Jeep Need an answer about a Dana 30 front on a 2002 Wrangler...

[Troop92]

Helping a buddy buy a new toy, and he's found a 2002 TJ in Denver that is a really clean rig. Downside is that while it does come with a new set/kit, the current front ring/pinion on the Dana30 are missing teeth. Neither of us have ever had a Jeep before, and can't comment on 4wd system.

Is it okay to drive it back to SLC without causing more damage to the front, or not. When in 2wd it isn't getting power, but since it's a part time system is it still spinning in 2wd....?

Hope that makes sense. Thanks guys.

 

[skippy]

Everything will still spin driving it down the road If I were you I would pull the front driveshaft and the carrier out of the vehicle, you will need to separate the inner and outer stub shafts and run just the outer stub shaft to keep the unit bearing together and drive that thing home

 

[StormRider]

Because the d30 doesn't have manual/auto hubs, it's still spinning the axle shafts, regardless of 2wd/4wd. Since the shafts are spinning, so is everything else in the Diff.

Skippy, if you pull the front drive shaft and inner axle shafts, what's the point of messing with the carrier?

Regardless, that's a hell of a lot of work to get the inner shafts out- you're tearing down each side to the knuckle to get the axle shafts out, then you've got to separate the axle shafts, then put it all back together (the unit bearings have been known to blow apart without the outer shaft installed). I'd just do a one way uhaul dolly or trailer. If you do the dolly, just drop the rear drive shaft and not worry about anything spinning.

 

[skippy]

Because the d30 doesn't have manual/auto hubs, it's still spinning the axle shafts, regardless of 2wd/4wd. Since the shafts are spinning, so is everything else in the Diff.

Skippy, if you pull the front drive shaft and inner axle shafts, what's the point of messing with the carrier?

Regardless, that's a hell of a lot of work to get the inner shafts out- you're tearing down each side to the knuckle to get the axle shafts out, then you've got to separate the axle shafts, then put it all back together (the unit bearings have been known to blow apart without the outer shaft installed). I'd just do a one way uhaul dolly or trailer. If you do the dolly, just drop the rear drive shaft and not worry about anything spinning.

good point the carrier can stay installed.....

 

[Gravy]

you can leave the driveshaft.

just pull the inner shafts. leave the outers in the unit bearings and keep it in 2wd

 

[Troop92]

Because the d30 doesn't have manual/auto hubs, it's still spinning the axle shafts, regardless of 2wd/4wd. Since the shafts are spinning, so is everything else in the Diff.

Skippy, if you pull the front drive shaft and inner axle shafts, what's the point of messing with the carrier?

Regardless, that's a hell of a lot of work to get the inner shafts out- you're tearing down each side to the knuckle to get the axle shafts out, then you've got to separate the axle shafts, then put it all back together (the unit bearings have been known to blow apart without the outer shaft installed). I'd just do a one way uhaul dolly or trailer. If you do the dolly, just drop the rear drive shaft and not worry about anything spinning.

good point the carrier can stay installed.....

*sigh* Awesome... The whole Denver angle isn't ideal, but he's not finding much here locally. The dolly/trailer would be good if we had a vehicle to tow it all....

 

[Toad]

it really would not be that hard. Find some outers before you drive out. Im sure someone has a couple. Remove calipers and unit bearings pop the shafts out and install the outer shafts. Should be less than an hour total.

 

[Troop92]

it really would not be that hard. Find some outers before you drive out. Im sure someone has a couple. Remove calipers and unit bearings pop the shafts out and install the outer shafts. Should be less than an hour total.

Taking outers to put in so as not to have to disassemble the outer/inner when there?

 

[StormRider]

Taking outers to put in so as not to have to disassemble the outer/inner when there?

Yeah, 10 year old U Joints are not fun to remove.

 

[TurboMinivan]

he's not finding much here locally.

Wow. Really? I've got a co-worker looking for a cheap TJ, and they are all over the place online.

Is your friend looking for something extremely specific?

