The Dana 30a & Collar: Possible Fix

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:46 pm

Here in Saint Augustine we have a LOT of boats and boat business. Places fix boats and build boats and accessories. I asked around about who is the very best at welding and fabricating stuff with aluminum and kept hearing the same name. This morning I went to talk to the guy. I had my extra Dana 30a with me and a bunch of pictures of split open Dana 30a's. I explained how these differentials come about splitting like that and asked him if he thought he could reinforce the housing to make it stronger. "Hell Yes!" was his answer.

He showed me how, using very high strength aluminum alloy he could reinforce it. I told him about the collar and how it seems to help in some ways but not completely. He said for about $200.00 he could make the collar AND weld up additional support on the housing. He told me what grade of aluminum he would use, it went right over my head, and said "that doo doo is stronger than hell, it won't break".

I think next month I'll take the spare Dana down to him and let him go at it. I'll get as many pictures as possible also.

Terry

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:00 pm

Awesome deal

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:13 pm

This might result in an influx of Liberties visiting Florida.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:43 pm

Maybe now we can run 33's. Still would be limited to 4.10s though.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:03 pm

hmm this sounds interesting, I cant wait to see how he welds it

Sport · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:24 pm

Good deal, I might have to start poking around here locally.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:55 pm

This guy works on big yachts, small boats and fabs specialty items like gas tanks and water tanks. He even makes masts for sail boats. It would be worth looking around your areas for specialty weld shops and do what I did. But then again, I would love for everyone to come down here for the work! In the winter! Then we could go wheeling in the Florida sun!

The reason for waiting until next month is I have spent enough $$$ this month. The wife would hang me up by the gonads! :shock:

Terry

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:13 pm

will be interesting to see what he does and what he uses. I have an Uncle who did various types of welding for years and he says it can be done, but he's unable to do it anymopre for health reasons.

As far as bigger tires, with 4.10s, its a limiting factor but to have it stronger and not break "as easy" would be great. Everyone has to remember that there are even 44s being torn up everyday due to people being a fool on the skinny pedal, still comes back to knowing how to drive and being sensible.

One problem.....Fulltimer you will be required to go out and really hammer this thing and see if you can break it though! :wink:

tonycrd · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:21 pm

Funny how it only seems to break on the 3.7....

Sean150 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:25 pm

tonycrd wrote:

Funny how it only seems to break on the 3.7....

yeah its a real gut buster :roll:

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:02 pm

tommudd wrote:

One problem.....Fulltimer you will be required to go out and really hammer this thing and see if you can break it though! :wink:

X2, get it welded up and installed and then go and try to bust it :lol:

, if you do it and you can't bust it Ill come down in the summer and let him weld mine too

tonycrd wrote:

Funny how it only seems to break on the 3.7....

nah, its just that we wheel harder than the CRD owners....jk :lol:

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:18 pm

I have a spare and was thinking of trying to break it. Within reason. I think that would be the only way to know for sure. Sort of like we didn't know if the collar would actually work until one showed us it didn't.

He said I would have to degrease it before bringing it in. That should be too hard.

Terry

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:34 pm

you should see if he will warranty his work, if you can manage to break it he'll build you an SFA KJ :lol:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:49 pm

FYI - if you go back to Jeepin Al - he had welded reinforcing on his.
don't forget the other side of the weld area is a bearing surface - you have to be sure not to warp or damage that.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:00 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

FYI - if you go back to Jeepin Al - he had welded reinforcing on his.
don't forget the other side of the weld area is a bearing surface - you have to be sure not to warp or damage that.

That's true! Good point to remember.

Terry

InCommando · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:13 pm

tonycrd wrote:

Funny how it only seems to break on the 3.7....

Could be because CRD's account for about 1% of overall sales and the mall really isn't stressing them much? :lol:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:14 pm

InCommando wrote:

tonycrd wrote:

Funny how it only seems to break on the 3.7....

Could be because CRD's account for about 1% of overall sales and the mall really isn't stressing them much? :lol:

and you were are Moab when?

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:19 pm

Fulltimer wrote:

The reason for waiting until next month is I have spent enough $$$ this month. The wife would hang me up by the gonads! :shock:

Terry

Soooooooooooooooo you're the reason social security is drying up!! :lol:

sounds like a good plan though. and $200 to help save the diff at least once or twice is better than buying a new one after busting it the first time through something tough. Let me know when you're gonna try to reasonably break one...I wanna be there for that and is a perfect reason to get back down to FLA for a couple days.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:37 pm

Actually AZscout blew the front Diff and rear axle on a CRD
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=290321#290321

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:21 am

Jeep4me99 wrote:

Fulltimer wrote:

The reason for waiting until next month is I have spent enough $$$ this month. The wife would hang me up by the gonads! :shock:

Terry

Soooooooooooooooo you're the reason social security is drying up!! :lol:

sounds like a good plan though. and $200 to help save the diff at least once or twice is better than buying a new one after busting it the first time through something tough. Let me know when you're gonna try to reasonably break one...I wanna be there for that and is a perfect reason to get back down to FLA for a couple days.

I think a trip to Hard Rock Off Road Park in Ocala could test it real good! Especially that one long steep hill with the flat top.

Terry

The Dana 30a & Collar: Possible Fix

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