Damage danger???

[Twisted Patriot]

I wasn't sure what category to ask this in because it kinda has to do with multiple areas. I have a 2021 WILLYS.. so Dana 44 in the rear but 30 in the front. I have a pretty heavy wheel and tire set up.. about 114 pounds on each corner.. I was wondering how much danger I'm in of breaking components with this weight. I don't really do hard core wheeling and rock crawling. I'm not slamming off rocks or anything crazy as this is also my daily driver. But I have stock components as far as ball joints and stuff. And I know my setup is pretty heavy. Shocks and springs are aftermarket as well as track bar but at the wheel it's all stock. Just wondering if minor wheeling is gonna break something easily.

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[chevymitchell]

I wasn't sure what category to ask this in because it kinda has to do with multiple areas. I have a 2021 WILLYS.. so Dana 44 in the rear but 30 in the front. I have a pretty heavy wheel and tire set up.. about 114 pounds on each corner.. I was wondering how much danger I'm in of breaking components with this weight. I don't really do hard core wheeling and rock crawling. I'm not slamming off rocks or anything crazy as this is also my daily driver. But I have stock components as far as ball joints and stuff. And I know my setup is pretty heavy. Shocks and springs are aftermarket as well as track bar but at the wheel it's all stock. Just wondering if minor wheeling is gonna break something easily.

Nah, you'll be alright. Just be careful with the gas pedal is all.

 

[Twisted Patriot]

Nah, you'll be alright. Just be careful with the gas pedal is all.

I've thought about that too.. I'm even careful with the gas pedal on the street.. lol.. not sure how necessary that is.. like not accelerating to hard from a stop putting all that strain at the wheel.. not sure if I'm being over cautious. Or is it more the spinning while the wheel isn't contacting the ground and then suddenly gaining traction? I've never really wheeled anything too difficult so I'm leaning on you more experienced guys. That's why I love this forum

 

[aldo98229]

You are definitely shortening the life of your suspension and steering components. By how much, it depends on how you use the Jeep.

I had a set of 35/12.5R17 General Grabber MTs on my 2013 Rubicon 2-door. Each tire weighed 80 lbs plus the wheel. So I guess right around 110 lbs on each corner.

The OE tie rod and drag link got chewed up after only 10,000 miles.

My Jeep dealer at the time was just awesome. After they put the Jeep up on a lift the service manager says to me “I can put new OE parts in there under warranty, but your heavy tires will chew them up and you will be back here in 10,000 miles.”

Alternatively, he offered to install beefier aftermarket components. So I got a beefy set of YETI drag link + tie rod and that was last I heard of it. The Jeep drove much nicer, too.

 

[Twisted Patriot]

You are definitely shortening the life of your suspension and steering components. By how much, it depends on how you use the Jeep.

I had a set of 35/12.5R17 General Grabber MTs on my 2013 Rubicon 2-door. Each tire weighed 80 lbs plus the wheel. So I guess right around 110 lbs on each corner.

The OE tie rod and drag link got chewed up after only 10,000 miles.

My Jeep dealer at the time was just awesome. After they put the Jeep up on a lift the service manager says to me “I can put new OE parts in there under warranty, but your heavy tires will chew them up and you will be back here in 10,000 miles.”

Alternatively, he offered to install beefier aftermarket components. So I got a beefy set of YETI drag link + tie rod and that was last I heard of it. The Jeep drove much nicer, too.

I do plan to beef up the drag link and tie rod at some point. Just to be proactive. I should probably beef up the ball joints too.. just wondering if the axle will be ok.. so far it's been mostly on the road.. very mild trails a couple times.. nothing with obstacles so far

 

[C.Sco]

I wasn't sure what category to ask this in because it kinda has to do with multiple areas. I have a 2021 WILLYS.. so Dana 44 in the rear but 30 in the front. I have a pretty heavy wheel and tire set up.. about 114 pounds on each corner.. I was wondering how much danger I'm in of breaking components with this weight. I don't really do hard core wheeling and rock crawling. I'm not slamming off rocks or anything crazy as this is also my daily driver. But I have stock components as far as ball joints and stuff. And I know my setup is pretty heavy. Shocks and springs are aftermarket as well as track bar but at the wheel it's all stock. Just wondering if minor wheeling is gonna break something easily.

114 pounds seems really high to me, are you sure that's right? I've got 37x12.5 Ridge Grapplers in load range E, which are quite heavy tires, on 18x9 Pro Comp wheels, and it only comes out to about 108 pounds total on each corner

 

[C.Sco]

Dang I guess you're right!

According to 4wp, those tires (which are also E load range like mine) are 72 pounds each, and the wheels are a whopping 42 pounds. So that is indeed a 114lb combo!

 

[Twisted Patriot]

Dang I guess you're right!

According to 4wp, those tires (which are also E load range like mine) are 72 pounds each, and the wheels are a whopping 42 pounds. So that is indeed a 114lb combo!

