NEED ADVICE on Dana 30 w/ 35's
11-04-2009, 07:35 PM
#1
JK Enthusiast
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NEED ADVICE on Dana 30 w/ 35's
OK, so I am currently running 33's on my Unlimited X with 3.73's and stock rims. My budget will allow me to to upgrade to 35's and new rims and possibly take a look at regearing and adding lockers as well. I'm thinking of going with 16 inch American Racing Mojave's and 35" tires.
Is upgrading gears and adding lockers to my Dana 30 front axle like putting lipstick on a pig or should I look at swapping out the front Dana 30 to a Dana 44 with a locker and 4.13's or better?
Is my money better spent by adding better gears and lockers to the current axle setup or should I look at adding a Dana44 to the front and upgrading gears and a locker in the rear to match?
ANY PRODUCTIVE INPUT IS WELCOME!!!
Here's a pic of the current setup
Is upgrading gears and adding lockers to my Dana 30 front axle like putting lipstick on a pig or should I look at swapping out the front Dana 30 to a Dana 44 with a locker and 4.13's or better?
Is my money better spent by adding better gears and lockers to the current axle setup or should I look at adding a Dana44 to the front and upgrading gears and a locker in the rear to match?
ANY PRODUCTIVE INPUT IS WELCOME!!!
Here's a pic of the current setup
11-04-2009, 08:18 PM
#3
JK Super Freak
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Compare the total cost:
Locker, gears, cro-mo shafts, gusset your c's
versus
Nice new D44 with locker and the gears you want
Once you know what the price difference is, then determine if it's worth spending that money on your 30, or if you want a beefier 44 for the extra dollars.
Locker, gears, cro-mo shafts, gusset your c's
versus
Nice new D44 with locker and the gears you want
Once you know what the price difference is, then determine if it's worth spending that money on your 30, or if you want a beefier 44 for the extra dollars.
11-04-2009, 09:13 PM
#4
JK Junkie
If are even considering running 37's in the future and/or to do hard wheelin, then going with the D44 is worth the extra funds.
If you can find a lower cost D44 and can do the swap yourself, this might be the best way to go.
However, if you are not climbing walls and 35's are as big as you want to go, then the D30 will probably not be the first thing that breaks, and the beauty of it is that you can upgrade it gradually. Try that with any axle swap ...
Just remember, no matter what you do to your driveline, there will always be a weak link. For the sake of your pocketbook, pick this link wisely.
If you can find a lower cost D44 and can do the swap yourself, this might be the best way to go.
However, if you are not climbing walls and 35's are as big as you want to go, then the D30 will probably not be the first thing that breaks, and the beauty of it is that you can upgrade it gradually. Try that with any axle swap ...
Just remember, no matter what you do to your driveline, there will always be a weak link. For the sake of your pocketbook, pick this link wisely.
11-05-2009, 05:34 AM
#6
JK Junkie
keep the 30.. There are a LOT of people on here running 35's on a 30..
Personally, if I were to add a locker, go ARB with Chromoly shafts, do some c-gussets and weld on lower control arm skids. call it done.
What gears do you have right now? you sure you need 5.13's? do the tires first and see how you like it
Im running 35's on a 30, did the c-gussets, and I feel confident in it. I just dont beat the crap out of it while wheeling.
Personally, if I were to add a locker, go ARB with Chromoly shafts, do some c-gussets and weld on lower control arm skids. call it done.
What gears do you have right now? you sure you need 5.13's? do the tires first and see how you like it
Im running 35's on a 30, did the c-gussets, and I feel confident in it. I just dont beat the crap out of it while wheeling.
Last edited by racer83l; 11-05-2009 at 05:36 AM.
11-05-2009, 05:36 AM
#7
JK Enthusiast
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I have a dana 30 up front and re-geared to 5.13s with 35" tires. I had the C-gussets reinforced and I also put a front chromoly axle up front since I also had lockers installed at the same time. It was suggested that since I was getting the lockers, the weak link would be the axle if anything were to break. So, I beefed up the front while still having the dana 30. Been great so far. 
