Are These Axles REALLY An UPGRADE? 

Good morning everyone

Your fabrication and welding skills always amaze me! Especially having seen how fast you do it in real time. Keep up the great work Rudy!

Looking good I appreciate a friendly budget build that any guy or gal can do with effort and time compared to throwing the check book out constantly Pleasure to watch keep up good work

Nice job Rudy that baby Dana should be fine for that litle truck

Dude! Those welds are some pro quality right there!

I gotta say, learning to weld has been an amazing skill and probably the most useful one yet.

looks like a game show thing to bend the metal over the pipe. A design and build channel like yours is always a favorite to watch

Thanks For Sharing Rudy And Co....!

That custom bracing was very useful indeed...the detail made the Dana Axel look badass

I had a 4x4 Comanche and loved it. It went everywhere I wanted. I only got rid of it because it literally rotted off the frame and there was no saving it.

I really like your creativity with things that people typically have or would be working on. I now know why you were sporting a shiny black rear axle on the morning of September 24 in Apple Valley. Up from southern California to view the Grand Canyon at Toroweap. We waved as we passed. That guy in front of you needed taillights and was driving slowly. We waved at Colin as well.

Watching you gives me more courage to tackle my K5 work. I watch people like Paul in his shop chopping with nice tools and knowledge. I see you doing the same with harbor freight tools and jack stands. We got this!

*You're a " One Man Show ", Rudy. Your Fabricating is amazing and it's definitely a Gift.*

This was really satisfying and fun to watch. It’s one thing to hear about people doing things themselves and it’s another actually seeing the planning, design and execution of such a project. Keep up the great work.

Love the fact that you are using the Dana 30.Great little axle for a light weight dual purpose rig.💪👍👍

Looking good! I wouldn't say no to longer videos!

Building a dirty 30! Most people don't have the tools or money to run tons. I'm glad you're showing people what's possible with what you have on hand!

It’ll do till we break it!!!

On the other hand if you leave the front lower than the rear the truck would be driving downhill constantly, imagine the fuel consumption 🤣

Nice, I'm dying to see the door fix. Always wanted a Comanche.

Nice job on the gussets. The art of the possible and practical.

I like watching you recreate your projects. I only have an issue with watching you do it without safety equipment. I'm not sure if you appreciate your vision and hearing, but I've welded, burned, and ground steel when I was much younger than I am now. My job required that I strictly follow safety protocols. I didn't like it at first because the safety glasses, earmuffs, hardhat, and steel toes were very uncomfortable. But I'm in my fifties now and my hearing is decent, I can still see, and I have all of my fingers and toes. I have no gashes on my head even though I have often hit overhead steel protrusions with my hardhat. Just a thought.

It appears you and your dad and crew are still on a speaking basis. That makes me very happy. I enjoy his channel and I enjoy watching you test your wings.

this is such a good channel great job rudy

man im always impressed by your welds !!

Rudy, looks like this is turning into a nice build project 👍 Gotta give you credit on filming this video by yourself with no camera man/woman helping you…👏

I'm glad the content is coming out more often even if some are short.

Keep up the good work Rudy!

Comanche’s are fun. That brake thing you asked is a load sensor for the rear brakes. The more weight the more brake pressure goes to the rear brakes. Less weight less pressure. I just zip tie it up to simulate full weight. The 8 1/4 Chrysler rear diff is a decent axle. There are 2 different axle splines. 91-96-27 spline. 97 to 01 -29 spline. When you regear use a 97 and later locker/limited slip and use 97 and later axles. I’ve done the 35 to 8 1/4 swap like you. It’s a great upgrade. The high pinion 30”s as you know are stronger than people want to admit. I have only broken a shift fork on my 89 Comanche. I have only twisted the left axle shaft. Also FYI I believe it’s 96 and later 30’s that have the larger axle shaft joints or if the Cherokee had abs brakes it will have the larger 297? Vs the 260? Unjoints.

Pretty cool axle truss and gussets. I like the way you set it up.

Good stuff. Maybe it's just me, but i Would love to see more of the process. Maybe hear a bit of how you go about designing stuff. Thoughts. How you cleaned the leaves. Stuff like that. I really like how you keep it real. Keep it up.

