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230 Posts
Ok, so, here's the story:
I have 250,000 miles on a D30 front axle in my cherokee. I had a "clunk" that I thought was something else, but turned out to be caused from one of the caps on the Pass' side U joint falling completely off and the trunion banging around in the hole.
So, I figure: "No problem, one new U-joint coming right up.". But then I start wondering how much dammage was done to the mounting surface while the clunking was going on. (It was like that when I bought it a few months ago.)
So then I was thinking about replacing THAT too. And I start noticing that people who upgrade their front axle often sell the entire front D30 assembly (stearing and all) for next to free since nobody ever WANTS D30 front end.
So here is my question for any who care to converse. If it were your rig, would you :
1) Replace the U joint and run it 'til it blows up - replacing the whole axle at that point.
2) Replace the U and associated components and start saving for a front D44 later this year.
3) replace the entire front end with a lower milage D30, taking the oppurtunity to put a locker in it while it is "on the bench"
4) Run it with the clunk until I have enough to get a better front end.
5) Other cool sounding idea that I haven't mentioned
please note:
Yes, I will be receptive to posts mentioning any front axle you may be looking to sell.
For a bit of context, here is my current plan for this rig:
I expect that within the next 8 months this '89 XJ will have 2- 4 inches of lift with either 31's or 33's (depending on the lift being either 2 or 4). I am going to put very low gears in it ( 4.88 isn't usually considered VERY low, but with 31's or 33's that should do the trick. ) with the intention of having a truck that sits around all week and then is a weekend toy. I still want it street legal, so I can use it to haul stuff to the dump, and get me to work in foul weather (it floods often where I live and my Daily Driver is low to the ground) But I don't intend this to be driven on the street much.
So what would you do?
I have 250,000 miles on a D30 front axle in my cherokee. I had a "clunk" that I thought was something else, but turned out to be caused from one of the caps on the Pass' side U joint falling completely off and the trunion banging around in the hole.
So, I figure: "No problem, one new U-joint coming right up.". But then I start wondering how much dammage was done to the mounting surface while the clunking was going on. (It was like that when I bought it a few months ago.)
So then I was thinking about replacing THAT too. And I start noticing that people who upgrade their front axle often sell the entire front D30 assembly (stearing and all) for next to free since nobody ever WANTS D30 front end.
So here is my question for any who care to converse. If it were your rig, would you :
1) Replace the U joint and run it 'til it blows up - replacing the whole axle at that point.
2) Replace the U and associated components and start saving for a front D44 later this year.
3) replace the entire front end with a lower milage D30, taking the oppurtunity to put a locker in it while it is "on the bench"
4) Run it with the clunk until I have enough to get a better front end.
5) Other cool sounding idea that I haven't mentioned
please note:
Yes, I will be receptive to posts mentioning any front axle you may be looking to sell.
For a bit of context, here is my current plan for this rig:
I expect that within the next 8 months this '89 XJ will have 2- 4 inches of lift with either 31's or 33's (depending on the lift being either 2 or 4). I am going to put very low gears in it ( 4.88 isn't usually considered VERY low, but with 31's or 33's that should do the trick. ) with the intention of having a truck that sits around all week and then is a weekend toy. I still want it street legal, so I can use it to haul stuff to the dump, and get me to work in foul weather (it floods often where I live and my Daily Driver is low to the ground) But I don't intend this to be driven on the street much.
So what would you do?
