Front axle....how strong?

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:48 am

Ok I've been wondering this for awhile. Any thoughts on how long the front dana30 would hold up with a locker or limited-slip and 32s? Just something I've been kicking around in my head for awhile...

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:53 am

With stock gearing? God only knows. With 4.10s? well id say until the apocolypse at least.

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:02 am

I was worried about snapping a CV shaft

ridenby · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 2:46 am

CV isn't the big problem. The alum.housing of the D30a will allow the pinion shaft to "walk" resulting in a split housing. This seems to occur when the tires are spinning freely then hook up. A DTT is thought to help by reducing the amount of spinning.

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:47 am

http://jeepinbyal.com/prod-Dana_30_Steel_IFS-706.aspx This is a tempting upgrade :lol:

Kinda pricey though

bugnout · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:45 pm

Got it, love it, worth it if your planning to keep your KJ till the wheels fall off.

I have ARB selectable locker and 4.10's. Now the weak link is the CV's, but carrying an extra set is a whole lot easier and cheaper than carrying a spare Diff.

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:49 pm

hhhmm Think I might pick it up when I get back from deployment. Anybody know of anyone that makes stronger CVs? Hey Bugnout, with the 4.10 gears whats your RPM at when your going 70mph? Also whats your tire size?

bugnout · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:25 pm

235x85R16 - 32 inch tires. Switching to 4.10's brought the shift points back to stock with the larger tires.

J.E. Reel makes beefier axle assemblies. JBA sells them as well. Marlin at JBA has been teasing us with hints he might be coming out with some super CV's, but no official announcement yet.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:33 pm

I have a DTT 4.10's and I've wheeled from coast to coast from the highest altitudes of The Rockies and the deserts of SE Utah to the swamps of S FL and back again. I currently have 110K miles with no problems and no need to upgrade anything else.

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:15 pm

I'm excited about these super CVs. I'm really tempted to get the HD ones jba offers for when I lift the kj, as well as the steel d30. But the steel d30 will have to come later unless uncle sam is REALLY generous and gives us all our money back.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 6:31 pm

I have 32" tires and 4.10's also. Power didn't come back 100%. The speedo is off.

Terry

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:05 pm

ridenby wrote:

CV isn't the big problem. The alum.housing of the D30a will allow the pinion shaft to "walk" resulting in a split housing. This seems to occur when the tires are spinning freely then hook up. A DTT is thought to help by reducing the amount of spinning.

I had the other problem,D30A survived just fine under a 5500lbs KJ running 4.10's,DTT,and wheeled some of the tougher trails in CO,the left/outer CV joint did not fair so well....................

Actually JL is running my old front D30A,still going strong.Knowing how to drive it offroad with the D30A is key to making it live a long and happy life.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:58 am

... and I learned how to drive from tjkj2002 so go figure,

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:09 pm

When I get back to the states I wanna re-gear with 4.10s, have the JBA steel diff, HD CVs and a limited slip in the front. I think it'll hold up for what I do.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 1:19 pm

MOAB is my backyard and I don't have any of that stuff (except 4.10)... I do acknowledge that the terrain in KY is much more severe however.

durangotang · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:06 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

MOAB is my backyard and I don't have any of that stuff (except 4.10)... I do acknowledge that the terrain in KY is much more severe however.

I don't have any of it... ran Moab Rim, ran Poughkeepsie Gulch, ran Elephant Hill, ran Baja, nothing broke. Might be a decent idea for the OP to take the approach that Mudd and myself have: buy a spare diff and CV's just in case you ever break one. It will probably never happen and you'll have thousands of dollars still in your pocket for other goodies.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 6:42 pm

durangotang wrote:

Might be a decent idea for the OP to take the approach that Mudd and myself have: buy a spare diff and CV's just in case you ever break one. It will probably never happen and you'll have thousands of dollars still in your pocket for other goodies.

Agree

KJWildman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:33 pm

durangotang wrote:

Might be a decent idea for the OP to take the approach that Mudd and myself have: buy a spare diff and CV's just in case you ever break one.

That's my plan too when I finish what I'm doing now! :lol:

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:01 am

I spoke with an ex ARB guy here in Seattle. He told me he's seen a few aluminum KJ 30's peeled open from wheeling.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:59 am

Did he also say that he's also seen a few 35's/44's/60's etc as well ?
I have
As a matter of fact I have seen 30a's busted as well, changed some out
but still not enough of a concern for me to get anything else
plus I have a spare :wink:

Front axle....how strong?

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