[mathewsmq1]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my 33x12.50's and going with 35's instead. I ordered my Jeep with the Dana 44 rear axle so I think I'm OK there, but I was curious if the stock front axle could hold up to the 35's? Can the stock front axle be modified to hold up to the 35's at a reasonable cost?

 

[P&T Jeeps]

feel lucky.........for moderate wheelin' the answer to your question is yes, the stock D30 can handle light 35's.



now the real answer: 60's, 60's, 60's! move along, move along....... :shaking:

 

[BMRisko]

Some good info here....

 

[mathewsmq1]

Thanks guys. I think I'll upgrade to a Dana 44 front before I put the 35's on. I really don't want to take the chance on the 30 if it's only borderline for strength and durability with the larger tires.

 

[donjr5]

Don't upgrade to the Rubi front 44 and feel that you've upgraded, though. The Rubi is a hybrid, uses regular TJ D30 outer knuckles and stub shafts. Those stub shafts will still be the weak link with the 35's.
The best mod I've done to my D30 since going up to 35's is to grind the stock shafts for full circle clips.

 

[P&T Jeeps]

FYI, I might get some junk for this but the outers on the TJ D30 are not the weak link. the ears may be, but they are no different than the inner's ears. those short little stubs are very difficult to break b/c they are totally enclosed in the bearing assembly. so, you'd have to explode the whole assembly to destroy the stub shaft. it is also so damn short that I don't think enough torsional (sp) force can be put on it, especially being enclosed in the bearing. the inners will go first. if any one has a TJ outer shattered (OTHER THAN THE EARS) post up.

now this was not said to defend the Rubi D44 in any way, don't be mistaken. but.....putting D30 knuckles (spite the weak ass ball joints and bearing assembly) on a "real" D44 tube to keep the small bolt pattern is not a horrible intermediary solution for some. get ChroMo’d shafts and your in pretty damn good shape shaft strength wise...

 

[jeepNicK]

i've run my dana30 with 35s for two years. mine has lasted through careful treatment but i know it and the rear are both living on borrowed time. if you can wait upgrade it man

 

[mathewsmq1]

What aftermarket mfr's would you recommend for a front 44 on my TJ? I was looking in my latest Quadratec Catalog and I saw a complete front D44 assembly for $3800. This also included the 4.56 gears and an ARB. Is that a decent price for a complete assembly?

 

[gumbojeepyj]

yea but if you notice it uses your existing D30 knuckles and outters....same a rubi 44

dynatrac, currie, sunray....

or waggy front and get out the welder....:flipoff2:

OR run the fawkin D30..it'll hold up decently. just dont get ass crazy with it

OR find a pre2000 XJ D30... HP and a good bit stronger...

 

[mathewsmq1]

Thanks gumbojeepyj. I would love to let the 30 in for now, but I hate to invest in the new gearing (4.56) and ARB's, only to swap everything out for a 44 later down the road. Guess I'll break the news to my wife that the Winter project is gonna be a little more expensive that I originally told her

 

[mathewsmq1]

I just checked out the Currie 44. If I'm figuring everything out correctly on their website, I could get a Currie front 44 assembly with 4.56 gears, ARB, and everything installed and set for under $3,000. That doesn't seem too bad.

 

[Beat95YJ]

I ran 35's on my stock 30 front end for 3 years. I lived near placerville and wheeled at least 3 weekends a month all year. Rubicon, Hammers, Moab etc. The only problem I ever had was a chipped tooth on the ring gear once, 4.56:1

I had no plans to change it but a friend of mine put her 3.5 ft in the air coming out of a bomb crater in JV. Bent the housing to hell

I now have a Currie HP 44. The brakes, spindles, bearings, stub axles are the same as the 30. I personally believe this is strong enough because I am not real easy on the equipment.

I have run the stock 44 for 6 years. I broke the cross shaft in the ARB years ago. Other than that no problems.

Neither of these problems left the car stranded. And for how hard I used it, it didn't seem like excessive repairs.

 

[Dan-H]

I know several running 35s on a stock TJ D30, myself included with very few problems. If you don't drive stupid it holds up fine.

and if you have a 5speed, you want 4.88s.

since you don't have any $$$ in your 30, now is the time to put in a better front axle, just make sure to add up all the costs... don't overlook steering, brake upgrades, new wheels for the 5 on 5.5" and reworking the rear for 5 on 5.5"

But, unless you go with alloy shafts and CTMs, a front 44 won't be any stronger than the 297 axle joint which is the same as the D30.

Personally, If I were gonna toss down 4K on a front axle it would be an Hi pinion 60.

 

[DrCJ83]

I have wheeled with this guy many times. The stock TJ30 stood up to some major abuse with 35's. Actually he broke the rear 44 twice before he had a problem up front. With the Currie HP 44 no problems what so ever. Oh and he can brake a steel ball in a rubber room. Should have been a test dummy.

I ran 35's on my stock 30 front end for 3 years. I lived near placerville and wheeled at least 3 weekends a month all year. Rubicon, Hammers, Moab etc. The only problem I ever had was a chipped tooth on the ring gear once, 4.56:1

I had no plans to change it but a friend of mine put her 3.5 ft in the air coming out of a bomb crater in JV. Bent the housing to hell

I now have a Currie HP 44. The brakes, spindles, bearings, stub axles are the same as the 30. I personally believe this is strong enough because I am not real easy on the equipment.

I have run the stock 44 for 6 years. I broke the cross shaft in the ARB years ago. Other than that no problems.

Neither of these problems left the car stranded. And for how hard I used it, it didn't seem like excessive repairs.

 

[Beat95YJ]

Actually he broke the rear 44 twice before he had a problem up front. Should have been a test dummy.

Yeah but the TJ looked wicked doing wheelies:flipoff2: Never seen anyone else do it.

 

[ROCK HUGGER]

I had no plans to change it but a friend of mine put her 3.5 ft in the air coming out of a bomb crater in JV. Bent the housing to hell

s.

I told you to not let him drive your Jeep :flipoff2: It was cool seeing it fly through the air like that I think Robbie Gordon would have been impressed

 

[Beat95YJ]

I told you to not let him drive your Jeep :flipoff2: It was cool seeing it fly through the air like that I think Robbie Gordon would have been impressed

I'm not the one who cried "please don't kill us" all the way back to camp:crybaby2: If only his crap would have built some speed.

Jeep looks damn impressive that high in the air though.