I made superb spacers for my Cherokee out of polyurethane boat trailer rollers. They have the perfect angle already cast to fit against the body. I just cut them to length and drilled a 40mm hole down the middle. They cost £3 each and lasted more than 10 years

I love watching your fab skills and look forward to the rest of the build. I have always wanted a Comanche.

New Rudy video = time to relax and enjoy the content :) Edit:Comanche looking good!

Rudy, you are the man. I love watching you work threw an issue and just getting things done. I really enjoyed watching you and Paul (fab rats) working on your dads Morrvair. That was epic. I hope you will do a collaboration with them in the future. Keep up the good work! The hard work!

I am really enjoying your channel! Watching you fabricate and weld makes me want to buy a welder and start learning how to fabricate too.

Luckily I got to see a glimpse of the finished product in Matt's video today

Innovative and instructive: love your work Rudy

I agree, I can relate to a good budget build. I just can't get into the huge "money is no object builds" keep 'em coming!

Rudy (& Janelle and Collin)...you're doing great with your channel content...a little variety of everything motorsports and outdoors adventure like Robby Layton, Vice Grip Garage and Merlins Old School Garage do. Keep doing the basics like you are, good content, being real and honest, keeping it fun, a little adventure, showing your projects and how you do them, doing recoveries and rescues and doing things with your brother, Robby, Paul, your Dad, Merlin, Rory, Chad, etc. Thanks for your videos.

Rudy, nothing you're doing is "crap", your dad and Paul are exactly where they are because of all the "crap" they've probably built or dealt with over the years. It's all learning and experience. I think they'd agree, you'll be where they both are, or even ahead, when you're their age. Great stuff!

Thats a nice truck Rudy, glad to see you turning it into something useful. You can never have too much bracing on a 4x4. ;)

Nice of you to show how to improve on what your are dealt since it seems pretty likely you could well get exactly what ever you wanted under your frame. Glad that you think safety more than some within your sphere. Grinding still should be done with eye protection though. Interesting way to calculate rear end positioning.

slightly more robust definitely a good idea. Anything more too much 💥 I like pick Ups with old school rake ~ my ram 4x4 has 2.5". Wish truck had lockers for overlanding Great job filming, telling story, and then doing the work!! GREAT fab parts/work & welding

Looking good Rudy, you will have the front figured out in no time. If it were me i would extend the spring perches on the axle 2 inches and the shock mounts. Great video keep being you.

Enjoying your new channel, looking forward to all your future projects, great crew as well!!!

Always impressed with your creativity and skill in fabrication and welding.

This is the type of build that doesn't start out splashy, but is interesting on its own merits. Should be a good series.

I'm happy you are staying the the D30 and 8.25 Watching your build out will help me were I need to go as I attempt to upgrade mine. Great video

Good job , Over the years I have done all of the same processes on various diffs . The 8 1/4 is actually an under rated diff , quite strong , the weak link is the C clip design .

If it bends, that’s how ya learn. Love your channel.

good job bro it seems like alot of work but will totally be worth it

I’m enjoying the heck out of your channel Rudy… I love the fabrication!

Loving this build! Those little trucks are too cool!

Great fab work Rudy!!

Looking good can't wait to see it done 👍👍

I mean for a commanche they are definitely an upgrade haha its gonna climb way better especially if you get a set of air lockers or something to lock them up ❤️

Beautiful welds as always!!

Rudy is cool 😎

I'm really enjoying the channel and I love the fab work !!! It's what I do for a living.

Lovin' this series Rudy! I have an '89 Pioneer, same color and almost identical build from 2x4 to 4x4. I landed with 7" lift at the rear with a 8.8" Ford after the SOA. The D35 up front holds up a set of 3.5" lift springs and a 2" puck that gave me just the right rake that has settled in nicely. Keep up the great work from a 'real' perspective that a guy in a garage can relate to! (except for the waterjet table, that is... LOL)

Looks good brother. Just got done doing a 3 link swap on the front of my 99 XJ. Hope I don't have to go through all that measuring anytime soon. Looking forward to seeing the MJ up on its new wheels....🤓

Keep them videos coming Rudy really enjoying them. compliments from Cairns Queensland Australia 🇦🇺

Nice work Rudy. This is a fun project. Thanks for sharing.👍

Excellent job Rudy....now that's how 80 percent of people can do it at home !!!!.... thanks for sharing !!!

