Dana 30 locker/axle recommendations

[Incommando]

Just from what I have seen you can make a HP Dana 30 into a decent axle with cheapo $100 internal tube sleeves from someplace like Iron Rock along with their C-gussets. Add aftermarket shafts and call it a day. I personally have little use for a LP Dana 30 as their is no way to beef up the R&P to make up for the LP. If insurance or a margin of error is what your are looking for in a front axle the LP Dana 30 isn't my answer.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Sorry but what does LP mean?

Guessing HP means high performance?

I'm thinking I'll just go cheap for now with that tru trac and the 5.38s I need. If I break something it'll probably be an axle out at the joint. Maybe that'll act like a "fuse" to save the ring and pinion.

i def. don't want to spend a ton of money just to end up with a tricked out wimpy axle.

What are some of the cheaper lockers out there that have good reviews?

I keep hearing Aussie lockers are good? I could be done for 5-600 bucks with that and R and P.

 

[CJ]

HP = High Pinion
LP = Low Pinion

My 'pinion' is, if you haven't broken your diff, don't beat the hell out of it and just wan't to have fun. Stick with the stock stuff and be careful when you wheel.
Not all of us need a Dana 44 or a modified high pinion Dana 30 .
Evaluate what you need and go from there.

If you don't want to ever break an axle on your CJ, fab up some Rockwells... The question you need to ask yourself is - "Do I need to?"

 

[jasonmark1993]

I agree with you there. I'm more likely to be at the drag strip than hardcore wheeling and from what I've seen the 30 will handle what I need it to just fine.

If I didn't need to re-gear I'd be happy with it stock.

Think I'm gonna just do an Aussie or lock right and reuse the stock axles.

Gotta use something that came stock on this thing!

 

[Incommando]

Aussie's work well. I have heard great things about the Spartan as well. The PowrTrax No-slip is IMHO the smoothest performing drop-in but it is usually more than the others.

Didn't go to rockwells... but I am hoping that I don't break my D60F & 14bFF rear too often.... Momma told me I could tear up an anvil so I have my fingers crossed...

 

[CJ]

~~~Momma told me I could tear up an anvil so I have my fingers crossed...

 

[jasonmark1993]

cool guys thanks alot for all the insight.

Looks like it goes aussie, spartan, power trax from cheapest to most expensive.

Think I'll go cheap and if I nuke it, I'll get a better front axle all together.

 

[CJim7]

cool guys thanks alot for all the insight.

Looks like it goes aussie, spartan, power trax from cheapest to most expensive.

Think I'll go cheap and if I nuke it, I'll get a better front axle all together.

And this was my exact thinking. I decided long ago I would not and will not over-spend on an inherantly weak axle. If Im going to spend a lot of money on an axle, its going to be on an axle I dont have to worry about all the time. Therefore, I spent a couple hundred dollars on a Lockright several years ago and have never looked back.

Running the 6cyl, I never had a problem....in 15 years. Once I went with the V8 and 36's however, I discovered just how weak the Ujoints are on the Dana 30 . I break at least one a year...luckily spare shafts are cheap and I keep spares.

Upgrade the ujoints/hubs/shafts and you move the weak point to the R&P.

Anyway, my point is dont throw a lot of money at something like this when you could be spending that on a stronger less trouble prone axle.