Sunday, April 17, 2005

Student Bitten by the Bug... Purchases Jeep Rubicon Unlimited!

I received this audio message from Lynda. There is a short blip of static from the cell at the beginning. Don't worry, it does not last long.

this is an audio post - click to play

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

4x4 Ethics Contest

I wish I had thought of this!

Bill Burke is another 4WD instructor and the head of our International 4WD Trainers Association. He is sponsoring a 4x4 Ethics contest. This is an out growth of his recent experiences at Jeep Easter Safari held every year at Easter time in Moab, UT. When Bill returned he wrote a 2 page letter (there is a link to the letter at the end of this post) venting on the entire disregard he saw of the environment by either careless or un-informed individuals.
He is absolutely right. And we will lose our access to public 4-wheeling if we don't educate user and stop the abuse. This is why Badlands Off-Road devotes part of each class to discussing the Tread Lightly! program and the common sense techniques to travel and recreate with minimal impact. I was recently certified as a Master Tread Lightly Trainer. Keep an eye on my web site (4x4training.com) for an announcement of a Tread Trainer class. In fact if you are interested in being certified as a Tread Trainer to help spread the word, send me an email and let me know of your interest. (tom@4x4training.com ).
The class will be held somewhere in or around the LA area. The class will cost nothing if I can swing it or no more then $25 (if we have to cover a room and printing materials). Plan on sending 5-6 hours. It might be a weekend or during the week or both if I can run two classes (I'll take requests!).

But back to Bill Burke's 4x4 Ethic contest --In light of the extreme amount of publicity this letter has gotten, he has decided to try to keep the momentum going and hold the "1st Annual Spring "4x4 Ethics and the Environment Can they co-exist?" contest!" Please go to http://www.bb4wa.com/contest.html to read about it. Lots of prizes! You can enter it if you'd like and please pass it around to those you think might benefit from entering it.

Click here for the text of Bill's Letter. I encourage you to enter!

Regards,
Tom Severin
Drive the Adventure!

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

A Message from Tom -President of Badlands Off-Road Adventures (4x4 Touring Company)

this is an audio post - click to play

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Welcome

this is an audio post - click to play

Ford 9 Inch Axle Rattle

If you use your vehicle at least moderately hard, like I do, you may run into this problem some day. My rear axle developed a rattle noise this weekend after my Day 2 Basic Class - Extension.

For those of you who don't know, I drive a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The stock axle was a Dana 35 (with "c" clip axles - that is another story). I found the Dana 35 axle tubes are not strong enough for rigorous off-road activity and bend. Combine a bent tube with after market lockers and I can almost guarantee that you will snap an axle. Hence, I upgraded to a version of the Ford 9 inch axle sold by Currie Enterprise, in Orange County CA. This is a very strong axle and I have had no problems with it until...

The rattle was caused by a round dust plate just behind the yoke on the rear of the drive shaft where it joins the pinion bearing. This is press fit on the yoke by the factory and my abuse had pulled it loose. Here is the message of this post: it is important that you do not just cut it off to eliminate the noise. It serves a valuable function of keeping sticks, rocks and other junk from piercing the pinion seal. You can put up with the rattle or have someone spot weld it to the rear of the yoke. BTW most every other rear axle has this dust plate and you need to retain it for worry free off-roading.

If you get into Off-Road adventures, it is well worth taking an interest in how things work on your vehicle and to acquire diagnostic and repair skills. My solution to find the rattle was to place all four wheels on jack stands so I could examine the vehicle while it was running and in gear. I tried step 1) of a visual inspection with pulling and pushing on suspension components and step 2)of having a friend slowly drive forward while I walked beside and listened & watched with no success.

Add this little bit of knowledge to you tool kit.

Drive the Adventure!
Tom
www.4x4training.com