Topic: Dana 35 OWNAGE... Pics to come in the morning...

[TahoeYJ]

Sooooo.... turns out my transmission wasn't my problem... Well, it is, but it's only part of the problem...

When I went to move my rig behind the fence today, I rolled down to the street (driveway is an incline, where my Jeep is parked is rock) to get somewhat of a running start up the gravel into the back. Well, everything just bound up... When I tried to reverse more, it popped. And it popped again... and again... Going forward it did the same thing. Popped the cover, and my ring gear had some noticeable damage. Then I look at the pinion gear... DUUUUUDE  It's shredded! It was fine 4 or 5 months ago when I had the cover off, I don't have the slightest idea how this could have happened... So all the noises/vibes I've had have simply been the rear, and probably my f'd up tranny too.

I talked to my buddy who did the gears (Well, he had another guy at the shop do them), and he's asking me all these questions, if I've had the carrier out for any reason, ever had the pinion nut off, etc. And no, never done any of that. He says he'll "probably just have to warranty it", but I'm already thinking because of the questions he's asking, he's going to try and find a way out of it.

So I grabbed my front DS out of the shed, and I'll slap it in there tomorrow morning and weasle my way behind the fence, and pull the rear out for my buddy to take a look.

I could keep going, especially because I feel like venting because EVERYTHING seems to go wrong at the worst times... But I'll stop for now... Pics will come in the morning...

Good part of all of this is that when my rig is finally road worthy again, my drivetrain from the tranny back will be cherry!

[Mr_Random]

Dude, good luck, I feel your pain for sure!

[drunkencityworker]

ouch...sounds like a reason to upgrade...8.8,44? look at the bright side

[TahoeYJ]

Pics...












After posting on a couple forums, folks are saying it looks like the were set up wrong to begin with. They've been in since like February '08, so IDK HOW they could have even lasted this long...

Going to pull the rear out either today or tomorrow and take it to my buddy. Hopefully he'll warranty the work...

[neale_rs]

If you haven't done anything that could damage the gears it almost has to be a bad setup.  I hope it comes out cheap for you.

[lanulos89]

bad setup and form ur signature 35's on a dana35

[TahoeYJ]

bad setup and form ur signature 35's on a dana35

Yeah it's not the ideal setup to run 35" tires, but it's doable.

I've had many telling me with the way these gears went out, it's more than likely due to install error. There's no reason for them to have gone out under normal conditions, even with it being the D35 with 35" tires. The damage is hard to see in the pics, i'll try and get better ones...

[Jeffy]

I would say either, improper install OR improper break-in.  Can't really see the broken bits well enough.

I've also seen pinions shred after improper use of a tow strap as well.

[jcsanders79]

While the 35's with a D-35 aren't ideal.  It sounds (because your pics are too unfocused to tell ) like install to me!

[Bounty Hunter]

4.88 in a d35 is already a pretty small (weak) , then add the leverage of 35" tires. 

Did it let go as you were trying to accelerate up the incline, or as you tried to reverse down the incline?

[TahoeYJ]

4.88 in a d35 is already a pretty small (weak) , then add the leverage of 35" tires. 

Did it let go as you were trying to accelerate up the incline, or as you tried to reverse down the incline?

It must have started to go a while ago. But it started popping as I started going up. It's rock where it's parked so I didn't even use the gas so I could avoid spinning the tires and throwing rock everywhere. Then I started to roll backwards and could hear it then too.

I went and picked up my 9" housing and brought it home tonight, I was sitting there in the garage looking at it thinking "
Damn that thing would look sweet under my rig..."

Although I've got the money to build it, I'm afraid of dropping the dough into it because I'm not working much, but I know I'll have a good amount of work by mid June.... I'm thinking my buddy isn't going to give a hoot about my D35 being blown, and rather than hassling with him to get the labor/parts fixed under warranty, I'm thinking I'll just do the 9".


But if I do the 9", I might as well go SOA in the rear, which means I'll need new leafs... Maybe it will be worthwhile to let my rig sit for a few more weeks 

[BarneyJeep]

to me it looks like the outer edges of the ring gear teeth are broken off... which TO ME would indicate the pinion depth was too shallow, i hardly see any wear in the center of the ring gear teeth...

[neale_rs]

I've also seen pinions shred after improper use of a tow strap as well.

How exactly?  Strapping to the axle or something like that?

[TahoeYJ]

to me it looks like the outer edges of the ring gear teeth are broken off... which TO ME would indicate the pinion depth was too shallow, i hardly see any wear in the center of the ring gear teeth...

That's what everyone's been saying... I'll try and get some better pics this afternoon. Still haven't called my buddy to talk to him about it, will do that this afternoon...

I'm closer and closer to just saying %^&* it and building my 9". Talk me into it people  I'll snap some pics and post them as well

[FourbangerYJ]

How exactly?  Strapping to the axle or something like that?

When you pull someone with a strap and the pulling rig is backing up it can shred the R&P.

If you strap someone make sure you are not backing up while pulling.


Do the 9 inch you won't regret it!