To 30 spline, or not to 30 spline...

[cal]

I agree you can't build a 60 for the same price, but a stock 60 IMHO is still way stronger than any built 30. I have $300 into my front hp44, warn premium hubs, 4.10's welded when I bought it for $150. $150 in to axle brackets and it's a done deal. I picked up my rear 60 for $100 and it bolted right in. Also 4.10. I welded it up to. Are there compromises with my set up? Of course. Did I need new wheels? Yes, but sold the old ones for the price of the new ones. For an extra $300 I could have gone with a spartan in the rear, alleviating the drawbacks of being welded on the street. I love the added width of running full width axles. The 4.10's should be deeper, welded diffs come with additional 3 point turns on the trail. Between selling my Dana 30 spartan and shafts and the rear axle, I managed to break even. And I have much more confidence in these axles.

So you didnt upgrade the shafts? You're no stronger than you were before. Stock dana 44 front shafts arent hardened around the u-joint yokes, and you still have stock 30 spline rear axles. Same weak links, same strength as a stock xj 30 and 44..

 

[Vanimal]

oooooooohhhh burnnnn.......

 

[zachandandy]

Burnnn? Factory rear was a 35, so the stock 60 is stronger, even if you spent a grand on a super 35 kit. My axle swap happened because the 30 shit it's ring and pinion on the trail, I think the 44 is stronger there? Good luck convincing anyone that stock jeep axles are as strong as 3/4 to axles. There are so many ways these axles are stronger, from ring and pinions, to brakes, to axles tube strength. This swap was a wash after selling the parts replaced. Front axle brackets are now 1/4" versus stock jeep crap. Don't see spending thousands of dollars on marginal axles when the same money would upgrade these axles beyond the capability of the jeep axles. I preffer the wider stance, like having manual hubs and actual wheel bearings. Preffer a rear axle that the shafts can be pulled in less time than it takes to get the tire off of a semi-float axle. I broke dana 30 parts with a spartan locker doing the same trails I've been running with these welded axles and these have yet to break. Not saying this is THE way to build your jeep, but it's a very viable option.

 

[cal]

I didn't say they are as strong, I said stock vs stock they have the exact same weak links, and aren't an upgrade. Throw chromo axles and some upgraded u-joints in and you're starting to get some upgrades going.

 

[XJLI]

A "built" front 44 or 60 isn't one with a welded carrier, stock shafts and dumb gearing, with 30 year old brakes and seals. That's tossing a big axle under your jeep as cheap as possible.

 

[MoparManiac]

I love these threads.

 

[NorCalChris]

Anyways guys. I don't care about d44's or 60's right now. If that works for ZachandAndy then it does. I need selectable lockers for winter on road use. Can someone tell me more about using d44 rubi shafts as spares?

 

[foxwar71]

Can someone tell me more about using d44 rubi shafts as spares?

You pack them away with the rest of your spare parts. When your ring gear explodes, you leave them packed away. Now I'm just feeding the fire....


I've heard they are a direct fit into a 30spline d30 but I don't know if the lengths are the same.

 

[knucklehead 61]

my setup is:
30 spline arb & ten factory axles.
i use stock spline count outters so i can use junkyard unit bearings rather than bit spline bearings since my green heep eats them for lunch about 5 times a year.

so far i killed one u-joint which killed the inner & outer shafts.
one set of gears.
one arb housing.
& around 10 unit bearings.

if i was to start over i would buy a bolt in hp44. the 30 gear set is a joke.

 

[zachandandy]

I didn't say they are as strong, I said stock vs stock they have the exact same weak links, and aren't an upgrade. Throw chromo axles and some upgraded u-joints in and you're starting to get some upgrades going.

Stock for stock, dana 30 GAWR is 2770, 44 is 3500. Not a huge upgrade, but an upgrade non the less. Dana 60 is 6500 lb rated. I never said my welded axles with stock shafts were "built". I'd rather have big axles for cheap, wheel them, and build them when I can than upgrade the stockers and still break parts and dump cash in them. Is a built 30 better than a stock 44? Not dollar for dollar IMHO.

 

[dbperformance96]

if i was to start over i would buy a bolt in hp44. the 30 gear set is a joke.

This is the reason why I built my 44... Gear set scared the crap out of me and I didn't want to be in the backwoods broke and no easy way out.

 

[Vanimal]

i just found out i killed my second dana 30 27 spline chromoly shaft when pulling them out today. so far one passenger shaft and one driver shaft, both at the inner splines. the ring and pinion are fine.

 

[RWKHausSupply]

I've only got around $2k into a fully built/trussed/narrowed/chromo'ed HP60. Selling my semi-built HP30/8.25 paid for most of that too. I would never put the type of money the OP is talking about into a 30. If stock 30 shafts with full circle clips and 760's arent enough, upgrade to better axles. Around this area, I've seen numerous people blow 30 carriers/R&P's before upgraded stocker shafts let go.

Did you build your locker also? The axles? What about the gears, you running stock 4.10 or make some 5.13's?

A good locker, 35spline shafts with new ujoints, and a set of gears and basic install kit cost almost 2K Alone...

 

[foxwar71]

Did you build your locker also? The axles? What about the gears, you running stock 4.10 or make some 5.13's?

A good locker, 35spline shafts with new ujoints, and a set of gears and basic install kit cost almost 2K Alone...

Thats including the lockrite, ten factory shafts, motive 5.38's, and an install kit (that I got from you )


80's HP60 - 200
Motive 5.38's - 100
Install kit - 100
Lockrite/KP kits/WB kits/seals/bearings/etc/lubelocker - 700
Ten Factory shafts with a custom length longside inner - 700
Drive flanges - 250
Truss/brackets/knuckle plating material - 50
RuffStuff cover - 100
1310 yoke/4.56+ carrier - 50

2250

 

[NorCalChris]

Tim, why do you go through wheel bearings so often?

 

[knucklehead 61]

Tim, why do you go through wheel bearings so often?

i drive like a gook.

that's how i roll.

 

[NorCalChris]

You've wheeled with me before. Do you think the 30 spline kit will hold up?

 

[Johnnie Walker]

You've wheeled with me before. Do you think the 30 spline kit will hold up?

Just don't go FULL retard..

 

[blondejoncherokee]

dude for the price get some ABS shafts at the junkyard. they are big, get 2 sets of each. that'll be like 150$ and you'll be set. save the other 800$ for more important stuff like gears and lockers.

 

[sunburned]

I've got a 27 spline ARB and RCV's in my D30. I don't see any reason to go 30 spline, it'll just cause problems if you do somehow break something.

I've broken the ring gear once, but I'm 98% sure it was due to a crappy gear install with not enough tooth engagement. Ever since I got it all reinstalled by a good shop, it's been bulletproof. And I've wheeled it hard. Once you get RCV's, you'll wonder why you ever ran u-joints.

www.vimeo.com/27178403