Are these used axles beyond recovery?

[Flex BT]

My jeep has a Dana 30 front and AMC20 rear with a 2.72 gear ratio. Ideally, I'd like 4.10 but have had a hard time finding them. Someone local has this Dana 30 and Dana 44 for sale with 3.73 gears, which would still be way better than what I have. I'm running 33" tires. The gears appear to be in good shape but I'm scared about how much they've rusted out toward the hubs. I haven't gone to see them in person, he's asking $600 which I think is a little steep for their condition. Is this an easy POR-15 job or should I wait for something better to come along?

 

[Old Dog]

For what looks like stock axles with open carriers, yes $600 is way more than I would give. I bet if you looked around harder you could get the same thing for $200.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The biggest weakness of the '20' rear are the OEM(POS!), 2 piece axles.
Those are way over priced and 2:73 was the worst ratio AMC ever put out.
Since your run'n a T-5 . Go to 4:56 and Moser 1 piece axles with your 33s.
Power loc LSD front and rear would work well for you also.
LG

 

[Flex BT]

All Limited by money my man. I'd love to at least get a locker in the front, right now I'm just trying to get away with getting a gear ratio of at least 3.73 without breaking the bank. I thought about just trying to put 4.10s in my current axles but the cost of the new parts (new carriers needed, etc) is going to end up being more than these axles. Just caught up with a guy selling some 4.10s for $500 so I might be posting pictures of those on here tomorrow. The only thing is the rear is a Dana 35 which I know nothing about. I assume they've got to be better than the AMC20 ?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Then save your $$$ and change what YOU already have.
Don't buy someone else's headache.
LG

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

All Limited by money my man. I'd love to at least get a locker in the front, right now I'm just trying to get away with getting a gear ratio of at least 3.73 without breaking the bank. I thought about just trying to put 4.10s in my current axles but the cost of the new parts (new carriers needed, etc) is going to end up being more than these axles. Just caught up with a guy selling some 4.10s for $500 so I might be posting pictures of those on here tomorrow. The only thing is the rear is a Dana 35 which I know nothing about. I assume they've got to be better than the AMC20 ?

Dana 35 rear? That's probably not a cj axle. I don't think any cjs had a d35 rear. I could be wrong tho. I'd bet those axles won't bolt up.

If your worried about money I'd remove those 33s until you find axles our put in New gears if your running a t5With 2.72 and 33s is only a matter of time before that T-5 blows up.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Correct-NO CJ, ever had a 35 as OEM.
35 is the same level of axle as the 20 is!
LG

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Correct-NO CJ, ever had a 35 as OEM.
35 is the same level of axle as the 20 is!
LG

The 20 isn't scrap. It's just not suited for certain applications. Most people would never truly need anything more than a 20 with one piece shafts.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The 20 isn't scrap. It's just not suited for certain applications. Most people would never truly need anything more than a 20 with one piece shafts.

OH-PLEASE, I have lost count of how many I have seen with moved center sections and bowed tubes.
They were 'built' by the AMC 'bean-counters'.
The 20 had no place on the CJ!
This I say, as someone who has worked on them(replaced mine w/9")for friends and club members for over 29 years.
Rearend shops love'em for the $$$ they generate for them.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

First off I believe they ar asking about $100 to much for the axles.

Question, does the Dana 30 have disk brakes? If they don't not all is lost, you can use your knuckles on out and your existing drive axles.

The rear axle doesn't really look all that bad. The brake backing plates are fairly rusty, but not impossible to buy new. I'd bet they will clean up. I'd pull them apart, get an angle grinder with a stiff wire wheel, leather apron, gloves and face mask then go to town bringing her down to bare steel. Prime and paint.

Remember, it would cost a whole big pile of money to have new gears fit to your axles, they are dead easy to work on and the cost will be more that just the gears. With the Dana 44 the carrier is at the cut off point between small and big. 3.73's will run with the smaller carrier. The Dana 30 brakes off at 3.54's, I.E. 3.73's need the bigger carrier.

Then consider this, the Dana 44 is a far superior axle. So the plus's would be a superior axle, better gears for your tires, you'd save on the crazy price shops ask for a gear change.

I don't know a thing about your Dana 30 , but you would loose a little time installing brakes and things, but you'd save a bunch of money on the gear change.

