Straps to U bolts.

[Mudderoy]

Recently msmoorenburg found he had vibration issues because of a sloppy yoke. He found a yoke for the Dana 30 that uses u-bolts instead of straps and bolts.

I couldn't help but think there must be a way to use u-bolts on a stock yoke. I'm not just being cheap, I was thinking this because so far as I can see there is no yoke replacement for the C 8.25.

I found this video.

What do you guys think? Okay for trail but perhaps cause vibes at high speed on road use?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHfY2HAwiHM&feature=youtu.be

[4.3LXJ]

Looks like it would work. I would rather be able to have something not quite so sloppy though. The Dana ubolts fit a little tighter than that.

[Dredwolf]

I have been looking at this too....and the slop has kept me from doing it as well.

Wished someone made a conversion.:sad0147:

[xjmarc]

I've done several and I use a dremel on the back side so the nuts sit flat. I also use bolt for a ford 9" from a car. They fit nice and tight.

[Dredwolf]

I've done several and I use a dremel on the back side so the nuts sit flat. I also use bolt for a ford 9" from a car. They fit nice and tight.

So the u-bolts from a car Ford 9" fit better? I have several ways to dress that surface so the bolts sit flat when I change the pinion bearings during the gear swap.

[4.3LXJ]

Maybe XJMark will comment more on this. He lists a D60 as his rear end. In which case he would have either a 1330 or 1350 series U joint but probably not a 1310 like a stock Jeep.

[xjrev10]

I have one on my trail rig that is homebrew machined. Not perfect but works and keeps the DS on better then those tiny little bolts and straps. You loose lots of material machining them.

You know, now that I think about it, (haven't been under the rig in awhile) I ordered a standard yolk and strap kit because the 'custom' u bolt yolk cracked where the material was removed. Now this happened from spinning the shaft with lots of weight (jeep weight) on a rock. I'm not easy on my equipment. This was the first part I ever used overnight shipping! How could I forget?! Cha Ching!

[Dredwolf]

So you can get the conversion yoke for the front, but no luck on the 8.25...not sure there is value there.

If you convert the front, then you are carrying 3 sets of spares for the drive shafts?

[4.3LXJ]

No, same front shaft and if you have a D35 same rear also

[xjmarc]

Maybe XJMark will comment more on this. He lists a D60 as his rear end. In which case he would have either a 1330 or 1350 series U joint but probably not a 1310 like a stock Jeep.

Yes I have a 1350 rear but I've built quite a few jeeps and my little brother's current 90 XJ has a swapped in 99 8.25 and we used the smaller 9" u bolts because most of the cars with a 9", older mustangs, t-birds, torinos etc use a 1310 size joint so the u bolt fits perfectly.

[Mudderoy]

:woot:

Chrysler 8.25 U-Bolt Yoke Kit

http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/C825uboltyoke1.jpg

From IRON ROCK OFFROAD (http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=IROR&Product_Code=IR-XC825Y&Category_Code=PFX)

Updated link: http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/10463.html

[4.3LXJ]

I like that better

[Dredwolf]

Okay, that is going on the "to be ordered" list!

[xjrev10]

Huh. That must be new for IRO! Awesome!

[Mudderoy]

Well I installed it and a few weeks later I did the strap to ubolt mod on my Dana 30.

Today I had a quick job to do on the Dana 35 on the 2003 TJ. I had ordered a set of ubolts for it as well, so a quick drilling out I could add a little extra strength to the axle side of the micro drive shaft that's on there. Short drive shaft.

Well I found out that the yoke it too think for the ubolts I have. I'm not sure if this is the case for all Dana 35s or just the one used on 2003 TJ, but it was a no go.

Sure am glad I held the ubolt up there before drilling.

[dagod16]

Ok so lets run this through my non mechanical brain.

Can I buy these U-bolts at the hardware store like ACE? I have about a 4 day window to get the jeep fixed.

I can still drive it a few blocks to the repair shop. Is this an easy fix for them?

Can the repair shop pop out my 4 bolts and replace them with the correct size?

I was using bolts from a dana 35 and screwing them into the 8.25 which is why they are too tight. And one broke off.

[4.3LXJ]

Good question. You cannot get the straps at the hardware store. The bolts are a hardened bolt. I cannot answer your question on turn around time since I don't know the condition of the threads in the yoke. And no, you cannot drive it now. It will spit the U joint out

[dagod16]

So the mechanic can't drill it out and rethread it?

[dagod16]

Looks like it would be a fairly simply drill out and tap with a new bolt, no?

[4.3LXJ]

Those are hard bolts. They won't drill easily

[Mudderoy]

So the mechanic can't drill it out and rethread it?

There's no rethreading if you use the u-bolts. The u-bolts are much stronger and really easy to replace if you ever need to.