74Weld Portals, I don't get it

[ducatijosh]

I'm trying to wrap my head around this but it doesnt quite make sense.

For 20-25k you can lift your Jeep from the axle (which is nice) to fit bigger tires to further lift the Jeep. So you get the tire lift + an axle lift when it comes to ground clearance rather than just tire size and you don't have to regear.

But...you're still running weak Dana44 axles, you're going to break a ring gear or pinion, you're going to snap a front u-joint or C, you're going to snap your axle at the FAD, you're going to bend the splines on your rear axle shafts.

For the investment why would you ever do this over swapping to a Dana60/80 axle set so you can actually offroad your Jeep? Doesnt make sense. Please explain.

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[bleda2002]

You can run 3.73s in the d44s which keeps enough pinion size to work just fine for 40s and then use the gearing in the welds to actually gear up to still a 5.13 or 5.38 like final drive gear. The advantek axles are closer to d60s than they are old d44s in terms of strength, especially the gladiator axles with the thick tubes. Add in portals, some 35 spline count and keep a 3.73 in it and it'll be basically bullet proof up to 40s with a pentastar or diesel.

There is a video on YouTube where they have a horrible driver on portals and 40s with a 392 just bouncing and romping everywhere on the rocks with no issues.

Personally I'd still go d60/80 but it's not as crazy as it sounds to do portals instead as it really simplifies the build.

 

[Blade1668]

You can run 3.73s in the d44s which keeps enough pinion size to work just fine for 40s and then use the gearing in the welds to actually gear up to still a 5.13 or 5.38 like final drive gear. The advantek axles are closer to d60s than they are old d44s in terms of strength, especially the gladiator axles with the thick tubes. Add in portals, some 35 spline count and keep a 3.73 in it and it'll be basically bullet proof up to 40s with a pentastar or diesel.

Don't forget about higher ground clearance under pumpkin. You definitely covered the stronger pinion gear and ring gear being gear ratio of 3:73 ratio or 4:10. That's a big advantage of military Hummer axles assemblies or (M35a2 2.5 axles and bull gear). I've not seen many pumpkins failures or any that I remember due to gears falling I'm sure there has been. Now a few of the hubs, due to smaller bolts holding them together.

 

[Chief_jeep]

From what I've read, the portals on the JT or JL aren't all that great. Sure you get more ground clearance but you sacrifice a ton of up travel in the suspension.

 

[RockJeep98]

Something else to consider is the torque multiplication factor with portals doesn’t go into affect until the very end. I.e. If you went from a theoretical 2.0 transfer case gear to a 4.0 reduction then everything after the transfer case now has to withstand twice the torque. The same applies to the ring and pinion. Now the axle shafts, u joints, and stub shafts would also have to with stand the extra torque from going to a lower ring and pinion ratio. Since the gear reduction is at the portal hub then nothing else has to with stand the extra torque.
Also since your not having to lift it your also keeping the drive line angles stock for less wear and tear and they should be exposed less as well.

 

[BearDog]

I like the Portals. They are really nice and work great on everything they are made for. But....

I'm a cheap a$$. I'd never spend that kind of money. Nor would I spend money on a set of new built axles. When the time comes (and it will), I'll be doing a junkyard swap and adding Artec truss kits. Cheap cheap cheap.

 

[AmosMoses]

Couldnt you get into a surplus hummer with turbo diesel for 20-25k?

 

[Bonanza]

Portals are dope. If my rig got totalled today I'd go Portals, wheels, tires, and be done.

 

[Gren71]

 

[@californiajeeping]

The gear reduction is AFTER the axle shafts. Because of the gear reduction outside the stock axles there is less "demand" for the stock axle to apply torque. The input torque to get the same rotational torque has gone down. The tires will spin before you exceed the stock axle torque.

BUT! If you are rough it will absolutely rip your control arms off the axle. All of the torque goes to rotational (angle of pivot is below the axle causing stress on all of the mounts and joints).

Cool idea but way way too costly.

 

[bleda2002]

The gear reduction is AFTER the axle shafts. Because of the gear reduction outside the stock axles there is less "demand" for the stock axle to apply torque. The input torque to get the same rotational torque has gone down. The tires will spin before you exceed the stock axle torque.

BUT! If you are rough it will absolutely rip your control arms off the axle. All of the torque goes to rotational (angle of pivot is below the axle causing stress on all of the mounts and joints).

Cool idea but way way too costly.

Supposedly they are working on being able to move to some cast/forged pieces instead of the current full milled which should drop the price substantially. If they could come in around 10-12K i could see it being a big hit with jeepers.

 

[@californiajeeping]

Supposedly they are working on being able to move to some cast/forged pieces instead of the current full milled which should drop the price substantially. If they could come in around 10-12K i could see it being a big hit with jeepers.

Even at 10k they dont stand a change to a set of 1 tons. Id like to see currie come out with some high 9 or f9 axles that use the stock outers. That would be the most cost effective axle upgrade around.

 

[bleda2002]

Even at 10k they dont stand a change to a set of 1 tons. Id like to see currie come out with some high 9 or f9 axles that use the stock outers. That would be the most cost effective axle upgrade around.

20K for wontons or 10K for portals that are basically wontons up to 40's and you keep your axle warranty. They'll sell shit tons of them.

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