Installing ARB Air Locker in Dana 30 - Question

[MoFo]

I am installing an ARB Air Locker and 4.56 gears in a 1987 XJ front axle with the non-disco Dana 30.

Question #1
I have the ARB instructions rev. 08/04/03. Page 12 of these instructions has a section titled "Insuring Adequate Oil Drainage". The diagram on this page is of a Dana 44. However, it looks like my Dana 30 also only has the slots at the top corners of the bearing thrust surface. Does this caution also apply to my Dana 30?

The note on the right side of the diagram shows a slot in the "correct location", at the bottom of the bearing bore. The note on the left side shows a "drainage hole drilled at the lower side of the tube to improve drainage".

Should I drill a hole, or get the die grinder out and cut a slot?

Question #2
I have a 2000 XJ front axle (D30 LP) that has a bent tube and a LCA bracket sheared off. The axle shafts are good. Will these axles bolt into my '87 housing and use the '87 brakes?

TIA
MoFo

 

[shortxjdoug]

Question #2
I have a 2000 XJ front axle (D30 LP) that has a bent tube and a LCA bracket sheared off. The axle shafts are good. Will these axles bolt into my '87 housing and use the '87 brakes?

TIA
MoFo

dunno about the arb stuff but the 2000 axles probably won't fit, the 87 is a disconnect axle and you need the disconnect shaft set for the long side, not the one peice from the 2000 the short side shaft will work tho

 

[kubtastic]

Question #1
Does this caution also apply to my Dana 30?

Question #2
I have a 2000 XJ front axle (D30 LP) that has a bent tube and a LCA bracket sheared off. The axle shafts are good. Will these axles bolt into my '87 housing and use the '87 brakes?

1 - Not really... sure.
2 - Need more details. Which unit bearings are you going to use? Where's your split going to actually be between '00 and '87 parts? And as for seals, you are also doing away with the disconnect.

 

[MoFo]

Read my post again guys. I DO NOT have a disconnect axle. The 242 transfer case does not use a vacuum disconnect axle.

 

[kubtastic]

Excellent. That saves you $7 on the total job.
Now where are you drawing the parts line? If you don't tell me, I can't tell you if it works. Right now, I'm assuming:
No it won't bolt up. But use the '00 parts all the way to the knuckes and it will.

 

[MoFo]

I have 2 complete axles. I can use either set of parts. I thought I was asking where I should "draw the line". I don't want to use the 2000 axle housing, because it is LP and because a lower control arm mount is sheared off. It would cost me a few bucks at the axle shop to have a new one welded on and why bother with the LP? Everything else is optional.

Where did you come up with the $7 figure?

 

[railroadjeep]

Did they change something with the shafts in 2000? I'm running shafts outta a 99' in my 89' LP D30, the shafts being the only thing that's off a newer rig.

 

[GSequoia]

Shafts are shafts.

They will work; there's no difference to them.

As for the drainage holes I don't know from experaince (although will be installing an ARB soon) but I plan on putting them tehre if they're not already. I intend to notch with a die grinder.

 

[ECKSJAY]

I have 2 complete axles. I can use either set of parts. I thought I was asking where I should "draw the line". I don't want to use the 2000 axle housing, because it is LP and because a lower control arm mount is sheared off. It would cost me a few bucks at the axle shop to have a new one welded on and why bother with the LP? Everything else is optional.

Where did you come up with the $7 figure?

If you use just the shafts they will work with the 87 axle.

If you like, you can take the outer knuckles/bearings/calipers/rotors off the 2000 also and put them on the 87 housing. Then you'll still have the good brakes, etc.

The $7 figure, I'm assuming, is for the seal to convert a disconnect system.

Lots of jumping the gun across the boards tonight. Everyone needs to chill out.

 

[kubtastic]

$7 is about the cost of making a disco axle non-disco. A big head-ache that is actually very easy and totally irrelevant to which brakes you want to run. The big decision is which hub assembly you're using, since a '00 will have a different depth and not work on older knuckles. Whichever hub determines which brakes, including the knuckles.

I would assume you'd use more '00 parts and just wack the old knuckles off too, and take time to go for new ball joints if you want. Freshen it all up since those hubs might be older than some college students... What you can't do is the super-easy-3-bolts-per-side bolt up where you exchange the shaft+hub for one another I know it won't (afterall, you did ask about your brakes).

 

[MoFo]

Thanks GSequoiaq, ECKSJAY and Kubtastic. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Are the 2000 Brakes really that much better? I could probably save a couple of hours not changing the knuckles.

 

[87manche]

I didn't see much of a difference between them, but the calipers have hex heads on the guide pins instead of those stupid 7mm allen heads.

 

[Lawn Cher']

I didn't see much of a difference between them, but the calipers have hex heads on the guide pins instead of those stupid 7mm allen heads.

That, in and of itself, is worth the effort. Ever stripped out the allen headed guide pins? #*%&!@