Build a d30, Disco or Nondisco?

[Root Moose]

Here's Gary E's that is welded on. He has a piece horizontal to the tube, between the pumkin and UCA mount. There are two other small pieces that go from the knuckle to the spring perch and UCA mount.

Ok, looks to be more or less the same as this page I stumbled across:

http://www.stu-offroad.com/fabbed/fab-1.htm

My ARB and 4.56 gears just arrived and I want to beef the housing at the same time. Should I weld this up myself using a MIG? Which wire? I'm an amateur welder so I'm not certain if I should. Concern is the cast section.

OR, should I just tack the bits on and get the guy who is going to set up my gears to finish the welding? It's a street machine shop that does everything from from top to bottom. The local guys get every gearset done there. Hmm, maybe I should get them to check the tube for straightness at the same time.

I'm, going for the RE4.5 lift (not purchased yet). Should I worry about the height of this truss at all? What about at full stuff?

r@m

 

[Gary E]

the small shaft that is inboard of the disco IS very weak. I couldn't believe that I broke one on a basically stock MJ runnin 235/75s

I don't think thats really true. Certainly not Very weak, as far as 30 shafts go anyway. Anybody that has looked at them can tell they are a lot bigger around than regular shafts, thats the problem actually. Even though they are bigger they still neck down to the same 27 splines that any dana 30 has. Most shafts being thinner will twist some and might not break where the disco shaft is bigger so it doesn't twist any except right at the splines where they break very cleanly. They typically break before the 297 joints. They are harder to replace than an outer axle assembly, but they are pretty much given away, where you are paying $100 for a axle assembly. I have broken one disco shaft, but I will keep running the setup, I love the ability to independently control the vac fork, and my disco axle has seen its fair share of abuse. I run 35s 4.10s and a 4-1 kit and my jeep has been on several "gettin it" trails.