MikeW2002

Hello,

I am considering purchasing a JK! I have heard/seen/read about all of the D30 vs. D44 vs. aftermarket D44/60, etc. I am thinking of going the route of buying a 4 door JK Sport, which will have the D30. Then, beefing up the housing, run 35" tires (some sort of radial MTs), re-gearing to 4.88, and throwing in a Lock-Right/Aussie locker. Also possibly a 4:1 t-case. Probably run this setup for a few years until I can get into a aftermarket D44/60 and do a V8 swap.

Does anyone run the D30 with this setup? How does it hold up? How about the stock shafts? I have had good luck with front Lock-Rights (or other lunchbox style lockers)in older model Jeeps in the past, but am new to the JK stuff.


My wheeling consists mostly of snow, wet roots/rocks/mud, and occasionally some rock in the summer.

TIA!

TeraFlex

My JK started off with a D30 and the non rubi case. Swapped in a Rubi D44 front with gussets/sleeves/shafts. A few months later I swapped the t-case out for the Rubi 4:1. That made a huge differance offroad with my 37's. I'm hoping to swap the rear 44 for a 60 next year.

nthinuf

If you know you are moving to a 44/60 at some point, don't drop any money into the 30.

Will it hold up for a while? Sure. If you are easy on it, and drive like you know what's up there. Is it going to last? A lot may say yes, but many of us have found that not to be the case. Do some more research to come to you own conclusions, but i'll stand by my opinion of not dumping any money into it and just saving for a PR44.

(there have probably been 10-15 threads asking the same basic question in the last week, should be easy enough to find a lot of opinions on it...)

T&ERun

So you are using the Rubi locker? How do you like it?

jvandy50

you could buy one heck of an axle with the money you save getting the X as opposed to the rubi

Harbourone

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Buy a rubi so you can swap in the v8 and tear up one of the only benefits of the rubi? (axles)

Go bare bones and build up as it breaks.

Vincent

either way, if you do decide to somewhat "beef" up the 30 be sure to weld on some gussets, it's inexpensive insurance...there's nothing wrong in my opinion in beefing up the 30 if you're the "weekend warrior" and decide to keep it on the trails, if you're planning more extreme and thinking of installing a locker in the front then don't waste your time or money, go the 44 route, because you will eventually end up wishing you had in the long run.

MikeW2002

Thanks a lot for the info guys!

I think I will do the bare bones model and put the $$ into an aftermarket or DIY drivetrain.


And to clear up some confusion: yes I would do an axle before the V8.

mkjeep

I do, lockright in front 30, C-gussets, I keep spare stock axle shafts.
You can run it, some guys on here are just parroting what they hear or read what others say and have no actual experience with it.

4x4andFlyFish

I have about the same build. I have a '10 sport 2 door, 6 speed 18x9 wheels wrapped with 35-12.50 Nittos. 4" suspension lift and 4:88 gears with JKS discos. I added sleeves and C axle gussets to beef it up. sleeves and gussets are very inexpensive! I don't have lockers and wouldn't recommend lockers in your D30. Just do a better job finding the proper line to off-road your JK by trying to keep your wheels on the ground. Discos are a must for the D30 since the sport doesn't come with electronic disconnects.

Adding lockers to the D30 will cost around $1500-2000. Save that money for when the axle breaks and buy the D60 and put in the ARB air lockers. Hopefully the 30 never breaks and your good for ever.