M200 axle strength??

[word302]

Exhibit A


Or did you?




Exhibit B


You are careful about what?

Again, I made no absolute statements. You crack me up man.

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[blnewt]

but there’s no indestructible combo.

Unimog comes close tho

 

[Joaquim]

What do you want, pictures? You obviously don’t hang out with many off-road clubs.

Check my profile pic - slight jump on a D30 with 35s - no problems - run it in 1-2ft of snow a few times each winter…. Im actually surprised it’s put up with the amount of times I’ve rammed it into a rock/ditch so far

 

[mgroeger]

Check my profile pic - slight jump on a D30 with 35s - no problems - run it in 1-2ft of snow a few times each winter…. Im actually surprised it’s put up with the amount of times I’ve rammed it into a rock/ditch so far

Just to clarify (and please don't read this as "you don't wheel it hard enough" because you clearly use it as we all should )...
While ramming it into a rock or ditch and even jumping it does fall under putting it to the test, the real problems come in the form of other types of stress. You can certainly do damage with what you are talking about. More of what is being discussed here is where you are bouncing on an obstacle as you try to climb it and then all of the sudden you hook the tires up and that tremendous stress is sent right down the axle shaft to the gears and problems occur. Or where your front tire is bound up in a rock and you give it too much gas and the problem comes from the other side where the torque makes it down the drive shaft, through the diff, out the shafts and your U joint at the knuckle lets loose because it can't turn the tire.

Those are the types of situations and stresses where most damage occurs. Yes, damage can occur under any stress and I would avoid ramming into rocks (been there done that lol).

 

[Zandcwhite]

Unimog comes close tho

I’d argue that the unimog drivetrain is no stronger than the JL‘s. Low horsepower and a top speed of 50mph makes it gentle on parts. Speed and power kills, and for an off road vehicle, the JL has quite a bit of both, especially if we factor in the 392 and 4XE variations.

 

[blnewt]

I’d argue that the unimog drivetrain is no stronger than the JL‘s. Low horsepower and a top speed of 50mph makes it gentle on parts. Speed and power kills, and for an off road vehicle, the JL has quite a bit of both, especially if we factor in the 392 and 4XE variations.

It's a different beast altogether but I'd tend to think it's built just a bit beefier

 

[Zandcwhite]

It's a different beast altogether but I'd tend to think it's built just a bit beefier

Definitely more tractor than street vehicle, so I'm some ways absolutely. Not sure how any of the drivetrain would hold up if you spun it up to 85mph though?

 

[Joaquim]

Just to clarify (and please don't read this as "you don't wheel it hard enough" because you clearly use it as we all should )...
While ramming it into a rock or ditch and even jumping it does fall under putting it to the test, the real problems come in the form of other types of stress. You can certainly do damage with what you are talking about. More of what is being discussed here is where you are bouncing on an obstacle as you try to climb it and then all of the sudden you hook the tires up and that tremendous stress is sent right down the axle shaft to the gears and problems occur. Or where your front tire is bound up in a rock and you give it too much gas and the problem comes from the other side where the torque makes it down the drive shaft, through the diff, out the shafts and your U joint at the knuckle lets loose because it can't turn the tire.

Those are the types of situations and stresses where most damage occurs. Yes, damage can occur under any stress and I would avoid ramming into rocks (been there done that lol).

Yeah I’m also thinking the fact that there aren’t lockers in it has probably saved them

 

[blnewt]

Yeah I’m also thinking the fact that there aren’t lockers in it has probably saved them

Lockers distribute the load equally though vs just having all the torque to the spinning axle side, so if you jammed that spinning wheel it should be "potentially" more catastrophic to the axle shaft but YMMV.

 

[Joaquim]

Lockers distribute the load equally though vs just having all the torque to the spinning axle side, so if you jammed that spinning wheel it should be "potentially" more catastrophic to the axle shaft but YMMV.

So are you saying it is safe to run lockers on m186/m200 w/ 35s if I’ve had no problems so far and keep it light?

 

[mgroeger]

So are you saying it is safe to run lockers on m186/m200 w/ 35s if I’ve had no problems so far and keep it light?

I would continue to wheel and see if you really need lockers. The BLD system on the JL is excellent at mitigating slip. It is def not a locker but does a good job on a lot of stuff. If you find you are doing more and more challenging obstacles where a locker is needed then have that conversation.
Feel free to PM me here on the forum and I'll give you my cell and we can chat. I started off on the same road you have been on.

 

[Joaquim]

I would continue to wheel and see if you really need lockers. The BLD system on the JL is excellent at mitigating slip. It is def not a locker but does a good job on a lot of stuff. If you find you are doing more and more challenging obstacles where a locker is needed then have that conversation.
Feel free to PM me here on the forum and I'll give you my cell and we can chat. I started off on the same road you have been on.

The most trouble I’ve been having has been deep snow. Chains have been mitigating it for the most part, but once it falls through to the ice layer or especially on snowed out shelf roads it’s much more difficult to control. Gravity just takes it down the path of least resistance which is especially dangerous on shelf roads cambered towards a cliff. I also noticed when I did hells revenge in Moab, hells gate was difficult because one tire in the air would basically mean no traction to that axle - although I mitigated this by simply avoiding putting a tire in the air - but that wasn’t always possible

 

[blnewt]

The most trouble I’ve been having has been deep snow. Chains have been mitigating it for the most part, but once it falls through to the ice layer or especially on snowed out shelf roads it’s much more difficult to control. Gravity just takes it down the path of least resistance which is especially dangerous on shelf roads cambered towards a cliff. I also noticed when I did hells revenge in Moab, hells gate was difficult because one tire in the air would basically mean no traction to that axle - although I mitigated this by simply avoiding putting a tire in the air - but that wasn’t always possible

@mgroeger always has good advice.
I'm going w/ a lunchbox locker in the front on my M186, it's the most (about $400, and you can do the install if you're a DIY type guy)I want to put in these smaller axles and will be a nice upgrade from open diffs. The Torq Locker brand is the only one that has no limits on tire size (although running anything larger than a 315/70 or smaller 35 is the limit I would go with for sure)!
@entropy is a good source for this setup as he's been running it awhile, and there's a couple good youtube clips about how well they work.

 

[Joaquim]

@mgroeger always has good advice.
I'm going w/ a lunchbox locker in the front on my M186, it's the most (about $400, and you can do the install if you're a DIY type guy)I want to put in these smaller axles and will be a nice upgrade from open diffs. The Torq Locker brand is the only one that has no limits on tire size (although running anything larger than a 315/70 or smaller 35 is the limit I would go with for sure)!
@entropy is a good source for this setup as he's been running it awhile, and there's a couple good youtube clips about how well they work.

Could you link me this locker?

 

[blnewt]

Could you link me this locker?

Here's those you tube clips and should have the link there too, this is installed on a JK, so will even be better on a JL for daily driving since we have the FAD axle.

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