Would putting a truss on my front dana 30 axle help

[jcanderson33jp]

I have a stock dana 30 front axle with 4.88 gears and a detroint locker. i am running 37 inch tires. All I think about when i am out wheeling is wondering if my front axle is going to break. I was wondering if i put truss on my front axle, if it would help me so i don't break it? I am looking for cheap ways to strengthen my front axle with out having to swap in a new one.

 

[mbryson]

Wow......37" tires on a D30. You're going to keep busting axle joints. I bent my D30 housings and busted axle joints with 35" tires on a Cherokee quite frequently. A truss would help, but......

You can upgrade to chromo shafts and CTMs (or similar) for about the cost of a stock D60 that you won't worrry about. However, you'll need new wheels and probably some new tires and maybe an upgrade in the rear axle (at least a bolt pattern swap).

 

[jcanderson33jp]

I heard that the week point in d30's are their ring and pinion. what can you do to strengthen that? would a truss even help that at all? Would it be worth it to go to a reverse cut HP d30? I've heard that their ring and pinion are as stronge as a 44s

 

[Brad]

You need to seriously think about upgrading to a 60, or at least a 44. There's not really anything you can do to strengthen the R&P, but a reverse cut would be stronger. Any money you put into strengthening the 30 is a waste IMO. From your sig, it looks like you've got a 60 in the rear. Seems about time to match it up front.

 

[jcanderson33jp]

What kind of d60 should i swap in? i want to keep the same width on my axles but i don't have money to go out and buy a Dynatrac pro rock 60. how much would it be to find an older d60 and just shorten it? are there any places around that would be willing to cut down a full width 60?

 

[mbryson]

I heard that the week point in d30's are their ring and pinion. what can you do to strengthen that? would a truss even help that at all? Would it be worth it to go to a reverse cut HP d30? I've heard that their ring and pinion are as stronge as a 44s

I ran a HP 30. Never had any issues with the ring/pinion. The weak point is your axle joints and your housing. The housing can be 'crutched' with a truss, but with some trail use, you'll get good at storing and changing axle shafts.

 

[78mitsu]

When the axle tubes flex the shafts can bind and push the carrier closer to the pinion decreasing the clearance and it can shear teeth and crack gears it's not pretty, the right kind of truss can fix some of that, but you've still got way to small a shaft for running 37s I'd top out with light 35s on a 30, but then I'm running 40s on a stock dana 44

 

[Tacoma]

trussing a Dana 30 is also known as "polishing a turd".... yeah, you can do it, but it's still a POS when you're done.

UPGRADE!!! a 44 w/some new shafts/joints would be the slightly cheaper route....

 

[mbryson]

trussing a Dana 30 is also known as "polishing a turd".... yeah, you can do it, but it's still a POS when you're done.

UPGRADE!!! a 44 w/some new shafts/joints would be the slightly cheaper route....

But you still have the same axle joint as the TJ D30 that he's busting already. There's only one solution...... It matches his rear axle (well, there's some other solutions that are somewhat 'exotic').

 

[Johnny4X4]

i say wheel it till you break it, but in look for a new front to swap in while doing it.

I have 37's on my D30 and am looking to upgrade also.

I wheel it whenever possible, and i havent broken it yet, but i am not to heavy on the throttle when wheeling, being patient and knowing what your doing helps.

 

[Tacoma]

But you still have the same axle joint as the TJ D30 that he's busting already. There's only one solution...... It matches his rear axle (well, there's some other solutions that are somewhat 'exotic').

D'oh!

I was trying to give him an out so he doesn't have to eat the cost of a 60 right away LOL

I am all for 60's. I want them in everything, just because.... but the Blazer is the smallest thing I own now. Think a 60 in Tara's Burb is overkill???

The only solution for breakage is bigger, stronger stuff. It saves you money and frustration pretty fast. DOOOOO IIIIIITTTTT!!! you know you want to.

 

[78mitsu]

Odd, But I agree with Tacoma, At least do a 44, it'll take 37 inch tires and a strait 6 all day with a good quality U-joint. You'll never brake a sixty

 

[mbryson]

Odd, But I agree with Tacoma, At least do a 44, it'll take 37 inch tires and a strait 6 all day with a good quality U-joint. You'll never brake a sixty

Uh, no. I've seen CTMs but Warn shafts on more than one D44 running 35" tires. Buy what you want, but I bought a bigger axle joint for a reason.

 

[Milner]

Uh, no. I've seen CTMs but Warn shafts on more than one D44 running 35" tires. Buy what you want, but I bought a bigger axle joint for a reason.

Yep....a few warn shafts myself....Some of us even rip spindles off 44's

 

[78mitsu]

Maybe I should caviat that with depends on driving style. I've got a 350+ hp 350 and 4:1 transfer case and 40s and All I've done is hub and upper ball joint. Granted I've only been wheeling it for 3 months,

 

[jcanderson33jp]

I'm really not that heavy on the throttle when i go four wheeling. i know that i want a 60 in the front to match the one in the rear but i really don't know what d60 i should put under it. has anyone heard of sunray's axles?

 

[Tacoma]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

and up.

 

[Brad]

I'm really not that heavy on the throttle when i go four wheeling. i know that i want a 60 in the front to match the one in the rear but i really don't know what d60 i should put under it. has anyone heard of sunray's axles?

Sunray's front 9" is pretty trick but I'd still go 60 for the sake of aftermarket support and the difference in price is negligible IMO. Crane and Dedenbear knuckles... :drool:

 

[Tacoma]

hook me up with those $800 Sunray's then!

Neon knuckles are sweeeeeet. I don't care if I never break a stock C, I'll always want something aftermarket.

 

[rosedude]

44's are pretty tuff, but they break. with what your rockin its worth the money to get a 60 and never ever think or have the thought that something is going to break on your front end.
how wide is your rear 60? whats it off of? old dodge 60's are a lot narrower than the chev and fords. maybe you can match one up to your rear!