Sponsored

Max Tow to Rubicon Axle Swap. What do I need to know?

OP
OP
Gunnuts

Gunnuts

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lucas
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
87
Reaction score
106
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Build Thread
Link
There honestly shouldn’t be much to this. Same axles minus the guts of the pumpkin. So as mentioned, tie you brake calipers out of the way, drop everything install other axle and remount. Steering should be identical.
That's the kind of stuff I like to hear. No problems are good problems.
Sponsored

 

Blade1668

Well-Known Member
First Name
Darrell
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Threads
11
Messages
2,344
Reaction score
2,119
Location
N. AL.
Vehicle(s)
90XJ, 91XJ, 91MJ, 05 LJ, 20 JT
Build Thread
Link
Vehicle Showcase
1
Yup....I got the same plan.
FYI that was done on my concrete driveway I don't have any more... Now I have a mix of clay, gravel and big a## rock drive way on a 10-20° slope of land I bought. ;) it really sucked when I was changing the clutch in my LJ last winter. Flipping raining n cold almost a year ago.
Second weekend in January, I was waiting on Job offer for over seas job, I had not heard back then 2 weeks later the radiator hose went on way to work on my LJ few days later I E-mailed them back thanks but no thanks and I bought my JT.:like:
 

Uparms

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jay
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Threads
73
Messages
838
Reaction score
640
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2023 JT, 2020 JT, 72 CJ5,2005 LJ, 2002 TJ, 92 YJ
Vehicle Showcase
1
Does he / do you loose any of the added width the Max Tow 44s have. Does the Rubicon have the wide track axles that came with my Sport Max Tow? I too am waiting for E-lockers. Part (one of the many)of the reason I wanted the max tow was the wider axle.
 

Benbean66

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Apr 29, 2019
Threads
13
Messages
1,207
Reaction score
1,748
Location
PA
Vehicle(s)
1973 Honda CB350, '88 RHD YJ, '88 YJ, 2020 JT Spor
Occupation
Railroad Equipment Operator
Vehicle Showcase
1
Does he / do you loose any of the added width the Max Tow 44s have. Does the Rubicon have the wide track axles that came with my Sport Max Tow? I too am waiting for E-lockers. Part (one of the many)of the reason I wanted the max tow was the wider axle.
Max Tow and Rubicon axles are the same width.
 

Uparms

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jay
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Threads
73
Messages
838
Reaction score
640
Location
Delaware
Vehicle(s)
2023 JT, 2020 JT, 72 CJ5,2005 LJ, 2002 TJ, 92 YJ
Vehicle Showcase
1

Sponsored

Benbean66

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ben
Joined
Apr 29, 2019
Threads
13
Messages
1,207
Reaction score
1,748
Location
PA
Vehicle(s)
1973 Honda CB350, '88 RHD YJ, '88 YJ, 2020 JT Spor
Occupation
Railroad Equipment Operator
Vehicle Showcase
1
Thank You. I really like the direction the OP took this. Damn nice idea.
I do too. Got my gears turning (pun intended)
 

Liftr

Well-Known Member
First Name
Duran
Joined
Sep 21, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
114
Reaction score
139
Location
AK
Vehicle(s)
JT Sport S
Occupation
Aviation
I believe you could satisfy most of your needs, just by replacing the rear axle.
Then, get a set of manual front sway bar disconnects. Cut your expenses and complexity in half.
That makes for a very capable machine.
 

Mac

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Threads
33
Messages
2,156
Reaction score
2,301
Location
MA
Vehicle(s)
2020 JT Hydro Blue Max Tow
Mechanically it sounds pretty straight forward, I would be concerned about the computer aspect and if/how the computer knows when the rear axle is locked vs trying to use BLD.
 
OP
OP
Gunnuts

Gunnuts

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lucas
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
87
Reaction score
106
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Build Thread
Link
I believe you could satisfy most of your needs, just by replacing the rear axle.
Then, get a set of manual front sway bar disconnects. Cut your expenses and complexity in half.
That makes for a very capable machine.
That was always the plan. I wasn't going to lock the front but.........
 

Red Hot Sloth

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2019
Threads
14
Messages
302
Reaction score
754
Location
SoCal
Vehicle(s)
JT
Curious as I don’t know the answer, but could the rubicon lockers be activated by an aftermarket switch, like a Switchpro or S-Pod?
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
Gunnuts

Gunnuts

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lucas
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
87
Reaction score
106
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Build Thread
Link
Curious as I don’t know the answer, but could the rubicon lockers be activated by an aftermarket switch, like a Switchpro or S-Pod?
I'm not sure but I would think so. I'll be running them to me aux switches.
 
OP
OP
Gunnuts

Gunnuts

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lucas
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
87
Reaction score
106
Location
Virginia
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S Max Tow
Build Thread
Link
Picked them up. Now I just need to find the time to get after it.

rubicon axles.jpeg
 

19JTRubiconEcoDiesel

Active Member
First Name
JoLHY
Joined
Jun 30, 2017
Threads
1
Messages
30
Reaction score
15
Location
East Coast US
Vehicle(s)
3.6JLUR6MT HellaYella SkyTop, 3.8JKUX6MT RedRock HalfDoors, Deciding on JTRD or JTR4xe
Either dealer reflash or Tazer Mini to recognize/enable Rubicon hardware electronics.
 

Moriarty

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ken
Joined
Apr 27, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
101
Reaction score
148
Location
Stagecoach, NV
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR Gobi gas, 2022 JT Willys Gobi gas
Axle width is the same, brakes are the same, axle ratio (4.10) is the same (MAX tow option in relation to Rubicon model) E-locker is only difference. Recommend using #3 & #4 switches, they are the 15 amp ones (#1 & #2 are 40 amp). Recommend changing rear first (rear more useful off road) then front, if not changing both at the same time. It will be a straight forward swap. No flash or programming necessary. Remember to turn off traction control when you use the lockers.

(Side note: JT's - MAX tow, overland, Rubicon have the same brakes. JL's -willy's & Rubicon have the big brakes.)

Good luck!

Please remember to post an after action report and a couple pic's when your done. It will help/assist other forum members.

Any questions please ask.
Sponsored

 
 



Top