The deal ain't all bad, as a matter of fact there are some real positives there. I'm such a believer, I'm doing something similar.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

The 20's carrier is a easy one to set up.
The shims are outboard of the carrier bearings.
I won't use a crush sleeve on the pinion. I make a sleeve and add shims as needed. I have seen to many crush sleeves on the 20 'pound' down and create havoc.
LG

 

[Flex BT]

Man that's a lot of (all valid) differing opinions. I was hoping there would be a consensus and make it an easy decision!

So the crush sleeve isn't necessary? How many gear swaps have you done like this?

If anyone knows of anybody who does gear work in the Richmond, Virginia area let me know. My neighbor is trying to convince me that we could do it, however even the cost on just parts would be more than getting / rehabbing some of these old axles. Argh I wish I had more cash to dump into this toy.

 

[IOPort51]

while trying to be encouraging, you have chosen, in my opinion, the most expensive part of the Jeep to work on. I wish you luck and can't wait to see how this comes out.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Man that's a lot of (all valid) differing opinions. I was hoping there would be a consensus and make it an easy decision!

So the crush sleeve isn't necessary? How many gear swaps have you done like this?

If anyone knows of anybody who does gear work in the Richmond, Virginia area let me know. My neighbor is trying to convince me that we could do it, however even the cost on just parts would be more than getting / rehabbing some of these old axles. Argh I wish I had more cash to dump into this toy.

I've been doing R&P work for 40+ years.
Cry once and don't settle-The gear ratio setup I told you about will go along way to letting your T-5 , live along life.
Use your axles and build from there. Moser 1 piece axles are a MUST have! You'll need 2, LSD carriers, 2 R&P's with install kits.
NEVER go the cheap here-You NEVER save a dime when you do.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

I'd go with the Dana 44 and disk brake Dana 30 anyday. I believe it would be hard to truly go wrong.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Disc brake conversion requires a different portioning valve and MC, IIRC.
You also have p'brake attachment issues.
Went w/11" X 2 1/2 std shoes with my Ford 9". Everything hooked up with no issues.
LG

 

[Petescj]

Someone local has this Dana 30 and Dana 44 for sale with 3.73 gears, which would still be way better than what I have. He's asking $600 which I think is a little steep for their condition.

Id offer $500 for this set. The rust will clean up with some wire wheels. A good paint job after that and you'll be happy. It would cost you plenty more to buy larger carriers ,regear , weld the 20s tubes and put in 1 piece axles. 3.73s will be fine with 33s and a major improvement over your current 2.72.

Stay away from Yj axles. Th dana 35 is the worst. The Yj Dana 30 front has a center axle disconnect and a vaccum actuated shift fork. I'll take a Cj Dana 30 and AMC20 over this combo everyday.

 

[Old Dog]

The dana 35 is a real POS, I'd run the 20 before the 35. If the front 30 came out of the yj also, than the pumpkin will be on the wrong side.
Have you checked the boneyards? IIRC the 4 cly. came stock with 4:10's.

 

[tarry99]

Personally I think your getting allot of conflicting information here...........First off "YOU" need to decide what and where the most use of this vehicle will be. On road , off road, going to the store or mostly Freeway miles.

You have the worst gears that you could ever have in those axles and that T-4 4-speed Transmission which does have a 4.03 low gear is one of the weakest transmissions ever put in a Jeep for off road use.

Replacing the axles to get to 3.73 ratio versus a 2.73 that you already have I feel is a waste of time with 33 inch tires. I would agree with LG that in this case re-gearing what you have and do the obvious upgrades to the Rear 20 axle may be the best choice overall.

But again you need to make the choice on what it's use will be...........

 

[Petescj]

Replacing the axles to get to 3.73 ratio versus a 2.73 that you already have I feel is a waste of time with 33 inch tires.


I would agree with LG that in this case re-gearing what you have and do the obvious upgrades to the Rear 20 axle may be the best choice overall.

But again you need to make the choice on what it's use will be...........

I rarely argue with you Tarry , but from 2.73 to 3.73 is a substantial jump. Your gonna feel that easily. I think 4.10 is the right gearing for 33s but axle replacement is alot easier than buying the tools and having the knowledge to set up your regear. 3.73 isnt a bad ratio for 33s.

The second point is that your not agreeing with Lumpy. He wants nothing to do with the AMC20 . The OP has a chance to get a set of axles with 3.73 gearing and the rear is a Dana 44 . Its a better packge with the right carriers already. Will he want to go up in tire size later? Will hewant ultra low gears for rock crawling? That Im not sure on. Im sure he'll let us know before blood is spilled though.