Los Padres National Forest - Rock Front OHV Area

[Omelet]

For all who are interested, I am planning on doing some moderate wheeling at Rock Front Saturday the 13th. The trails are not too difficult and they mostly consist of dirt with the occasional rocky areas. So far the following rigs include:

My self in my WK
My Dad in his JK
Hoaxci5 in his XK
ExtremeCreature (from JF) in his WK

Any one in the area is more than welcome to join!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=206202003061837889616.0004a444ea910dd02b202

[Sal-XK]

Man that sounds like fun. Take some pics!

[hoaxci5]

We don't ever take pictures :)

[Omelet]

lol! What are pictures!?!

[Sal-XK]

We don't ever take pictures :)


lol! What are pictures!?!

Liar liar pants on fire! I've seen pics of both your ugly mugs so take some pics

[Omelet]

Jake I think he is onto us!

[hoaxci5]

I have a feeling there is going to be a video of asking what the sound my Jeep is making is also :(

[Sal-XK]

I have a feeling there is going to be a video of asking what the sound my Jeep is making is also :(

Well, thats not good bro. Post it up so we can take a crack at it man.

[hoaxci5]

I will just for curiosity sake, but it's under warranty, so really the video is just to show the dealership since they couldn't replicate the problem last time I took it in and told me it was just my exhaust hitting my aftermarket skid plate.. Yea good story..

I think there is something wrong with my front diff, but like I said we'll see..

[Sal-XK]

I would like to hear it. Any information we get from rigs like ours that are wheeled pretty hard helps us out and gives us stuff to watch for or to make stronger.

[Holaday07 4.7]

is there any way to unlock the front end? Warn hubs or something? I think it would help with mpg and it you broke somethin in the front diff while wheeling you could finish or get back to camp in 2wd.

[pjmjr508]

if you do break something in the frontend you can still get back to camp as long as your in 4 lo is the only way I was able to get back to camp when I broke the front half shaft.

now if you break someting in steering this will not apply. At least thats what I have had to do in the past.

[hoaxci5]

That's interesting, because my problem is only when in 4low. It has no issues in 4hi. I'll make sure to post the video after next weekend..

[pjmjr508]

when I broke the half shaft it would not move in 4hi and once it put in 4 lo is when I was able to limp back to camp.

[hoaxci5]

I wonder if disabling the traction control would have made a difference? A broken half shaft would seem like a whole lot of slipping to sensors.

[Sal-XK]

The noise happening only in 4LO is interesting. Because I think the front diff operates the same in 4HI until of course there is slip detected then all the fancy stuff in the ELSD kicks in. Mechanically the immediate difference between the two is in the TC. The front is not suppose to lock up just because you go into 4LO it should still operate in the open position until slip occurs. I think I have this right LOL.

[Holaday07 4.7]

sooo no? there is no way to disengage(sp?) the front?

[hoaxci5]

Yea thats why I thought it was the diff. It doesn't happen always in 4lo, just when on rough terrain. I tried to reproduce it on some flat ground and sand and couldn't.. So I really think it's the diff not locking like it should under load. But how do I get the dealership to understand that? They can't reproduce it (I can't either unless on a nice trail) and when I took it in it also had a torn CV boot, so between that and not being able to reproduce it they came up with some BS. Thats why I HAVE to get video so I can show/explain/make them listen to it.. and just for safe measure I changed the front diff fluid and added the friction modifier (it was in there last time too, but I don't want to take it in and have them tell me my diff hasn't been serviced or something stupid like that)

[hoaxci5]

sooo no? there is no way to disengage(sp?) the front?

Nope, short of pulling drive shafts.. and even then the computer might freak out.

[Holaday07 4.7]

That sucks.

God I have become a horrible speller now that everything auto corrects or has spell check, except the forum. Any way to add that.

[Sal-XK]

Yes the computer would freak out something fierce if you pulled the front DS. Ok I thought it only happened in 4LO never mind onto a different part then. I'm going to throw my money at the actual CV joint on either end of the half shaft. If it only happens on rough terrain then that would make sense since its the half shaft thats doing all the moving around putting the CV joints at high angles. If one of them is bad or say lost all it's grease it would be upset about being flexed around.

[hoaxci5]

CV with the hole in the boot got replaced. So I'm almost certain that isn't the issue, but I couldn't reliably reproduce it to prove the CV did or didn't fix it..

[Sal-XK]

Just thinking of you situation and it only happening on good trails so it only happens on extreme articulation. The front diff does not move only the half shafts that connect to it. But I would at least be looking at moving parts and more importantly what moving parts are being stressed out at that amount of wheel movement. What kind of sound is it? High pitch low groan? Constant or intermediate or does it have a rhythm to it.

[hoaxci5]

It only happens in 4lo, on rough terrain and when turning the steering wheel. It's never made the sound when the steering wheel was straight. It doesn't happen at all in 4hi. And it doesn't happen all the time in 4lo, it's most noticeable on steep uphill sections when turning. Not a full lock turn either, so I highly doubt it's just "binding." The sound is almost like a clicking, it's loud, windows up and I can still hear it. I don't think it's due to articulation, I didn't really have wheels stuffed or flexed out when it was happening, just uphill.. I can't recall if it did it going downhill or not.

The CV boot that was torn got a whole new axle, not just a boot. The front diff recently had both the bushing replaced. Thats about all the details I have right now, when I was under it the other day changing the front diff fluid I didn't notice anything out of whack.

[Sal-XK]

It could be a wheel it til it breaks type of thing.

[Omelet]

So I finally got a new computer and was able to upload some pix from my camera. I didn't take very many, but there are a couple good ones. Enjoy!!!

I didn't start taking any pix until we were at the end of the trail and resting down in a river bed before heading back through. Here are the participants.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5211-1.jpg

Jake, my Dad, and Myself along with family.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5219-1.jpg

A couple shots of my WK and my Dad's JK.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5208-1.jpg

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5209-1.jpg

On the way back Jake went through a nice little puddle!

The Approach:

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5222-1.jpg

Churning through:

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5231-1.jpg

Almost there:

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5245-1.jpg

Made it to the other side:

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5259-1.jpg

And out:

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2011/08/IMG_5276-1.jpg

The trail really wasn't difficult at all. It was quite skinny most of the time so I am sure I added to my pinstripe collection. We are hoping to get back up to the Miller jeep Trail again soon. I would like to wait until it cools off a bit though. It has just been too hot lately! thanks for coming out with us Jake! :D

[Sal-XK]

Looked like fun always good to get out on the trail they don't all have to be extreme all the time its nice to relax and enjoy the scenery.

[AJeepZJ]

Those are nice pics... and very attractive Jeeps. Thanks for sharing.

[pjmjr508]

great pics