I have an 07 unlimited with 4.88 and 35's and the 6speed trans .I have a 30 minute commute to and from work everyday. To keep up with traffic I'm turning a minimum of 3000 rpms to keep up with traffic. Wish I had gotten 37's. But my combo works great off road.

 

Thanks for the offer but I am located in Charlotte, NC.

So...I am debating going another route. I have found a front 44 for a good price so I have a couple options to decide on.

1) Replace front 30 with Rubicon 44 and regear. Leave rear open, add truetrac, or add ELocker (not doing ARB) and try to sell D30?

2) Replace front and rear with Rubicon take offs. Anyone know a rear for sale?

3) Regear front and rear stock axles and add ELocker to rear?

Does it make sense to hold out for a Rubicon rear 44 or just upgrade my non-rubi 44?

Thanks for all your help guys!!

 

When you start looking at new axles vs. gears/selectables/shafts/sleeves/truss/etc ... you really need to take a step back to do more research and some side by side comparisons. Just might help a lot more than changing your mind over and over based on the newest post you read.

What is the actual budget?

Front rubi 44 'housings' are just as weak as your current d30. Same length, tube diameter, wall thickness, they even use the same outer shafts, c's and brakes. All rubi upgrades are internal.

Older rubi 44's were all 4.10, newer rubi axles have a choice of 3.73 or 4.10. Just a heads-up to verify the ratios if you go with a pair.

Some of the new rear 60's are cheap enough (3.5-4k range?) that you might consider one of those instead of building your stock rear, or buying then building a rubi rear.

Buying and building a front rubi could put you right in the range of a PR44/Tera44, people have even spec'd out d30 builds at those prices. (depending on how much you build it and whether you can do any of the work)



Anyway, just a few considerations to think about while you research it, let's see if we can get another head to explode...

 

Thanks for the response, yes your right there are so many options out there and I just want to make the right one the first time. Realistically I am looking to spend 3-3.5k.

My D30 already has sleeves/gussets/HD BJs otherwise I would probably swap it out. I found a front D44 housing with factory locker and 5000 miles for $1000. After adding shafts and armor I am guessing around 2k into it and I only have 4.10 when it will still be underpowered with 35s, not to mention I would have 3.21 in the rear. So theres another 1.5k to regear. Add another 1k for locker and I am over my budget at 4.5k.

So...I am going to add the ELocker in the rear and go with 4.56. Since I already have to spend $100 on a new carrier up front should I go ahead and spring for a LSD up front? Lunchbox? or leave open. Should I truss the D30 for good measure with the Nitro Sleeves already installed? I have been reading on and on about others setups and having a hard time with what to do up front. This is my DD and may see snow 1x/year so the icy conditions with lunchbox is not a big deal. It would act the same as an open diff when in 2wd correct?

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

New open carrier + lunchbox, you are close to the cost of a truetrac. The truetrac gets my vote. (but yes, in 2wd you shouldn't even notice a lunchbox. Maybe an occasional pop, but no handing difference)

How much could you sell your d30 for? Personally, I would stop dumping money into it and work toward a 44. Maybe buy the one you found, then keep driving on the current axles until you can afford to gear/shaft the 44?

OR -- watch for some posts about the ebay builder. Under 2k for complete front rubi axles geared to whatever ratio you want. Great price if you can get ahold of him.