Front differential spider gears not working

[Celticlady]

2006 KJ stock axles

After putting in OME struts and trying to drive. Found the front differential is like driving with lockers locked... all the time. Impossible to drive on pavement. Ok on gravel.

How is this possible?

I did not remove the CV shafts.

I don't remember any binding putting it all back together

 

[Celticlady]

2006 KJ stock axles

After putting in OME struts and trying to drive. Found the front differential is like driving with lockers locked... all the time. Impossible to drive on pavement. Ok on gravel.

How is this possible?

I did not remove the CV shafts.

I don't remember any binding putting it all back together

Update:
With weight on wheels on floor center of front wheel to fender was 22 1/2"

With floor jack only the Constant Velocity Joints are locked up. That was a given

With engine off. Jack stands under ball joints cvj operate smoothly. Frt drive shaft turns when I spin a wheel. Center of wheel to fender is 23 1/2. So not quite normal compression.

With engine on, in park, in part time 4WD, Each frt wheel spins with other side spinning opposite. Drive shaft not turning. Normal

With rear axles off ground, weight on axle. Engine on, in drive, all wheels spin no noise.

Take away.

I have about 2" of travel until cvj's bottom out. Not enough.

On flat, drive train operated normally.

Question.: If I go over a bump and one side cvj bottoms out, does it lock up until I stop, or bump it up to where it unlocks? Could account for squirrelly handling on gravel and chuff/thumping of locked up cv join on pavement?

 

[Celticlady]

Where do I find off road CVJ's

JBA is no longer making them

On a lift thread here dated 2016 topic was solved with JBA CVJs.

Or a 1" cradle drop. Which per the discission that may cause other issues. Recent discussion elsewhere this has NOT been settled.

KJ has never had a lot off road following. Therefore the aftermarket is thin. Now it its even thinner.

 

[Celticlady]

Where do I find off road CVJ's

JBA is no longer making them

On a lift thread here dated 2016 topic was solved with JBA CVJs.

Or a 1" cradle drop. Which per the discission that may cause other issues. Recent discussion elsewhere this has NOT been settled.

KJ has never had a lot off road following. Therefore the aftermarket is thin. Now it its even thinner.

RCV is a custom axle builder

For one set, Rh&Lh complete, is $10k
If I order 10 sets its $2000 for each complete sets.

DM me if you are interested.

 

[u2slow]

There may be some variation in angle-ability between OEM and various jobber.

Ours is lifted 3", with 3/4" cradle drop. The only time the CVs get 'lumpy' is on the floor jack, and the suspension goes to full droop. These are jobber CVs now - not OEM.

 

[derekj]

Is it possible that one of the inner cv's are out of place in the cup from dropping the suspension down? Or maybe one of the tripod joints fell off?

 

[Celticlady]

Update

I have spent 2 days on the phone talking with Rock Krawler, JBA and RCV and many off road forums.

1) a cradle drop is not a real option as a) my winch bumper ties into the front cradle bolts. b) it would make a mess out of my skid plates.

2) custom CVJ are not a practical economic solution. Although technically it is the right solution. $10k at RCV. Everyone else stated that off road cvj for liberty's are discontinued.

I have EMU 2927 springs over Iron Rock struts from Rock Father. Bought as an assembly. It was suppose to be a 2.5" lift. It came with a spacer welding into the top bracket. I asked why. "Oh because a 3" lift in front levels the liberty." I was aware that the majority consensus without a cradle drop or off road cvs is not to exceed 2.5 lift.

So today I pulled the struts and cut off the spacer. While doing the disassembly of my front end (getting real good at this) I discovered the left cvj boot(s) were leaking in 3 places. Called O' Reilly's for a new shaft. Found out that Precision has "lift CVJ shafts" for liberty's. They have a 44mm longer slider and increase articulation angle from 23 degrees to 47. AM8005ET (left) AM8006ET (right). They are $350 each.

Got those on order and new shaft seals.