randys blog
Off-Road Ready Gear Sets For The Jeep JL
When the JL platform hit the trails in 2018 it was quickly embraced by Jeep enthusiasts and most of these Jeep fans were soon on the warpath for performance parts. Like every other Jeep platform, opportunities for aftermarket manufacturers to modify, lift, and accessorize were in wide and varied. In fact, parts were in the pipelines before the JLs were dropped off at dealerships. Jeep’s New Differentials Aftermarket drivetrain engineers working on the new Jeep JL platform were met with a number with design challenges when it came to the ring and pinion gears. The JL launched with a new set of differentials including the D44JL Rear (M220), D44JL Front (M210), and D35JL (M200). Factory engineers designed the ring and pinions for higher efficiencies. Whether this had to do with the JL’s front axle disconnect feature for increased fuel mileage or other powertrain revisions, differential upgrading needed extra engineering focus. Superior Engineering From a design perspective, this factory revision denotes a decrease in the hypoid offset compared to previous JK designs, resulting in a smaller pinion head diameter with increased loading on the teeth. Most aftermarket manufacturers recognized the design change... that was the easy part. Only Yukon noticed that the design change required improvements to the metallurgy as well. Stronger alloys, most notably an increase in the nickel content, were required to handle the additional loads. Superior Metallurgy Diagnosing the significant changes in the OE gears for the JL platform, our team of engineers examined countless material and heat treatment options to effectively address the new hypoid offset. Yukon realized the need to manufacture the JL ring and pinion line with a premium higher strength 4320 material to hold up to the abuse and provide even higher strength than the JK. After testing Yukon against other aftermarket brands, it appeared we were the only aftermarket company to move to higher strength material and produce the strongest aftermarket gears associated with the Jeep JL line. *An increase in the Nickel content (Ni) provides higher tensile and yield strength and improved impact properties. **Aftermarket competitors benchmarked for JL gears show use of lower Nickel (Ni) materials. ***Tensile and Yield strengths are approximate Providing top-of-the-line drivetrain products has been the goal of Yukon Gear & Axle from Day One. Yukon quality labs and engineers go the extra mile to provide you with a product that can be trusted no matter how sketchy the terrain gets. Yukon’s selection of products from gears, traction devices, driveshafts, kits, and covers to name a few, are the highest quality in the industry and we continue to exceed industry standards so you can wheel with confidence.
Yukon at the 2021 King of the Hammers
For 10 years Yukon Gear & Axle has been a part of the toughest one-day race on the planet, King of the Hammers. It began as a group of friends, all heavy off-road builders, that met in the dry desert outside of Joshua Tree, California, just 50 miles east of Los Angeles. In those days it was about climbing the toughest trails over boulders the size of a Volkswagen Bug, and the loser bought the beer. From there the party grew. King of the Hammers is now a city of people from all walks of life. They come in motorhomes, campers, towing motorcycles, quads, side-by-sides, Jeeps, Toyotas, Samurais and even lifted limousines. Making the trek to Johnson Valley is awe-inspiring, it’s The Burning Man of off-road racing. Last year, more than 60,000 people came from all over the world. Some to watch, some to race. On the lakebed, more than 400 teams participated. It was an attendance record for King of the Hammers. This year with COVID issues and California leading the nation in cases, the race went on with heavy mitigation rules. The event didn’t disappoint. The overall crowd was down but only to an estimated 40,000 spectators and again more than 400 race teams participated. King of the Hammers is a full day race, encompassing more than 300 miles through the desert and on trails. Drivers are in their cars by 6 a.m., lining up and waiting for their turn for the green flag. Racing begins at 8 a.m. The fastest cars can finish in five to seven hours with many working all 12 hours before timing out just to finish. For most, there is no podium, just the personal satisfaction of finishing the race. Making the full distance is quite an accomplishment. In Friday’s event, 123 cars started but only 35 finished. Team Yukon is comprised of 12 race teams all in different classes. These are the guys we put our money on to hit a top finish. Beyond that, you can’t turn your head around in the pits and not find a Yukon decal on a car. On the track, teams of race cars begin each race and qualifying run, goosing the throttle over the Yukon Launch, a jump mere yards off the starting line. Yukon is the official sponsor of the 4500 Modified Class and each year owns the real estate in the front row of all racing pits. Each pit flies U.S.A. and Yukon flags to drape the desert with respect. In the Yukon pit, we show up with parts and a full garage to rebuild diffs so we can provide tech assistance to whoever needs it. It doesn’t matter what product they’re running; Jason and Brian were there to fix it. Yukon saved team after team that had broken parts, limited drivetrain experience, and/or no replacement. We get them back on the track saving them from what looked like a long drive home. Ask anyone out there, and they’ll tell you it’s about the racing. The more cars in the race the better. Teams and competitors are friends and willing to help, yet fiercely competitive behind the wheel. When it’s the toughest race in the world, your parts have to be good. Better yet, your parts have to be great! Many manufacturers try King of the Hammers one year and are never seen again. The cars run the desert at speeds of 140 mph and hit boulders and dry waterfalls taller than the walls in your home. Yes, things break, but every year we’re back and the calls keep coming for our parts.
Copy of JL Metallurgy Overview
New Jeep JL platform provides design challenges in the automotive aftermarket The new JL platform from Jeep quickly became one of the significant introductions from carmakers in many years. Like every other Jeep platform, opportunities for aftermarket manufacturers to modify, lift, and design came quickly after the introduction. For aftermarket drivetrain engineers, working on the new Jeep JL platform provided with design challenges when it came to the ring and pinions. The JL launched with a new set of differentials including the D44JL Rear (M220), D44JL Front (M210) & D35JL (M200). Factory Engineers had designed the ring & pinions for higher efficiencies. Whether this had to do with increased mileage requirement or powertrain revisions, differential modifications were required throughout the platform. From a design perspective, this factory revision denotes a decrease in the hypoid offset from previous JK designs resulting in a smaller pinion head diameter with increased loading on the teeth. Stronger alloys, most notably an increase in the nickel content, are required to handle the increased loads. Most aftermarket manufacturers recognized the design change, that was the easy part. Only Yukon recognized that the design change required improvements to the metallurgyas well. Recognizing the significant changes in the OE gears for the JL platform, Yukon Engineers examined countless material and heat treatment options to effectively deal with the new hypoid offset. Yukon realized the need to manufacture the JL ring & pinion line with a premium higher strength 4320 material to hold up to the abuse and provide even higher strength than the JK. A year later, after testing Yukon against other aftermarket brands, it appears that Yukon was the only aftermarket company to move to the higher strength material and produce the strongest aftermarket gears associated with Jeep JL line.