tomorrow. I don't NEED to drive my jeep everyday, I just like to.