Infectious Off-Road.com

We ran the URF trail yesterday in Ridgecrest. Nice (more or less) buggy only trail.

Attendee list is as long as the carnage list and everyone took the cable at least twice that I can recall with a completely undoable waterfall at the end that actually looked pretty easy (I'm sure it can be done, just not by us on that day).

Attendee list and carnage.

1. Clifford (broken ring/pinion)
2. Wayne (gas tank cracked in three/four places)
3. Robert (pierced oil pan)
4. Richard (bent tie rod)
5. Me (broken locker)

It was a very nice day out there.... weather was in the mid to upper 60s I'd guess all day long.

Since I broke within the first few minutes, I jumped in Wayne's and took a ride... stupid move. Big time stupid move..... now, who wants to buy a JKuggy?

Everyone was having issues.... the trail was good and hard. The amount of breakage pretty much ruined everyone's day.... one trail and a lots of repair bills.

I cannot wait to go back and have a general knowledge where most of the trails are now.... and, it's closer than the hammers for me! Not sure how the spot compares tho... need to see more trails.

As I know...many Bakertonians can't read nor write, so here are the pictures... enjoy!

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qsuwNjQ_oDg/UsGgzrLbqLI/AAAAAAAAqHM/QTBlh1Jbve4/w1142-h941-no/sdfgsrehhygf.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RH8ZjOZK9Fw/UsGijqqCzRI/AAAAAAAAqJ4/JFCLNb1sibc/w589-h763-no/fhrwtjhr.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g02tvADwJPI/UsGgx4qkyGI/AAAAAAAAqGs/G8U9McbCmrY/w1322-h743-no/asfdsdf344.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1xagS4g_1cg/UsGgyF_Q9hI/AAAAAAAAqG0/casvwISt8dk/w1142-h904-no/Capture.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TfmKQLM7MOQ/UsGgyNGy9AI/AAAAAAAAqG4/ptV28szLq_c/w1597-h872-no/dfgasedrtbe.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OAXhOTngXv4/UsGgy6p4aLI/AAAAAAAAqHY/qrQgKlirFEs/w1110-h904-no/hehjrfg.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D2VZHZHYHe0/UsGg0VKNdRI/AAAAAAAAqHc/ywvLB_jze_U/w1128-h904-no/sfhhhgfm.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U96Rb5Kps-w/UsGg1bQmvdI/AAAAAAAAqHo/drJj5j6UXNU/w1334-h869-no/xcdfgawe547u87.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xhfPAOB_D_c/UsGg1Ukdm8I/AAAAAAAAqHs/Xks0Bqxf-xw/w977-h904-no/zxvczfbv.JPG[/img]

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LUuJZP14gug/UsGhd0zysvI/AAAAAAAAqIU/xK3otfss4Wg/w808-h614-no/sdfbhwrsthr4ykmlku-MOTION.gif[/img]

My camera battery was dead when I got there... so it was short vids here and there while I was trying to keep it charged. Oh well... guess I'll just have to go back for more footage.

Sorry I had to miss this one. Found more issues to fix while I had buggy electrical apart.

Now, GET YOUR SHIT FIXED NOW for Utah!

[quote="Desert Dog"]Sorry I had to miss this one. Found more issues to fix while I had buggy electrical apart.

Now, GET YOUR SHIT FIXED NOW for Utah![/quote]


Yeah... if my back clams down some, I'll go take it apart and make sure it is what I think it is... should be warranted.

You didn't miss much. Too many breaks.

Lets go again in February.

[quote="abendx"]Lets go again in February.[/quote]

[quote="abendx"][quote="Desert Dog"]Sorry I had to miss this one. Found more issues to fix while I had buggy electrical apart.

Now, GET YOUR SHIT FIXED NOW for Utah![/quote]


Yeah... if my back clams down some, I'll go take it apart and make sure it is what I think it is... should be warranted.

You didn't miss much. Too many breaks.

Lets go again in February.[/quote]

Yup..... like watching oil drain

Brad I know my heep wont make the trails but I can show you the crest if you have an extra seat.
The EX wife is lived there and I used to visit up there. I can show you some camp spots and
also where to avoid. Its meth heads and rocket scientests up there. Avoid Trona!!!!!

I love Trona.... thinking of getting a place there and moving.

[quote="chuckanut105"]Brad I know my heep wont make the trails but I can show you the crest if you have an extra seat.
The EX wife is lived there and I used to visit up there. I can show you some camp spots and
also where to avoid. Its meth heads and rocket scientests up there. Avoid Trona!!!!![/quote]
HAHAHA. I do work in Trona all the time. Love that place - post apocalyptic. Sucks that the Chevron closed down.

Yerah... why did they close t he gas station? We used to stop there on t he way to death valley on the bikes and get drunk in the lot while the tweakers came and ogled over the bikes.



