Topic: Hey Dana 35 guys

[Shawn_c]

"Superior just introduced a new product at SEMA this past week.

It's a c-clip eliminator that uses the bearings out of a Dana 44, Chromo 27 spline shafts that have been beefed up at the flange profile to resist bending, and requires no modification to your current housing to be installed.

It's also going to be recommended that you stay on or under your current 33" tire size."

I don't know about prices yet, but it should be alot cheaper then a super 35 kit.  I think this combined with a full case locker or limited slip like a True Track would be a great thing for a daily driver weekend warrior.

[Jeffy]

"Superior just introduced a new product at SEMA this past week.

It's a c-clip eliminator that uses the bearings out of a Dana 44, Chromo 27 spline shafts that have been beefed up at the flange profile to resist bending, and requires no modification to your current housing to be installed.

It's also going to be recommended that you stay on or under your current 33" tire size."

I don't know about prices yet, but it should be alot cheaper then a super 35 kit.  I think this combined with a full case locker or limited slip like a True Track would be a great thing for a daily driver weekend warrior.

Why not just carry some stock 35 shafts or just go alloy stock shafts to begin with?  Then carry your stock shafts as spares?  It's not the C-clips that is the problem, it's the axle shaft breaking.  The C-clips are only an issue when the axle starts to walk out.  Catch it before it does then swap the shaft, fish out the bits and carry on.  I think it would be better then limping out in in 3wd then trying to figure out a way to get home.  Can't just convert it back as easily either.

I'm betting they're using the outer setup from the TJ D44 which uses 35 tubes.

[Jesse-James]

Wouldn't an 8.8 still be cheaper?

[dunklervogel]

Prolly not for us TJs who have to have welding done.

[dexetr30]

Prolly not for us TJs who have to have welding done.

The exact reason I bought a welder and learned to weld. I've saved a lot of $$ making my own parts, especially my bumpers.

Actually, I've been looking into a 9 inch. I just have to see what goes into adapting one to the rear of a TJ.

[Shawn_c]

Why not just carry some stock 35 shafts or just go alloy stock shafts to begin with?  Then carry your stock shafts as spares?  It's not the C-clips that is the problem, it's the axle shaft breaking.  The C-clips are only an issue when the axle starts to walk out.  Catch it before it does then swap the shaft, fish out the bits and carry on.  I think it would be better then limping out in in 3wd then trying to figure out a way to get home.  Can't just convert it back as easily either.

I'm betting they're using the outer setup from the TJ D44 which uses 35 tubes.

Quadratec is the only place that sells 4340 27 spline shafts.  They retail at $329. 

This is much more then a c-clip eliminator. 

You can't just "catch a shaft" before it breaks.  Once it's broke it's broke.  You get to spend another couple of hours holding your group up while you dig pieces of axle shaft out of your diff and pound the broken piece out of your locker or carrier.  By doing it this way not only do you get 4340 chromo shafts, you get shafts that are beefed up to prevent bending and flexing which is what kills dana 35 shafts anyway.  Also this requires no modifications to your housing.  You could very easily undue it and go back to stock shafts.  I'd much rather "limp" out and home in 3wd then spend 2 hours holding everyone up while I attempt a trail repair. 

[Shawn_c]

I actually think it is something similiar to how they did the super 88 kit.  But we will see.  I'll post more info as soon as I get it.

[Jesse-James]

Prolly not for us TJs who have to have welding done.

Gotta weld perches and shock mounts on a YJ too.

I'll still go with a swap, ya just can't polish a turd and expect anything good to come of it.

[Jeffy]

Quadratec is the only place that sells 4340 27 spline shafts.  They retail at $329. 

This is much more then a c-clip eliminator. 

You can't just "catch a shaft" before it breaks.  Once it's broke it's broke.  You get to spend another couple of hours holding your group up while you dig pieces of axle shaft out of your diff and pound the broken piece out of your locker or carrier.  By doing it this way not only do you get 4340 chromo shafts, you get shafts that are beefed up to prevent bending and flexing which is what kills dana 35 shafts anyway.  Also this requires no modifications to your housing.  You could very easily undue it and go back to stock shafts.  I'd much rather "limp" out and home in 3wd then spend 2 hours holding everyone up while I attempt a trail repair. 

I wasn't talking about catching it midway although it may have come out that way.  I meant catching it before the shaft walks out.    Even with beefed up shafts though the D35's axle tubes do flex a lot.  This is what causes the side and spider gears to grenade.  ARB used to make a C-clip eliminator.  I'd be willing to bet Superior bought the rights.  The C-clip eliminator had you cut the clip slots off your axle shafts and bolt bearing retainers to the ends of the axle shaft.  This was done since they didn't want to redesign the ARB for C-clips.  They changed their minds...  I'm guessing Superior just mills the ends off their standard shafts.  To swap back you'd need to unbolt the bearing retainers, swap back to the original bearings on both sides then swap both axle shafts back in.  If you're running stock shafts, you won't have to mess with the good side.

