Super 30 or build a 44?

[Incredible Hulk]

Alright, I have been planning on building a front 44 and was about to start buying parts soon, but I ran across teh Super 30 kit from superior and am curious what your thoughts are. The kit gives you 30 spline alloy shafts, all new seals and bearings, and an ARB for a little over a grand. So my question is, what would I be gaining by building a 44 that is better than teh 30? From what I know, it is the spline count on the shafts. So, this kit would give me that. Anything else I am missing? Curiuos to hear thoughts on this. I would be building a waggy, so thats low pinion which is weaker from what I understand. Is that correct?
ANyways, would love to hear thoughts and comments on this. Is it worth all the work to build an axle when I could get almost all the same benefits from this kit? I could really be convinced either way at this point.
Thanks for the help.
josh

 

[Beezil]

one of the things that you need to figure out now is if you can perform the necessary bracket-making and welding for the 44....

if this is "no-sweat", then you should definitly go with the 44....

if fabbing and welding isn't your thing, beefing up the 30 might be a better option.

 

[logdog]

A Super 30 is a compromise. Build the 44.

 

[azxjman]

I was actually thinking about this very thing. I was going to build a waggy 44 but the only thing I would be gaining is High steer options and that is just not worth all the work it is to build that axle. So instead I will be buying the new ox u-joints shaft combos as soon as they come out and I can afford it.

 

[Beezil]

...bigger balljoints.

dig it.

 

[azxjman]

...bigger balljoints.

dig it.

I forgot to mention that but when are bigger ball joints actually needed the only time I have seen them fail is when a shaft failed first.

 

[XJSpencer]

much stronger housing?

 

[azxjman]

much stronger housing?

so... easily made stronger than a 44 housing with a truss.

 

[Goatman]

Alright, I have been planning on building a front 44 and was about to start buying parts soon, but I ran across teh Super 30 kit from superior and am curious what your thoughts are. The kit gives you 30 spline alloy shafts, all new seals and bearings, and an ARB for a little over a grand. So my question is, what would I be gaining by building a 44 that is better than teh 30? From what I know, it is the spline count on the shafts. So, this kit would give me that. Anything else I am missing? Curiuos to hear thoughts on this. I would be building a waggy, so thats low pinion which is weaker from what I understand. Is that correct?
ANyways, would love to hear thoughts and comments on this. Is it worth all the work to build an axle when I could get almost all the same benefits from this kit? I could really be convinced either way at this point.
Thanks for the help.
josh

This a good question, which I'm sure many have and will think about. To get the same axle strength, you also need to get the 30 spline stub axle kit from Superior, or get a Warn 5 on 5.5" hub kit, which comes with 30 spline stubs. This adds a good amount to the expense. Since the D44 has 19 spline stubs, the 30 spline stubs have a slight advantage, although you don't see Warn chmo D44 stubs breaking often. The D44 housing is definitely stronger, but the D30 can be trussed...still not as strong as a D44. The D44 brakes are bigger....sort of tough to spend that kind of money so you can reliably run bigger tires, and not get bigger brakes. You can put WJ brakes on the D30, but again, that's additional expense and work. You get lock-out hubs with the D44, but you can also get them on the D30 if you're willing to spend the money (and get the bigger stub axles). The ring and pinion, obviously, are bigger on the D44. You can argue that the D30 is high pinion and the Waggy D44 is low pinion, but the gears are still stronger. Mark Hinkley and Paul Sinclair both run built D30's with 35's, and both broke ring and pinions this year.

The 30 spline D30 is an attractive combination, but by the time you also get the hub kit to go to 30 spline stub axles, and get the bigger WJ brakes, you have spent as much or more as you would for a D44 with hy-steer and Warn axles. Tough call......

 

[XJJPR]

Mark Hinkley and Paul Sinclair both run built D30's with 35's, and both broke ring and pinions this year.

Tough call......

Me???????


Not just once but maybe twice. Can't bare to look!

One thing is that I'm not nice to my junk all the time so it really isn't fair to judge my abusive driving to the norm.

hinkley

 

[Beezil]

so... easily made stronger than a 44 housing with a truss.

you like being the underdog don't you?

 

[Beezil]

Me???????


Not just once but maybe twice. Can't bare to look!

One thing is that I'm not nice to my junk all the time so it really isn't fair to judge my abusive driving to the norm.

hinkley

number one reason to hate dana 30's is housing/carrier flex.

 

[Incredible Hulk]

All points very well taken. I have a friend that is a professional welder/fabricator that is pushing me to do this swap, so Im not worried about the bracket and welding involved with him behind me making sure welds dont suck. Were planning on cutting the brackets off an old 30 and using three of thsoe and buying the "bridge" bracket from RE since that one is sorta tough to fab. The kit just seemed like a lot less work! But money is ALWAYS an issue for me, so by the time I got all the stuff I wanted in there, it would still cost a lot more than building a 44. I think the thing that set me over the edge was something a guy from my local board told me.
"Anytime you are looking for something that is "super" it's time to upgrade to a bigger axle." :doh:
Point taken. Anyone know where I can find a 44?
josh

 

[azxjman]

you like being the underdog don't you?

Its just fun to get a rise out of people besides without people like me there wouldnt be any excitment on the board just all this is how it is and thats it.

 

[azxjman]

Me???????


Not just once but maybe twice. Can't bare to look!

One thing is that I'm not nice to my junk all the time so it really isn't fair to judge my abusive driving to the norm.

hinkley

Just curious if you had a truss or not because if you did that scares me. I would be really upset if I trashed my new 4.88s

 

[andyr354]

Go with a full width 44 from a 76-77 ford F150, that is what I am doing. High pinion vs the waggy low. I don't highway my rig to much though and KS fender laws don't exist.

 

[Incredible Hulk]

If I got full widths I would have to narrow it. Troopers have been cracking down on us lately on all the little stuff, and I drive mine to and from work every day. I would love to have a HP, but a waggy will be fine. Not that big a deal.

 

[jmop]

If I got full widths I would have to narrow it. Troopers have been cracking down on us lately on all the little stuff, and I drive mine to and from work every day. I would love to have a HP, but a waggy will be fine. Not that big a deal.

hummer rims, 7" back spacking and double beadlock. If I worked the numbers out right I will be the same width in the back and 3" wider in the front because of the wheel spacers to clear the steering.

 

[OT]

Me???????


Not just once but maybe twice. Can't bare to look!

One thing is that I'm not nice to my junk all the time so it really isn't fair to judge my abusive driving to the norm.

hinkley

I certainly hope you don't consider the driving, that you and hunter did, abusive.

Seemed more like a leisurely cruise through a rock garden.

 

[BrettM]

what exactly is the point of the 30 spline D30 kit!?!!? have you ever seen a D30 shaft break at the splines? I have never seen it first hand, or even seen it on the net? Billavista had a big thread going on Pirate for people to post pictures of their axle breaks, i didn't see one of a D30 broken at the splines. it does nothing to increase the strength of the u-joint, which is the weak link.

i have a Waggy D44, and for $300 totaly, including gears, I have gained a stronger housing, stronger shafts/joints (had 260s before), stronger balljoints, bigger breaks, selectable hubs, histeer options, ability to go lower in gear ratio, tons of aftermarket (warn/ctm), ability to go 6, 5 or 8 lug, hmmm... that's all i can think of for now, sounds a lot better than building a d30 if you ask me