Who knows about JK Rubicon axles?

[Coalcracker18]

I've been just looking around Markeplace and have been finding rear JK Rubicon axles for cheap as in a few hundred dollars. BUT.. they have broken axle shafts, I found that weird. Are there problems with them that are expensive to fix as in locker failure? I am trying to figure out why they are so cheap. Both ads said the lockers are functional what am I missing?

 

[TheBoogieman]

I've been just looking around Markeplace and have been finding rear JK Rubicon axles for cheap as in a few hundred dollars. BUT.. they have broken axle shafts, I found that weird. Are there problems with them

They're in a JK. Nuff said.

 

[Rubeyu]

Too many ding dongs put 40" tires on stock axles expecting them to live.

 

[Chris]

What's the end goal here? I don't understand why people swap in JK axles. It's one of those things that makes no sense to me.

 

[Coalcracker18]

What's the end goal here? I don't understand why people swap in JK axles. It's one of those things that makes no sense to me.

I’m not swapping in JK axles, I’m in the fix and resale end of things. I just don’t know anything about JK’s and if there is some sort of known problem with them.
Although I do understand why people do it and there is a market for it.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

I think people just go way too big on tires since they're easier to fit on that body. They break them and never stop to think maybe bigger isn't better and step back. Instead they drop a chunk of change on some pro-rocks or such. But only on the back which is more often the first to break.

I'd wager any fronts that get pulled get snapped up by non-rubi JK owners to beef up their front axle.

 

[macleanflood]

What's the end goal here? I don't understand why people swap in JK axles. It's one of those things that makes no sense to me.

Availability.

-Mac

 

[Hamfists]

The rear rubicon jk axles are pretty stout up to a 35 in tire , 3 inch tubes ,32 spline axles, the regular jk axles are 30 spine ,

the lockers , axle shafts and bearings are a different size than standard jk Dana 44 , once you go to a 37 plus tire size stuff starts to break

 

[Chris]

Availability.

-Mac

It’s a lot of work for not much gain. That’s the way I see it I guess.

 

[macleanflood]

It’s a lot of work for not much gain. That’s the way I see it I guess.

Gain, no. JK axles are cheap and available. It's more about survivability than anything. If you have a beloved TJ and you can't find a TJ axle housing in your area...easy enough with rust or in high abuse areas like Moab...JKs housings look tempting.

Like you said...it takes work...but chopping off brackets and welding on new ones isn't hard hard. And the brackets are cheap enough.

My ten cents.

Maybe worth a resources article...should I, can I run JK axles on my TJ.

And another slight bonus...wheel pattern. My wife has a JK...would be handy if we could share wheels. And maybe those wheels that tickle your fantasy are in the JK pattern...not that you couldn't get axles made up with the flange drilled to another pattern.

-Mac