If you're breaking 4340 shafts, c-clip or not, you're probably ready for an axle upgrade.  At least when you're running C-clip shafts, you can attempt to fix it at the trail head or at a base camp.  With either brake you're limping back to the trail head and I'm sure you're group isn't going to just leave you to limp back on your own.  For many of the guy's out west, home could be hundreds of miles away.  2 hours fixing it to 100% beats trying to drive it.  I guess if you happen to live near the trail or have a trailer queen then it becomes moot.

If there was such a demand for the C-clip eliminator it wouldn't have disappeared off the market for 15 years.

[chrisfranklin]

Quadratec is the only place that sells 4340 27 spline shafts.  They retail at $329. 

This is much more then a c-clip eliminator. 

You can't just "catch a shaft" before it breaks.  Once it's broke it's broke.  You get to spend another couple of hours holding your group up while you dig pieces of axle shaft out of your diff and pound the broken piece out of your locker or carrier.  By doing it this way not only do you get 4340 chromo shafts, you get shafts that are beefed up to prevent bending and flexing which is what kills dana 35 shafts anyway.  Also this requires no modifications to your housing.  You could very easily undue it and go back to stock shafts.  I'd much rather "limp" out and home in 3wd then spend 2 hours holding everyone up while I attempt a trail repair. 

27 spline chromo shafts are listed for less:

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Yukon-Dana-35-Chromoly-Axle-Shafts-27-Spline_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33728QQihZ016QQitemZ260126587683QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[Jesse-James]

[Shawn_c]

27 spline chromo shafts are listed for less:

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-Yukon-Dana-35-Chromoly-Axle-Shafts-27-Spline_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33728QQihZ016QQitemZ260126587683QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Those aren't chomoly.  They are 1541H material.  Chromoly shafts are normally 4340 or 300m. 

[Shawn_c]

Prolly not for us TJs who have to have welding done.

Gotta weld perches and shock mounts on a YJ too.

I'll still go with a swap, ya just can't polish a turd and expect anything good to come of it.

You can't compare welding spring perches on to welding a 5 link suspension bracket kit. 

[Shawn_c]

feel free to say what ever you want.  But some people don't need Dana 60 strength and are just looking for some extra security.  I have ran jeeps from stock to 36's on a dana 35 without an issue.  Why should I put down $1200 or more for something that has never broke?

[Shawn_c]

I wasn't talking about catching it midway although it may have come out that way.  I meant catching it before the shaft walks out.    Even with beefed up shafts though the D35's axle tubes do flex a lot.  This is what causes the side and spider gears to grenade.  ARB used to make a C-clip eliminator.  I'd be willing to bet Superior bought the rights.  The C-clip eliminator had you cut the clip slots off your axle shafts and bolt bearing retainers to the ends of the axle shaft.  This was done since they didn't want to redesign the ARB for C-clips.  They changed their minds...  I'm guessing Superior just mills the ends off their standard shafts.  To swap back you'd need to unbolt the bearing retainers, swap back to the original bearings on both sides then swap both axle shafts back in.  If you're running stock shafts, you won't have to mess with the good side.

If you're breaking 4340 shafts, c-clip or not, you're probably ready for an axle upgrade.  At least when you're running C-clip shafts, you can attempt to fix it at the trail head or at a base camp.  With either brake you're limping back to the trail head and I'm sure you're group isn't going to just leave you to limp back on your own.  For many of the guy's out west, home could be hundreds of miles away.  2 hours fixing it to 100% beats trying to drive it.  I guess if you happen to live near the trail or have a trailer queen then it becomes moot.

If there was such a demand for the C-clip eliminator it wouldn't have disappeared off the market for 15 years.

Not only are you elminating the worry having a tire go flying off.  I have only seen two dana 35 shafts let go.  Each time part of the shaft got lodged in the locker and require removing of the good side to get a long enough broom stick into it and pound it out.  Your also getting the larger Dana 44 wheel bearings.  I know of many people that have had there Dana 35 bearing chew up there axle shafts pretty good.  Also the stock carrier and side gears break as often as axle shafts do.  With the stock carrier trashed the c-clips and spare shafts dont do you a whole lot of good.  I have had 2 sets of spider gears go bad, luckily I inspect my junk enough to where I caught them before they went completely out. 

The "limp" housing causes deflection of the ring gear and in turn the carrier.  But that to is easily fixed with a truss that superior released this year at SEMA as well.

Again I'm not saying this is for everybody.  But if your like me and don't weld, you dont have alot of extra $$$, and would like some more security this is a great option.  Not trying to fight with anyone.  I just hate it when people are so narrow minded they can't see any view point but their own.