JKUHELO1

Hey anyone running 35's on a Dana 30 front? Upgrades it needs to take the extra weight? Opinions, ideas....? I'm getting ready to regear later this year and it's time to head up in tire size from my 33's I'm running currently

jedg

The tubes and the Cs on the Dana 30 are the same as a Dana 44, so same applies there.

At the least put gussets on the Cs. That's pretty well accepted by everyone.

There's lots of differing opinion on what to do with the tubes. Some say leave them alone, others sleeve them, and others truss them.

I put sleeves in at the same time I put on C gussets and changed out my ball joints.

You'll probably need 1.5" spacers (adapters) to keep from rubbing in turns.

JKUHELO1

Yea I've already done HD teraflex ball joints and just did C's a few weeks ago. Wish I'd thought of the sleeves while it was torn down but hindsight I guess.

JKUHELO1

Hey if the tubes and C's on the 30 are the same as the 44 then why build a 44? Does that sound stupid? Guess it does...

jedg

Both Dana 30 and Dana 44 JK front axles share the same tubes, end forgings, knuckles and brakes. The Dana 44 has a larger differential and beefier axle shafts which have bigger joints and a greater spline count.

Dana 30 axles have an 7-1/8″ diameter ring gear and 27 spline axle shafts.

Dana 44 axles have an 8-1/2″ diameter ring gear and 30 spline axles shafts.

Billbikes

I have a trussed 30 running 35's. Pinion is still the weak point, but as long as you can modulate the skinny pedal you should be fine.

JKUHELO1

Oh I got you, well I'll be re-gearing to either 4.56 or 4.88 with my 30 for now. That's why I posted this question for the upgrades to handle the weight. I started to just save up to build a Dyna 44 but decided it'd be worth it to beef up and regear what I have now because I'm nothing but a weekend warrior when it comes to jeeping. Figured with what I've already spent I might as well just go this route cause either way I'll only be trail riding or moderate off roading and either hunting or fishing/pulling a boat.

jedg

This is a good read for ya.

Making Stock Dana 30 Axles Survive

nthinuf

The front d44 comes on Rubicons. Some people feel that they don't need to spend that much more money just to cruise around the mall. Then again, many people buy rubicons and do just that.

Maybe the question is why anyone would buy a JK with a front d30 then spend a bunch of money upgrading it to handle 35's when they could have bought a d44 with better gears and a locker and better shafts to begin with...

JKUHELO1

Excellent thank you!