Dana 30 locker/axle recommendations

[jasonmark1993]

Getting ready to do the ring and pinion on my Dana 30 .

Wondering if some of you with experience in this can shed some light on which locker you like best and whatever other upgrades you think were worthwhile. Stronger axles maybe?

Suggestions on vendors would help too.

Wouldn't mind having on board air so I'm not opposed to spending the money on an air locker.

I live in the desert so most of my wheeling will be in rocky/sandy areas.

Thanks

 

[derf]

Personally, I'd get a Dana 44 locker (and axle to go with it) because I'm in the "don't waste money on a Dana 30 " camp.

That being said, I wouldn't put anything but a selectable locker in a Dana 30 . The reason being that you can lock it only when you absolutely have to. That way you're not putting any more stress on the weak components than you have to. You'll get more miles out of the Dana 30 that way.

As far as which locker? It really doesn't matter. All of the available selectable lockers are pretty good. It's just a matter of personal preference.

One thing to help the longevity of the axle is a differential truss. I'm not sure if that's the exact name for it or not though. It bolts in on top of the bearing caps and helps keep the differential housing from flexing. This too makes a world of difference in getting a Dana 30 (or at least the ring and pinion) to last a lot longer.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Ya, I've thought of switching to a Dana 44 but my buddy beats his pretty hard with a built 401 and he's never had any problems. Hes running a 60 in the back.

Mine is more of a street rod than a hardcore wheeler so I was thinking I could get away with the 30.

I don't see too many people blowing their 30s in the front so I thought they were holding up ok. Maybe they just dont talk about it.

 

[Sasquach]

I'm happy with my Eaton Tru-trac LS up front.

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I like my ARB locker. At the same time I up graded the axle shafts with Alloy USA shafts, used Genuine Gear ring and pinon. Bought from both 4 wheel parts and 4 wheel drive hardware. Happy with everything so far.

 

[tarry99]

Getting ready to do the ring and pinion on my Dana 30 .

Wondering if some of you with experience in this can shed some light on which locker you like best and whatever other upgrades you think were worthwhile. Stronger axles maybe?

Suggestions on vendors would help too.

Wouldn't mind having on board air so I'm not opposed to spending the money on an air locker.

Alloy USA makes a pretty decent chro-mo axle using there own u-joint. I run the Dana 30 with the Spicer Powr-lok Posi & for all around use I really like it. As far as an axle brace I'm a little unconventional there and just use a piece of 1.25" chrome moly tube @.100 wall attached only on the long side of an off set axle. Plenty of strength since its on compression and no worry about putting to much heat in your housing while welding as would be the case with those massive aftermarket braces. You still have to pre and post heat.

 

[jasonmark1993]

10 4

Thanks for the input.

 

[coldair]

Do you have any pictures of your axle installed? I really like your way of trussing the front.

Getting ready to do the ring and pinion on my Dana 30 .

Wondering if some of you with experience in this can shed some light on which locker you like best and whatever other upgrades you think were worthwhile. Stronger axles maybe?

Suggestions on vendors would help too.

Wouldn't mind having on board air so I'm not opposed to spending the money on an air locker.

Alloy USA makes a pretty decent chro-mo axle using there own u-joint. I run the Dana 30 with the Spicer Powr-lok Posi & for all around use I really like it. As far as an axle brace I'm a little unconventional there and just use a piece of 1.25" chrome moly tube @.100 wall attached only on the long side of an off set axle. Plenty of strength since its on compression and no worry about putting to much heat in your housing while welding as would be the case with those massive aftermarket braces. You still have to pre and post heat.

 

[PaRenegade]

Probably the best choice, and certainly the most common, is the Tru-Trac ls diff. It works well on the road since you can unlock the hubs which essentially takes it out of the picture. And it's a Limited slip vs. a solid locker, so it's not as hard on the Dana 30 components.

 

[coldair]

I had a loc right with a set of super 30 axle shafts in my 75 CJ5 i beat the out of the front and never had a it come apart.

 

[Incommando]

TruTrac is invisible on the road even without lock-outs. Common in XJ's, YJ's, etc... that don't have lock-outs. Works nicely on-road in inclement weather when engaged, too. Much easier to turn than a locker.

Of course all lockers are invisible when the lock-outs are engaged...

 

[jasonmark1993]

Man thats a pretty good price for the Trutrac.

I'm only seeing a 27 spline version for the Dana 30 ; does that sound right?

 

[tarry99]

Do you have any pictures of your axle installed? I really like your way of trussing the front.

Coldair,
Its simple and triangles in engineering terms are always strong. I did the same to the rear.
Sorry a lot of this stuff is now off the Jeep again as I'm now working on boxing the frame and reinforcing the roll cage......................but here is an earlier picture of the Dana 30 brace from the front.

 

[tarry99]

Do you have any pictures of your axle installed? I really like your way of trussing the front.


Coldair,
Its simple and triangles in engineering terms are always strong. I did the same to the rear.
Sorry a lot of this stuff is now off the Jeep again as I'm now working on boxing the frame and reinforcing the roll cage......................but here is an earlier picture of the Dana 30 brace from the front.

Lets try this again, Sorry, computers and me don't get along.

 

[coldair]

Lets try this again, Sorry, computers and me don't get along.

Thanks I was wondering what kind of clearance you had. Looks pretty good I think when I regear my front axle im going to do this.

 

[Incommando]

Man thats a pretty good price for the Trutrac.

I'm only seeing a 27 spline version for the Dana 30 ; does that sound right?

Yes stock the Dana 30 is a 27-spline axle

 

[tarry99]

Thanks I was wondering what kind of clearance you had. Looks pretty good I think when I regear my front axle im going to do this.

Coldair,
No problem have at it! Clearance wise no problem in the engine bay or anywhere else for that matter.
All of that steel is 4130 , I used either 309 or 312 stainless tig rod on the welding, on the housing end make sure you clean it well and pre & post heat the weld zone and on the tube end weld a side at a time and leave some cooling time in between.

 

[jasonmark1993]

Yes stock the Dana 30 is a 27-spline axle

Do they offer a 30 spline trutrac if you want to run the 30 spline axles?

 

[Incommando]

Doesn't look like it:
http://www.eaton.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@eaton/@per/documents/content/ct_128302.pdf

 

[tarry99]

Do they offer a 30 spline trutrac if you want to run the 30 spline axles?

ARB and a few other lockers are available for the Dana 30 with 30 spline side gears which would allow the use of 30 spline main axles...........................
But keep in mind you will still have 27 spline shafts on your outer axles..............If you wanted to gain all there was to gain then changing your outer's to 30 spline along with using the larger u-joint out there may be an option.