Bad day on the trail…

[Kindafearless]

If you are going to be doing this kinda of offroading: another vote for using this opportunity to upgrade. The dealership won't help you other than charge you a bunch of money and add it to your permanent record.

Both Tom Woods and Adams are good brands. Can't go wrong! It's not too bad to do it yourself, just need an impact wrench and a pully puller. Took me about 3-4 hours to replace both my drive shafts in a parking garage by myself.

I'm running the heavy duty Adams and they've been great. Took a few hits and have held up for the last 15k miles like champs.

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[Terry]

My son and I got turtled on this shark fin rock last weekend. Dented the muffler, bent skid a plate, and knocked weights off the rear drive shaft. It took 3 hours and a lot of help from passersby to get us off that rock!

So, as a noobie JT owner (and first off-road vehicle), I am wondering should I take it to the dealership to have it checked out, estimated for damage, and repaired? Or should I take it to my local 4W/off-road shop?

Again, I can’t thank the Jeep community enough for all the help!

Definitely get the drive shaft taken care of ASAP.....Then wash that bad boy and let it stretch it's legs in the wild.

 

[Eventyr_JT]

Not judging cause I'm still learning but:
1. Did you not see this rock?
2. Did you see it and try to straddle it?
3. Did you see it and try to put a tire right over it?
4. Was going around it not an option?

Backed right over it trying to avoid another obstacle ??

 

[Haley]

4. Was going around it not an option?

Pfft. What kinda question is that. Did Zebulon Pike say "I don't know boys, maybe we should just go around."

 

[Mac]

Search CL I have both complete exhaust and take off driveshafts for $100 each like new.

 

[Eventyr_JT]

Usually you feel a constant vibration, could be speed related or if it’s bad enough it is constantly vibrating.

Even if you can’t feel it that shaft will be out of balance and is worth checking.

You also should check the CV under boot at the front, the carrier bearing for the two piece shaft in the rear, all u-joints as well; ball joints, Trac-bar for looseness and bends, tie-rod ends.

Definitely worth an experienced shop or a trusted dealer to look it over.

I was advised to drive it in 4H on the way home - about an hour on state roads. There was a chirping sound like crickets. No noticeable vibration. I kept the speed to 45 MPH.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Backed right over it trying to avoid another obstacle ??

Ok that makes sense, because I was wondering if you had to plow your diff over it to get it to that spot.

 

[AZCooWhip]

Pan punchers .....??

Have the DS checked. Others are battle scars with stories to tell.

 

[red/green hawk]

Depends. If that's on a public road of some sorts his insurance might cover the cost

Insurance will indeed pay for it, even if it's not on a public road. Progressive paid to fix this...

 

[RodRecket]

Find a good tech and the dealer might take care of you. My guy goes by the commercials. Were you doing something they do in a Jeep commercial and it's a factory part - you're covered. Did you pretend it was a hellcat and did smoky burnout until something broke...probably not covered. More or less that's how he's handled things. He's a straight forward guy and I appreciate how reasonable he is.

 

[Terminus33]

I would only worry about the drive shaft personally.

Insurance will indeed pay for it, even if it's not on a public road. Progressive paid to fix this...

Side note. I traded in my 2017 Renegade DesertHawk for my Gladiator. I do miss that thing sometimes, It would make people double take as it tripoded on the front wheels and clear obstacles that some other 4wd vehicles would get hung up on.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Insurance will indeed pay for it, even if it's not on a public road. Progressive paid to fix this...

See my thread on checking your insurance. In KY none of the big carriers would commit to saying they would cover any damage done "off roading". My carrier covers damage while on a "public road" so county roads that look like that should be covered. Different states have different rules for what automobile insurance does or does not cover. A young man I met was driving down what USED to be a county road when the "road" washed out from under him and his 4Runner went almost into a creek. Insurance would not cover it (based on talks I can recall with the man's father who was the policy holder

 

[jsalbre]

I was advised to drive it in 4H on the way home - about an hour on state roads. There was a chirping sound like crickets. No noticeable vibration. I kept the speed to 45 MPH.

Someone told you to drive it home on paved roads in 4H?

 

[LostWoods]

I was advised to drive it in 4H on the way home - about an hour on state roads. There was a chirping sound like crickets. No noticeable vibration. I kept the speed to 45 MPH.

That's what you do when you FUBAR the rear driveshaft and pull it (turns it into FWD) but with it still attached, that noise was probably all the tension in the transfer case.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

I was advised to drive it in 4H on the way home - about an hour on state roads. There was a chirping sound like crickets. No noticeable vibration. I kept the speed to 45 MPH.

Thinking that was not good advice. You do that when you remove the rear and use the front to get you home.

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