Sell Out or Solid Axle Swap???

2mopar_diesels · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:08 am

I know our KJ's are great vehicles for all things. I'm just sick and tired of babying it when taken off road for fear of blowing up the front diff again. There are alot of places it's capable/built to go but I don't cause of this fact that is undeniable *the front D30a is very weak* and takes special attention and precautions to make it survive offroad. So now I'm at a crossroads. Sell off/trade-in and get a 2004-2006 Unlimited LJ or bite the bullet and install a solid axle??? I, and everyone else here knows what would be cooler and offer more "WOW!" factor, but a solid axle swap is not the most cost effective or practical way to go, so I've been looking at getting rid of it.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:16 am

It's not the fact that the D30A is weak,it is really not for a alloy IFS diff(toyota alloy IFS diffs explode just as easy if not easier).Lock it and wheel worry free.I wheeled my KJ harder then most and never had a issue with my D30A,it still lives in a CRD no less.Like any open diff vehicle,IFS or SFA,you need a different driving style since you can break axle shafts/u-joints in a SFA just as easy with bigger then stock tires and shock loading.

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:34 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

you need a different driving style since you can break axle shafts/u-joints in a SFA just as easy with bigger then stock tires and shock loading.

x2

2mopar_diesels · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:36 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

It's not the fact that the D30A is weak,it is really not for a alloy IFS diff(toyota alloy IFS diffs explode just as easy if not easier).Lock it and wheel worry free.I wheeled my KJ harder then most and never had a issue with my D30A,it still lives in a CRD no less.Like any open diff vehicle,IFS or SFA,you need a different driving style since you can break axle shafts/u-joints in a SFA just as easy with bigger then stock tires and shock loading.

I thought seriously about this, but to run a 32-33" tire reliably I'd also be looking at $2000 minimum in suspension upgrades in addition to the cost of lower axle gears and front ARB. Then you are at the upper limit of the D30a's stregth. Hence the reason to swap.....for just a couple grand more, I can have a solid axle D44 and no more worries about the front end strength and all the IFS quirks.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:05 pm

Why not go for the J8 with the drop in the CRD engine option (~$50K). All you need to do then is get the paperwork to make it street legal or tow it to the fun park with your KJ. :idea:

Or get a wrecked 2500 Ram with a 5.7L, strip off the body, shorten the frame, mount the KJ on the Ram Chassis, swap in the CRD engine and the electronics. I am sure SirSam could do the Engineering for you at a reasonable price (until he gets his P.E. that is)
Then you have a very mean machine that will go almost any where with out breaking up.
Post us your pics for what ever you do.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 1:06 am

warp2diesel wrote:

Why not go for the J8 with the drop in the CRD engine option (~$50K). All you need to do then is get the paperwork to make it street legal or tow it to the fun park with your KJ. :idea:

Or get a wrecked 2500 Ram with a 5.7L, strip off the body, shorten the frame, mount the KJ on the Ram Chassis, swap in the CRD engine and the electronics. I am sure SirSam could do the Engineering for you at a reasonable price (until he gets his P.E. that is)
Then you have a very mean machine that will go almost any where with out breaking up.
Post us your pics for what ever you do.

Speaking of which I need to sign up for the FE.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 2:57 am

I have 32" and have wheeled coast to cost in every clime and place. $950 for a Frankenlift is all I invested until 08 when I bought tjkj2002's front diff with a DTT.

MOAB is my front yard.

2mopar_diesels · **Posted:** Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:48 pm

Well, you guys have given me some viable options no doubt, and will have to consider and think about all things possible a little while longer. I seriously doubt doing the SFA though, so thats just about all ruled out. Would love to, and absolutely the most awe inspiring route to go, but just don't have time, skills, tools or the $5000-$7000 needed just laying around (when paying to have it done for you), and not gonna use credit to do a project like that.

Sell Out or Solid Axle Swap???

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