Topic: Dana 30 welding spider gears with CAD

[Da_Skunk]

Questions. If I weld the spider gears in a Dana 30 and have a functioning CAD. This will work as a selectable locker in 4wd only? When in 2wd you should not notice it.

Thoughts?

[grumpygy]

There somewhere on here is a topic on this.  If memory serves me right the front drive shaft is not balanced.  If you put a locker or weld the front up you would pick up a vibration since the diff will now drive the shaft at speed.

Found it.

http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php/topic,10487.0.html

[jfrabat]

IIRC, BountyHunter runs this setup, and uses a cable operated CAD, so he can engage the "locker" when needed and runs in 3WD if disconnected and in 4H or 4L.  As for the DS, no, it is not balanced, but it is a simple matter of balancing.  I took my CAD out, and got a new DS in (Woody shaft).  Now my shaft spins all the time (even in 2H), and I have not had any issues.

[chardrc]

yes and no. in addition to the drive-shaft spinning in 2wd and balancing concerns, when you are in 4wd and have the CAD disconnected the jeep will pull to the left when you let the clutch out since that wheel will still be powered. not the worst thing in the world but takes some getting used to.

[Da_Skunk]

Thanks for the input. I'm fairly sure the front drive shaft spins when moving, how else would it work? The front drive shaft is disconnected in the transfer case.
Welding it up would give me 3 WD or 4 with the CAD working with a manual engage / disengage set up.

[jfrabat]

Thanks for the input. I'm fairly sure the front drive shaft spins when moving, how else would it work? The front drive shaft is disconnected in the transfer case.
Welding it up would give me 3 WD or 4 with the CAD working with a manual engage / disengage set up.

In 2H and with the CAD disconnected, the DS should not spin...

[sharpxmen]

In 2H and with the CAD disconnected, the DS should not spin...

it will with a spool or with spider gears welded (what he wants to do).

[jfrabat]

it will with a spool or with spider gears welded (what he wants to do).

In that case, yes.  I was talking about stock...

[Bounty Hunter]

I used to run my d30 welded with a manual vacuum disconnect. I now run a d44 with spool and cable operated disconnect.

Works great for me, for a poor-man's selectable locker   But I'm a little twisted and run a rear spool too, on a DD.

As for the front driveshaft not being balanced 'wives tale', mine had balance weights from the factory.  Jeep touts being able to do highway speeds in 4hi, not really possible unless the front driveshaft was balanced.  I think this is a rumor propagated by TJ owners lol.

[YJWralph]

I run a welded D30 and the front driveshaft does constantly spin.  I have found that if I keep the slip shaft full of grease, vibrations at 80+ km/h are minimal...