35's on a Dana 30?

Can you run 35's on a Dana 30 under "moderate" conditions without tearing the crap out of it?

90 XJ wrote:

Can you run 35's on a Dana 30 under "moderate" conditions without tearing the crap out of it?

It all started with the very first post on the TRAIL RIDE topic:

SDHQJEFF wrote:

Since we are not all a bunch of poon-duners here, lets start a TRAIL RIDE forum to get together for upcoming trips.

We are planning trips on
Sat Jan 20th, probably to Upper Sycamore creek area for some moderate wheelin
and either Sat or Sun Jan 27 or 28 for a little more difficult trip to the Florence Junction area

Reply to this or send me an email!!!

It depends on what your definition of "MODERATE" is...
finally figured mine out after many months and much debate in the SDHQ forums:

Tue May 15, 2007

SDHQJEFF wrote:

HA! That is funny... After all the joking about moderate, Im not sure what that means any more? Does that mean it looks "difficult" when you first walk up to it , then all of a sudden it looks "moderate" after you get back in your vehicle and drive up to (and over) it??

I think thats it, I think it becomes 'moderate' AFTER you have done it once!!

Joking aside, those friggin' dana 30 axle shafts are very weak. There is not alot you can do except upgrade them to the better aftermarket chromoloy axles. Call the SDHQ showroom for more info!
Find some spares to take with you in the mean time!!

Id say NO. You can however run that d30 on 35s under some pretty crazay conditions! A set of alloy shafts and a little brain power [understand your limitations] and you should have little to no problems.

Very cool, Thank you Jeff and Kyle very much for the info. I guess I
will "know my limitations" on this D30 untill I can muster a D44 swap.
Thanks again!

D30= spicer 760 u joints, 7.2" ring gear, and 27spl shafts..

D44= spicer 760 u joints, 8.5" ring gear, and 30spl shafts..

See a trend here? A stock d44 inner shaft will break at 5k ft. lbs. of tq with 35% of twist. Not much more than the 30, if the joint doenst break first. The outter I believe is slightly weaker with its wierd neckdown and 19 splines. Where am I going with this you ask? Well if youre gonna swap axles, go big or go home cause a d44 aint gonna cut it.

This things got a d30 under the front with 4.56s, a lockright, and 35" muds. It sees trails like collateral damage, highway to hell, and dirty sanchez.

On a technical note:

1) Full width D44s with CroMo axles under your jeep has a huge "ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN STOCK JEEP AXLES" factor to it.

2) Numbers wise, the "ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN STOCK JEEP AXLES" factor gives about a 15% higher probability to Git-R-Done!

3) Kyle, you can use your driveway pic Avatard in some topics, but dont bring it to the Trail Ride area or I will be forced to 'moderate' you..LOL!!! Oh sorry, I meant avatar...