Dana 30a...

kskj · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:02 pm

Sorry about your bad luck. That's the one thing I worry about when the front tires are spinning on a obstacle. Like that picture you took of Taylor driving up elephant hill with the driver side front in the air spinning.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 5:47 pm

I think the only upgrade is Al's Steel housing - although you can probably get two or three used Aluminum housings for the price.

Did you have one of the collar's on the pinon end?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:30 pm

There's no guaranty that the JBA is any stronger than the D30a. It does offer more gearing options though.

Jeepin'WNC · **Joined:** Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:48 am **Posts:** 191

JL Rockies wrote:

There's no guaranty that the JBA is any stronger than the D30a. It does offer more gearing options though.

I would love to have one of Al's steel difs, and I'm wondering how steel could not be stronger than aluminum?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:40 am

Steel is stronger
BUT
anything can be torn up
I've seen 44s and 60s get blown away
Sure its an upgrade and a very good one at that
but still its not an end to blowing one

bugnout · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:13 pm

Sorry to hear about your diff.

Sure you could buy 2 or 3 aluminim diffs for the price of the steel diff, but you need to add in all the labor of the gear setup each time you have to swap housings as well as the chance of damaging the gears and bearings when the housing goes, the downtime and loss of use.

yup, if you going to keep the KJ and your going to keep wheeling it, Steel is worth the peace of mind.

Zack A · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:43 pm

[quote="yellocoyote"] but why not upgrade? Right? :lol:

[quote]

...I thought that was "Jeep Law" If it breaks upgrade! :BANANA:

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:55 pm

If mine breaks I'll just pull another one off the shelf :wink:

although I have dreams of a steel front diff, :shock:

my spares will have to be put to use first.

KJ 119 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 pm

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:55 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

In my mind, I have even more of a reason to dislike mud now.

Maybe you should move west. :wink:

yellocoyote wrote:

I'm not interested in going SFA, so the next logical choice would be the steel diff housing.

I agree.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:18 pm

Jeepin'WNC wrote:

JL Rockies wrote:

There's no guaranty that the JBA is any stronger than the D30a. It does offer more gearing options though.

I would love to have one of Al's steel difs, and I'm wondering how steel could not be stronger than aluminum?

Aluminum can be as strong or stronger then steel,but there are many factors for being "strong".Making the housing stronger just moves the weak point somewhere else and you end up with the same result.

Zack A · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:12 am

Nice! Sucks it happen tho

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:37 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Jeepin'WNC wrote:

JL Rockies wrote:

There's no guaranty that the JBA is any stronger than the D30a. It does offer more gearing options though.

I would love to have one of Al's steel difs, and I'm wondering how steel could not be stronger than aluminum?

Aluminum can be as strong or stronger then steel,but there are many factors for being "strong".Making the housing stronger just moves the weak point somewhere else and you end up with the same result.

That. The JBA is built off a pretty weak housing. There was a whole discussion about this when the JBA was announced. Then it shifted away when it was discovered that the drain plug was in the wrong location, then it shifted to how much steel you had to cut off to make it fit... in-field R&D... but I digress.
IMHO, the only advantage is the greater gear options. Other than gears the JBA would not make me and more or less confident than stock... I see no point in spending the extra $ although I do acknowledge that in not as exposed to hardcore offroading like many experts here.

Just sayin'... save your money.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:41 pm

Jayme
In the end it comes down to what you want and what feels best for you in the long run. You say you are keeping the KJ for some time so the steel one is a good investment. More money out of pocket today but over the course of 3-5 or 10 years a drop in the bucket.
Go for it, get it the way you want it now, and be done, smiling all the way!
Happy trails

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:18 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

I really do want to keep it indefinitely (call me crazy). There's nothing on the market right now, Jeep-brand or otherwise, that I'm interested in - not interested enough to sell the KJ and take on another vehicle loan. After the engine issue, I considered getting something else... but the $$$ that would cost vs fixing, and the nostalgic value... not yet. Overall, I'm still spending less by fixing than by getting something else.

I appreciate ALL the feedback - the insight and opinions have been helpful. We haven't decided on anything for certain... leaning towards the steel replacement, but still just weighing options.

There's nothing wrong with fixing,even a major fix,and keeping the vehicle compared to buying a new one.In most cases it actually cheaper to fix then buy new like you said.The KJ's platform is a good one and fixing it over selling is not a bad choice at all.Now if it was a '86 Ford Escort that would be a different story(have a long story about that one :roll:

).

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:41 pm

Don't think you're crazy at all, heck thats why I have extra parts stored and looking for more. I like the size, the way it rides, etc so nothing else works for me now ( unless a 66-72 Bronco falls in my lap)
So keep repairing/upgrading yours
there are a bunch of us along for the ride with ya that are not buying Toyota's! :pepper:

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 7:06 pm

So says the good "Rev":
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51175&hilit=JBA+steel&start=80

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:03 pm

And your point is what???
That I join in on several discussions and actually converse with people instead of just coming on making remarks which mean nothing to anyone but yourself?

its really so sad you know

arengant · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:32 pm

So is this the first D30a WITH a collar that blew?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:34 pm

arengant wrote:

So is this the first D30a WITH a collar that blew?

No.

Dana 30a...

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