 

[hoosier]

Correct

 

[Troop92]

Yeah, 10 year old U Joints are not fun to remove.

Figured as much, thanks. Love your avatar.

Wow. Really? I've got a co-worker looking for a cheap TJ, and they are all over the place online. Is your friend looking for something extremely specific?

Not specific per se, but fitting a specific type. 'Must haves' are 4.0L, auto, and a/c. Trying to keep it on budget, so a more built YJ or a slightly built TJ. Attempting to maximize his buck is all.

 

[Gravy]

Yeah, 10 year old U Joints are not fun to remove.

Dana 30 ujoints are cake with a 3lb sledge and two bricks. You can leave the outers in the unit bearings. Just unbolt the caliper and unit bearing from the outer knuckle and pull the whole assembly out the knuckle.

I can change dana 30 ujoints in 30 minutes flat, both sides.

Worse case scenario you cut the ujoint in half with an angle grinder.

 

[Troop92]

Nice... Yeah, we're both mechanically inclined, so I'm not worried about being able to do it. Just the time factor is all. But sounds pretty straightforward, and I'll avail myself of all that Google has to offer on diagrams, how to's, etc before we go. I hate going in blind.

Looking at how the D30, looks like getting at the u-joints might be a pain... Might try to run down some outers before we go, as you mentioned Toad. Anyone got a lead on a pair? Junkyard?

Thanks for all the responses, guys. Love this board.

 

[flexyfool]

He's going to drive 500 miles in winter weather to look at dime-a-dozen TJ with a busted front axle? If it meets expectations, he's going to try to yank the shafts and drive it home another 500 miles? So that's 2 vehicles driving a total of 2000 miles, 2 days spent, and probably a hotel room. Also, if it's been abused enough to take out a front R&P, what else is wrong with it? Maybe it won't even make it back home. Then what? A 500 mile tow truck charge? Don't do it man!

 

[corbin.black]

Save your self the money on gas.. buy my TJ and swap in an auto with the money you saved! Win win for both of us and I could even bring the TJ most of the way too you!

 

[StormRider]

He's going to drive 500 miles in winter weather to look at dime-a-dozen TJ with a busted front axle? If it meets expectations, he's going to try to yank the shafts and drive it home another 500 miles? So that's 2 vehicles driving a total of 2000 miles, 2 days spent, and probably a hotel room. Also, if it's been abused enough to take out a front R&P, what else is wrong with it? Maybe it won't even make it back home. Then what? A 500 mile tow truck charge? Don't do it man!

Sounds like an episode of Roadkill in the making

 

[Troop92]

He's going to drive 500 miles in winter weather to look at dime-a-dozen TJ with a busted front axle? If it meets expectations, he's going to try to yank the shafts and drive it home another 500 miles? So that's 2 vehicles driving a total of 2000 miles, 2 days spent, and probably a hotel room. Also, if it's been abused enough to take out a front R&P, what else is wrong with it? Maybe it won't even make it back home. Then what? A 500 mile tow truck charge? Don't do it man!

We were looking at it more as a way to get outta the house, leave the wives to have a girl-day, and have a roadtrip in mild winter weather (mid 40s to 50s) the whole way. Look at a TJ thats got some money into it, but due to the owner wanting out (and having already gotten a new JK) is letting it go for cheaper due to no desire to fix it, though the parts to do so come with it.

One rental car 1000 miles (free rental) and a TJ 500 miles home if purchased. One day, leave early and come back, so no hotel room. And the thing isn't new, it isn't built, it's a dana 30 that's seen 12 years of use how a jeep was intended to be used. If he doesn't buy it, the only outlay is time (which we're okay doing) and gas, $110 roughtly at $3.25/gallon. Worth it to him, if that's what it takes to find his baby.

 

[benjy]

Don't let pulling the inners deter you from a good deal. From start to finish with 2 guys shouldn't take more than an hour

 

[Toad]

Really? Two days to drag this home. Im all for an adventure but financially it has to make sense.

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4321307215.html