Nice work Rudy. Nice have the Plasma table and CAD knowledge to draw everything out. Keep up the good work!

Keep up the good content.It goes to show you don't always need 14 bolts and dana 60s.to go Offroad.

I seen it on Matt's off road recovery and it's looking good 👍

Nice fabrication! Those rear axle webs look like a real professional product (which, of course, they are!)

Saw a sneak peak in your dad's video when Trevor visited. Looks good, really like watching the process. I also appreciate that with your set up it's more like what most people would have to do without a lift.

I'm a sucker for a disc brake conversion. Was hoping to see you swap them out on the rear. Pretty cool though gonna be a fun little commanche, my uncle had one and I always wanted it 😄

I've seem some pretty cool beefed up Comanche before and can't wait to see this one done 👍

I think you have the advantage of the PU is really lightweight. How bad ass does a axle housing really need to be? If the R&P holds up I think your good. May not be the sexiest axle at Sand Hollow but it’s affordable.

Great job, well explained with just the right amount of detail. Really enjoy watching your fabrication projects.😜🇦🇺

Awesome project! I love it!!

You’re doing a great job with the rebuild. Enjoy your channel.

The high pinion Dana 30 in the XJ is a pretty decent axle. I've been running one with 35 inch tires for years. I've done the gussets, heavy duty control arm mounts, and full circle u joint snap rings, but haven't broken anything, even with my air locker engaged.

For how light that truck is, you should have no issues with that axle after your additions. Hell even before it probably would have been just fine.

Definitely inherited your dad's engineering mind, great job on axles.

She’s coming right along! Wish these videos were longer!

Good one Rudy. I always wanted to do exactly what you're doing to the Cherokee. Your welds, by the way, look great. I feel like the drivetrain you're installing should be plenty adequate for a little pickup like that. Time will tell.. 😄

Your doing great work Rudy! Thanks for keeping it interesting and continuing the channel uploads

Never underestimate a Dana 30 we put them underbelly trusses on them prerunners and run axle tubes inside. And add the extra bracing in them and have not broke one yet and they're on a Grand Cherokee we have clear 30 ft and about 8 ft off the ground jumps off the dunes so they will stand up to some hard use. I like that little Comanche verse two debating what motor we're going to put into our 85 Comanche we're thinking the 302 small block Ford. Looking forward to seeing what else you're doing to the Comanche

Those gussets look great. So glad you a Started your own channel with good fabrication.

dana30 high pinion is plenty strong for what youre doing with that MJ, and if the 8.25 rear is out of a later XJ its got 29 spline axles, its strong enough too. so how much are you going to sell the RAD truss and gussets for? you can pick up a set of budget freindly chinese ACOS adjustable spacers off ebay for your front coils👍

I like your stuff Rudy!!! Want to watch the world that you do, can't wait for the outcome.

I didn’t bother to move spring perching but great idea though because my rear spring wouldn’t flex well on trails like that. Your correct about 6 inches, I only lift 5 inches on front because rear will sag when carry tools, recover stuffs and camping gears.

Good job Rudy, need more content more often.

That sneak peak of the Comanche I just saw on MORR has me pretty exited for the future videos on this. Glad I watched this video first.

I can appreciate a clean weld like you do, nice work! I'm not a ticketed welder (journeyman mechanic) but have welded lots of steel when fabricating projects at home as well as light duty welding like exhaust etc. I thought there were special techniques to follow for cast iron though like those axle housings/knuckles? Guess time will tell how long it lasts.

You are very talented and fun to watch! Keep em coming! Love the channel!

I love using stuff that people say not to! Looking good dude 👍🏻 looking forward to seeing the rest of the build

FYI We use receiver hitch box tubing for leaf spring axle mounts

It looks awesome with the new tires on it! Seen a sneak peak from your dads channel ;)

... just chillin' out in Rudy's fab shop,,,, learning simple things in fabrication.... thanks

Thanks! I need to do a 4x4 conversion so really looking forward to this project.

That bracing will help a lot and looks good, great job Rudy. Thanx for sharing.😃

You're welcome I'm glad to have seen and learn

Sits perfect. Cant wait to see how capable it is. Keep it coming!!

Nothing wrong with using the Dana 30. It may not be a hard core axle but it will work and if anything breaks you know where to fix and strengthen it. Love the Comanche.