Questions Or Comments? Write to us at 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility, 774 S. Placentia Ave., Placentia, CA 92870, christianl@mcmullenargus.com.
Four-Bang For Your BuckQ: In regard to putting bigger tires on my '94 Wrangler, I have been told by reputable sources that the stock tranny on the four-banger is as weak as my little sister. Is there any truth to that? Thank you.Nick Hardyvia e-mail
A: Nick, since we've never met your little sister, we can't really use your simile. We might say it's as weak as Taco Bell hot sauce though. Well, not that weak, actually. Anyway, the tranny behind your four-banger is an AX5. It's not the stoutest unit around, but if you plan to stick with running the four-cylinder, it's pretty much your only option because of an odd-ball bellhousing setup. The shops we spoke with, however, said you should be safe going with larger tires, providing you're not planning on 38s or anything. Shoot for some 35s max and re-gear the axles. Any further mods will merit more mods. Catch 22, gotta love it. Good luck, Nick. Happy trails.
Fire Christian LeeQ: I am writing in regard to the article "Lock and Load" in the Nov. '01 issue of 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility. In the article it says Moser produced 35-spline custom alloy axleshafts to the specs you gave them. ARB says that they don't make a locker for the 44 with 35 splines. I was trying to buy this setup and everyone told me that there was no such thing, so not only did I look (and feel) like a dummy, I argued with them because your article said so, and after all it is in black and white print. I have been getting the magazine a long time now and have always read and enjoyed the technical information, and will continue to do so. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know of this error just in case there is someone else out there like me who wants this mac-daddy setup, and that there is no such thing, so they can look and look and never find it, except for the Dana 60.Dave B.via e-mail
A: Dave B., Moser contacted us shortly after that story appeared and said the company had received a number of calls about it, so rest assured you weren't the only faithful reader to risk embarrassment on our behalf. Basically, it was a typo. I'd just finished building the Tera60R axle for the Dec. issue and had 35 splines on the mind (hey, I can dream, too). The Moser 30-spline 'shafts are pretty macho though, so don't be entirely discouraged. Make that Dana 44 work for you, brother. For the time being, however, you'll have to go bigger if you want those extra splines. 'Wheel on.