Yeah.. the wheels are heavy too.. didn't think about it when I got them cut discount gave me a great deal since someone ordered them and them didn't get them. Plus they gave me a deal on the tires.. so didn't think much about weight.. so.. I know I'm heavy.. that's why I'm concerned

 

[nsfw_andy]

For what it's worth, I run a heavy wheel setup as well, 80lb tire + 45lb beadlock on stock steering/ball joints and wheeled on the harder trails (6-9 ratings) for about 7k miles.
But I did eventually change them out as a precaution and I kept hitting my stock tie rod on stuff.

My balljoints were pretty lose and "floppy" when I switched them out at 15k miles on the Jeep (7k on heavy wheels), but no death wobble, and only had a very minor steering shimmy only between 40-55mph when a bump hits it just right. Shimmy is gone now after Dynatrac ball joints were installed.

EDIT: Did not see you have a Dana 30 up front. My experience is with the Rubi Dana 44 front.

 

[Twisted Patriot]

For what it's worth, I run a heavy wheel setup as well, 80lb tire + 45lb beadlock on stock steering/ball joints and wheeled on the harder trails (6-9 ratings) for about 7k miles.
But I did eventually change them out as a precaution and I kept hitting my stock tie rod on stuff.

My balljoints were pretty lose and "floppy" when I switched them out at 15k miles on the Jeep (7k on heavy wheels), but no death wobble, and only had a very minor steering shimmy only between 40-55mph when a bump hits it just right. Shimmy is gone now after Dynatrac ball joints were installed.

EDIT: Did not see you have a Dana 30 up front. My experience is with the Rubi Dana 44 front.

Yeah I don't ha e a Ruby.. I have a WILLYS

 

[aldo98229]

I do plan to beef up the drag link and tie rod at some point. Just to be proactive. I should probably beef up the ball joints too.. just wondering if the axle will be ok.. so far it's been mostly on the road.. very mild trails a couple times.. nothing with obstacles so far

I am no engineer, but I think the axles will be okay.

The stresses from heavier tires impact suspension and steering components primarily. These are the parts that have to keep all that unsprung weight under control.

Axles are impacted primarily by the diameter/width of the tires, drive-train torque, and the weight on the vehicle itself.

 

[VolvDL]

My Jeep has 60k miles total on it. I've put 20k miles on 37s with Yeti tie rod & drag link, Dynatrac HD Ball Joints. Drive off road in non winter seasons every week (county roads), moderate rock crawling every other week.

This spring I had to replace the track bar (Evo), replace one tie rod end, replace both knuckles as they were starting to wallow out, and rebuilt the balljoints (was questionable if this was needed as their play was minimal). My springs (Evo) had settled a bit and I replaced those as well to improve caster and raise the jeep a bit.

I would say my driving style is pretty mellow - light on the gas pedal, never bounce on the rocks. I think the Jeep is pretty tough and holds up well. Break easily I don't think is at risk, but slowly offering up upgrade opportunities over time is likely a reality.

 

[Stuckinthesand]

I have the same setup with the D30 upfront and D44 rear on 110lbs each corner. Have had this setup for 45K miles now with all stock steering components and ball joints. I wheel probably about 6 times a year on the rocks and is also my DD. So far no issues. I check my components over every time I do an oil change and tire rotation. Once anything goes bad it will be upgraded to HD components.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I wasn't sure what category to ask this in because it kinda has to do with multiple areas. I have a 2021 WILLYS.. so Dana 44 in the rear but 30 in the front. I have a pretty heavy wheel and tire set up.. about 114 pounds on each corner.. I was wondering how much danger I'm in of breaking components with this weight. I don't really do hard core wheeling and rock crawling. I'm not slamming off rocks or anything crazy as this is also my daily driver. But I have stock components as far as ball joints and stuff. And I know my setup is pretty heavy. Shocks and springs are aftermarket as well as track bar but at the wheel it's all stock. Just wondering if minor wheeling is gonna break something easily.

That is a lot of weight and the the axles will stand up to it, but I would be concerned on Interstate travel. 114 lbs at 70 mph turns into one helluva load on axles due to rotational weight of the tire/wheel.

You can mitigate this somewhat by regular maintenance and KEEPING you tires balanced.

 

[Twisted Patriot]

That is a lot of weight and the the axles will stand up to it, but I would be concerned on Interstate travel. 114 lbs at 70 mph turns into one helluva load on axles due to rotational weight of the tire/wheel.

You can mitigate this somewhat by regular maintenance and KEEPING you tires balanced.

Well that's concerning since I do travel the interstate when traveling up north a few hours so see family a few times a year. It's been smooth so far. I did develop a vibration at about 64 mph about a week after install.. took it back and come to find out I threw a weight. Been great ever since.. I guess I better start beefing up the steering components and ball joints at least.. hopefully I don't have any issues.. guess I may have to look into lighter wheels and tires at some point.. I only have about 3700 miles on these wheels and tires

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