Driveline upgrades for D2

[landdog]

I'm starting to plan for major refurbishment and buildup of my 2000 D2. I've decided to stick with this truck for the long haul - just too many memories to let it go.

I know the stock diffs are somewhat weak on the D2 and am starting to plan for driveline upgrades. How important is it to upgrade to heavy duty axle shafts? I've got 180K on my stock diffs, and will upgrade to a Detroit locker in the rear and (I go back and forth, but probably) a True Tracker up front. But when you mess with one part of the drive line, it gives you the opportunity to mess with other parts.

The thing is, I don't do extreme wheeling - no rock crawling, probably won't do any of the extreme stuff at Moab or other popular destinations. I'm much more interested in durability and expedition readiness. But I still want a very capable truck. So does it make sense to swap to upgraded axle shafts for this?

Also, 4:11's. If I'm not doing really extreme stuff, are they worth the cost?

 

[rovercanus]

If you run the Detriot it is recommended to run HD axle shafts in the rear. If a shaft breaks running a Detriot it will take it out.
I've been running TT's in the front and rear of my D2 for a few years and have only shattered a cv on the drivers side.

 

[landdog]

Thanks. How's the steering with the TT? I've heard mixed reviews.

 

[gmookher]

i'd suggest TTs front and rear and HD axles front and rear, you'll NEVER look back

 

[landdog]

Thanks. I've thought about the TT front and rear. Axles seem to be a must.

I can't get over thinking the ARB/air supply is murphy waiting to happen, but I have zero experience with them, nor have I heard any reports of failure, so the fear lives in my head alone. Yet live there it does.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[flyfisher11]

For what you are saying you will be using your truck for it is my experience and opinion that TT's front and rear are plenty enough. I ran TT's front and rear for a long time with OEM axles and CV's with no problems. I wheeled it hard too. When I switched to the Detroit HD axles were a must.

 

[gmookher]

Thanks. I've thought about the TT front and rear. Axles seem to be a must.

I can't get over thinking the ARB/air supply is murphy waiting to happen, but I have zero experience with them, nor have I heard any reports of failure, so the fear lives in my head alone. Yet live there it does.

Thanks for the advice.

not true, but I understand your fear. I run ARBs front and rear, its a more complex setup and unless you put it all in yourself, when something fails, troubleshooting can cost time and money if you dont know where each wire runs, goes etc

that said, as per prev post tt front and rear yeilds a fairly capable rig

as far as hd goes, whats your tolerance-if you go hd you likely will never have to fix it on the trail

anyone who has done axles and cv's on a d2 would really rather wheel that do these repairs on a d2 on a trail