waterproofing a YJ D30? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

Dain Bramage · 08-30-2001, 07:45 AM

Any tips, hints, suggestions? My buddies YJ takes on water like an upside down frizbee in a hurricane, and after we go wheeling (every time) we have to drain and refill his front diff. This is getting old <IMG SRC="smilies/pissed.gif" border="0">

wsuxjer · 08-30-2001, 07:48 AM

? from where? Is is diff cover and vac disco all sealed up correctly? I took mine through about 3 ft of water/mud last time I went out. No water contamination at all in the front diff....

Keith Strong · 08-30-2001, 08:01 AM

either something isnt sealed correctly or his breather tube is cracked, etc. I used to submerge my D30 regularly and never took on water.

Dain Bramage · 08-30-2001, 08:05 AM

It appears to be coming in from ends of the axle, and it looks like the only thing to stop it from coming in is the white plastic things near the spindles. I'll try to get him to take a couple pics of it today and post them.

DE Jeeper · 08-30-2001, 11:16 AM

Give DTD Drivetrain Direct a call. They have an axle seal for the ends that keeps the water out. It is really made for the d44 axle, but it will fit the d30 if you have the 297 shafts. They are about $135 for the pair. If you don't want to do that I would replace the internal seals to keep the water out. I would post a pic, but I can't get to my Photopoint account because of the new firewall at work. You can look up my account with this e-mail addy astape@aol.com.

Dain Bramage · 08-30-2001, 11:18 AM

Tanks <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

H8monday · 08-30-2001, 12:21 PM

The number one cause of water entering the axles, is bad venting.
The D30 has a very small 1/8" vent tube nipple, which if you take the hose off youll see it really only has a small pin hole on the inside.
What happens is your gear oil gets warm when your driving and it heats up the air in the tubes, when you enter a water crossing, the air inside is quickly cooled and if the pinhole vent cant keep up with equalizing the change in air volume, then it start trying to draw in from the next available opening,... your outer seals.
I have found if you remove the puny vent nipple, and drill and tap the hole for a 1/4" NPT thread, then thread a length of compressor hose with a male 1/4" NPT into it. Route it high enough to not be submerged, and your, water contamination will go away.
We used to do a lot of Mud Bogg Racing, in our Ford, If I didnt modify and keep the vent tubes clear, the diff oil wouldnt last one day of racing, without looking like milk.

08-30-2001, 07:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dain Bramage Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5362 Location: someplace east of the Burgh Posts: 2,821	waterproofing a YJ D30? Any tips, hints, suggestions? My buddies YJ takes on water like an upside down frizbee in a hurricane, and after we go wheeling (every time) we have to drain and refill his front diff. This is getting old <IMG SRC="smilies/pissed.gif" border="0"> __________________ J.A.B. - GBA. !erom dna s'II+TA radnaloeG amahokoY "23, oidar BC yabe, kcitserif toof 4, oerets kcots, etomer /w s'k9 ohcnaR, tfil psus hcni 3 htiw ogimA uzusI ylf apud apus 9991

08-30-2001, 07:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
wsuxjer Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Member # 4584 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,278	? from where? Is is diff cover and vac disco all sealed up correctly? I took mine through about 3 ft of water/mud last time I went out. No water contamination at all in the front diff.... __________________ My tow rig is faster than your tow rig........

08-30-2001, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Keith Strong Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 477 Location: The Peeplz Republik Posts: 12,257	either something isnt sealed correctly or his breather tube is cracked, etc. I used to submerge my D30 regularly and never took on water. __________________ [CENTER][SIZE="5"][URL="http://www.strong-arms.com"]Strong Arms "Survival Slings" For Sale PM me for a PBB only price[/URL] [/SIZE][/CENTER]

08-30-2001, 08:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dain Bramage Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5362 Location: someplace east of the Burgh Posts: 2,821	It appears to be coming in from ends of the axle, and it looks like the only thing to stop it from coming in is the white plastic things near the spindles. I'll try to get him to take a couple pics of it today and post them. __________________ J.A.B. - GBA. !erom dna s'II+TA radnaloeG amahokoY "23, oidar BC yabe, kcitserif toof 4, oerets kcots, etomer /w s'k9 ohcnaR, tfil psus hcni 3 htiw ogimA uzusI ylf apud apus 9991

08-30-2001, 11:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
DE Jeeper Mr. FixIt Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5295 Location: Wilmington, DE Posts: 517	Give DTD Drivetrain Direct a call. They have an axle seal for the ends that keeps the water out. It is really made for the d44 axle, but it will fit the d30 if you have the 297 shafts. They are about $135 for the pair. If you don't want to do that I would replace the internal seals to keep the water out. I would post a pic, but I can't get to my Photopoint account because of the new firewall at work. You can look up my account with this e-mail addy astape@aol.com. __________________ '88 YJ with not much '88 YJ left We-Rock Stock Class Team Mall Crawler #609 Sponsored by: The Drive Shaft Shop www.driveshaftshop.com Delaware Jeep Assoc. www.delawareja.com

08-30-2001, 11:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dain Bramage Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Member # 5362 Location: someplace east of the Burgh Posts: 2,821	Tanks <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> __________________ J.A.B. - GBA. !erom dna s'II+TA radnaloeG amahokoY "23, oidar BC yabe, kcitserif toof 4, oerets kcots, etomer /w s'k9 ohcnaR, tfil psus hcni 3 htiw ogimA uzusI ylf apud apus 9991

08-30-2001, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
H8monday Registered User Join Date: Jun 2000 Member # 1065 Location: Weimar, CA Posts: 4,748	The number one cause of water entering the axles, is bad venting. The D30 has a very small 1/8" vent tube nipple, which if you take the hose off youll see it really only has a small pin hole on the inside. What happens is your gear oil gets warm when your driving and it heats up the air in the tubes, when you enter a water crossing, the air inside is quickly cooled and if the pinhole vent cant keep up with equalizing the change in air volume, then it start trying to draw in from the next available opening,... your outer seals. I have found if you remove the puny vent nipple, and drill and tap the hole for a 1/4" NPT thread, then thread a length of compressor hose with a male 1/4" NPT into it. Route it high enough to not be submerged, and your, water contamination will go away. We used to do a lot of Mud Bogg Racing, in our Ford, If I didnt modify and keep the vent tubes clear, the diff oil wouldnt last one day of racing, without looking like milk. __________________ Pirates of the Rubicon Announcing is tough,..I need a beer

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