Fozzy_Bear
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Norfolk, Va
Ok, so, here's the story:
I have 250,000 miles on a D30 front axle in my jeep. I had a "clunk" that I thought was something else, but turned out to be caused from one of the caps on the Pass' side U joint falling completely off and the trunion banging around in the hole.
So, I figure: "No problem, one new U-joint coming right up.". But then I start wondering how much dammage was done to the mounting surface while the clunking was going on. (It was like that when I bought it a few months ago.)
So then I was thinking about replacing THAT too. And I start noticing that people who upgrade their front axle often sell the entire front D30 assembly (stearing and all) for next to free since nobody ever seems to WANT a D30 front end.
So here is my question for any who care to converse. If it were your rig, would you :
1) Replace the U joint and run it 'til it blows up - replacing the whole axel at that point.
2) Replace the U and associated components and start saving for a front D44 later this year.
3) replace the entire front end with a lower milage D30, taking the oppurtunity to put a locker in it while it is "on the bench"
4) Run it with the clunk until I have enough to get a better front end.
5) Other cool sounding idea that I haven't mentioned
please note:
Yes, I will be receptive to posts mentioning any front axel you may be looking to sell.
For a bit of context, here is my current plan for this rig:
I expect that within the next 8 months this '89 XJ will have 2- 4 inches of lift with either 31's or 33's (depending on the lift being either 2 or 4). I am going to put very low gears in it ( 4.88 ) with the intention of having a truck that sits around all week and then is a weekend toy. I still want it street legal, so I can use it to haul stuff to the dump, and get me to work in foul weather (it floods often where I live and my Daily Driver is low to the ground)
So what would you do?
I have 250,000 miles on a D30 front axle in my jeep. I had a "clunk" that I thought was something else, but turned out to be caused from one of the caps on the Pass' side U joint falling completely off and the trunion banging around in the hole.
So, I figure: "No problem, one new U-joint coming right up.". But then I start wondering how much dammage was done to the mounting surface while the clunking was going on. (It was like that when I bought it a few months ago.)
So then I was thinking about replacing THAT too. And I start noticing that people who upgrade their front axle often sell the entire front D30 assembly (stearing and all) for next to free since nobody ever seems to WANT a D30 front end.
So here is my question for any who care to converse. If it were your rig, would you :
1) Replace the U joint and run it 'til it blows up - replacing the whole axel at that point.
2) Replace the U and associated components and start saving for a front D44 later this year.
3) replace the entire front end with a lower milage D30, taking the oppurtunity to put a locker in it while it is "on the bench"
4) Run it with the clunk until I have enough to get a better front end.
5) Other cool sounding idea that I haven't mentioned
please note:
Yes, I will be receptive to posts mentioning any front axel you may be looking to sell.
For a bit of context, here is my current plan for this rig:
I expect that within the next 8 months this '89 XJ will have 2- 4 inches of lift with either 31's or 33's (depending on the lift being either 2 or 4). I am going to put very low gears in it ( 4.88 ) with the intention of having a truck that sits around all week and then is a weekend toy. I still want it street legal, so I can use it to haul stuff to the dump, and get me to work in foul weather (it floods often where I live and my Daily Driver is low to the ground)
So what would you do?