Anyways.... wasn't feeling too great yesterday, so I never got a chance to poke an eye into that rear diff.... turns out I broke a shaft, not the locker. Kinda bummed.... the locker would have been a free replacement under warranty. Hmm.... 300M or junkyard?

Since you have to pull it apart, I would upgrade to a stronger one. You don't want to get a junkyard one in there and then have the same thing happen again. At least a new upgraded one should be warrantied if it does end up breaking right.

[quote="81BigBrett"]Since you have to pull it apart, I would upgrade to a stronger one. You don't want to get a junkyard one in there and then have the same thing happen again. At least a new upgraded one should be warrantied if it does end up breaking right.[/quote]

Stock shafts are 1.5".... not bad for a stocker. But you are right.... an upgrade is most likely smart.

Im surprised u broke one.... how dit it happen? First time ive heard of a sterling shaft break, definitely at least chromo if not 300m

Stop being Jewish and get the 300M and a junk yard axle for a spare

You fix your junk yet?

[quote="chuckanut105"]You fix your junk yet?[/quote]

I ordered shafts Friday and they were delivered Saturday from the east coast.... amazing service! But... the shafts in the box looked used (rusted, pitted, bolt marks, wear in the races) and looked EXACTLY like a pair of stockers? Odd shit... I've used this guy before and he's been really good to work with. Obviously he's dealing with a third party, seeing the shafts arrived in less than one full day. We'll see how it shakes out tomorrow, but I'm guessing my guy will take care of me without hassle.

I'll have gotten some additional spares in the junkyard before Utah... so no worries. Why, you coming home early and want to fight Jackie for her seat?

No shed kick my ass. I just wanted an update wanted to know if I count on you breaking more shit in Utah. I have to live through you guys wheeling, building and breaking shit while im on deployment you know.

turns out I broke a shaft, not the locker.



[size=200]Called It!! [/size]

So those shafts....

This is what I ordered:
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yTQbdHgnJTk/Uswta5AduAI/AAAAAAAAqXg/8r_q6i9lX98/w747-h265-no/axle.JPG[/img]

This is what I got:
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Es_fDEsprcwHMd0OxP250SL7cl6A_NGaVzVkDJpw9PCO=w338-h190-p-no[/img]
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1r45QCqYzhzNHXStgc4cO0YUdcPG_icWgy3phjTBB_p1=w338-h190-p-no[/img]
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fvVJgUO8M7oODTvQyRxw6Co7JbcgfQyLyvEV-fp97nHA=w338-h190-p-no[/img]
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/s0ZTUm26rSb2JzhaqRm8AkjfqJ-Ute4aw3g_YyyMgZfw=w338-h190-p-no[/img]

I talked with my guy (Dave's Offroad Supply) and he wasn't all that happy about what I received. He called his guy (Randy's R&P) and inquired... their response:

[quote]These axles are sourced out of surplus OEM housings so they have been installed but not run. This is the only source I have for them. If your customer isn’t willing to run them he may return them without restock. I will put a request in to update the online description so it is accurate. Sorry for the inconvenience.[/quote]

The axles are marked with tags, showing Yukon parts numbers. I wonder how Yukon would feel about this?

Pretty unbelievable if you ask me. My response was that if he wanted to let them go for 20/each, I'd take them. A call tag was sent.

I'll be on my way to the junkyard this morning to rectify the situation, but find it pretty appalling that Randy's does business this way.

Randy's has gone to shit. they got flamed on pirate soooo many times for giving false info.

But this....This is flat-out unethical. Those are used junkyard shafts with Yukon stickers on them.

And the junk yard won't sell me shafts... and they are in crack wanting 700 for a sterling

For one the shafts dont even have stickers on them. And welcome to junk yarding in the VTA. Everyone wants top dollar for their crap.

The valley any better?

Well... according to my guy, it was Yukon at fault, not Randy's. I have a call into them to ask about this.... they are advertising 1541h shafts, not used OEM ones.

Anyhow... apparently getting these things aren't as easy as they should be. Talking to a few big custom axle houses, none will make a set for the Sterling unless I go double splined. Every one of them said the same thing... why, there's no need to go beefier than stock. I guess it's the o-rig seal that gets everyone. anyhow... seeing the shit I am over the junkyard, I bought a new OEM shaft... I'll check out the junkyards next time I am in LA and Bako. Also... I find it weird that Ford has multiple part numbers for the same thing... not sure if it holds true everywhere, but the OEM catalog was about 30% less than the collision catalog. Different part numbers, but Ford claims both work on my axle? A question I haven't been able to answer is... is there any difference in shafts from current back?

any pics of broke shaft?

would a 92-97 sterling 10.25" shaft work

can the axle places make a customer shaft without an o-ring and just seal with silicone?

Curious, because well... you got me worried lol... but i did pull my shafts when doing brakes, and no signs of twists on splines or any stress marks.

Should have gone 14 bolt. Its tough and has great aftermarket support and its cheap.