Bored, Need Help
Q I have 30-plus years of your magazine in boxes all over my garage, attic, and o ffice. I am looking for a tech article that detailed how to put 35-spline axles into a 31-spline Dana 60 (rear) housing. I remember it required a cutting tool to bore out a portion of the inner diameter of the axlehousing. Can you please direct me to that article/issue?
Clyde
Via 4wheeloffroad.com
A I am not sure the exact article you are referring to, but you will need a spindle boring tool (PN YT H31) from Randy's Ring & Pinion (888.905.5021, www.ringpinion.com). This attaches to your spindle and allows you to bore it out so the 35-spline axleshaft will fit in. Then just add the 35-spline differential of your choice and larger axleshafts.
Nuts, I'm Confused
Safety first
Q I believe that safety is the number one priority when out on the trail. I have had a disagreement on what I think is a safety issue. On occasion when off-roading I have become stuck and had to use my Warn winch to extricate myself. I use the cable weight bag to slow the cable down in case of a failure. The disagreement comes when my wife wants to exit the vehicle until the winch is no longer in use. She is afraid that if the cable breaks it could come through the windshield and harm her and the kids. I have told her that the safest place to be is inside the vehicle. This way she is using the body of the vehicle as protection for her and the young ones should a failure occur. My concern is that if she's outside the vehicle and the cable does break, there could still be potentially lethal projectiles such as a busted clevis (D-ring) or rocks.
The second part of my question is on the securing of cargo. I have put all my recovery gear inside plastic storage totes in the back of the 4Runner and secured the totes to the 4Runner. My concern is that during a rollover the plastic totes may become compromised from all the weight of the recovery gear and I will end up having unsecured recovery gear while the storage totes would still be secured.
Don T.
Via 4wheeloffroad.com
A Two great questions, Don, and for them you've won this month's Nuts, I'm Confused prize, a gift certificate to 4Wheel Parts.
Safety around winching is very important, and I would say both you and your wife are correct. If you get your family out of the vehicle while winching it reduces the weight and makes for an easier recovery. Plus, it could be best to have the vehicle unloaded of majority occupants should the cable snap and the vehicle roll away. Another option is to simply raise the hood of the vehicle onto its support strut. Should the cable snap, this will block the ricochet of the cable from coming into the vehicle.
If they do exit the vehicle, have them stand a fair distance away behind a tree, a boulder, or another vehicle.
As for the totes in the back of the vehicle, I would recommend a cargo barrier such as those that hold pets in the back. We installed one from Slee Off Road a few years back that was a great way to separate passengers from gear.
We are sending you a 4Wheel Parts gift certificate good for all sorts of upgrades for your 4x4. Whether you are looking for tires, winches, or more recovery gear, 4Wheel Parts has it all. For more information check out the company's ad in this issue or the website www.4wheelparts.com.
Submission Information
Confused? Email your questions about trucks, 4x4s, and off-roading tech using "Nuts, I'm confused" as the subject and include a picture (if it's applicable). Digital photos must measure no less than 1600 x 1200 pixels (or two megapixels) and be saved as a TIFF, an EPS, or a maximum-quality JPEG file. Also, I'll be checking the forums on our website (www.4wheeloffroad.com), and if I see a question that I think more of you might want to have answered, I'll print that as well. Otherwise drop it old-school style with the envelope addressed to the address below. Letters published in this magazine reflect the opinions of the writers, and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, or other purposes.
Write to: Nuts & Bolts, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 fax to: 310.531.9368
Email to: nuts@4wheeloffroad.com