Topic: D30 gear choices

[JeepGuyBill]

just wanna get something bout my axle clarified.  since i have a 95 yj, my front is the high pinion d30 not the low pinion, right?

now if it is a high pinion, what steeper gearsets can i choose from?
i've seen something that said the hpd30 can only go as steep as 4.56 gears, i was under the impression that i could go atleast to 4.88s, and i'm hoping i can use 5.13 or 5.38. 

[dexetr30]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but... I didn't think you could go higher than 4.88's in the D30 because the housing wasn't large enough.

[oldjeep]

4.88 are the lowest gears you can get for a HP D30.   I've got a set sitting on my workbench.

[JeepGuyBill]

ok, good to know, well if they are just sitting there, i may interrested in buying them eventually,  but i'm still not sure if i'm gonna go d30 and 8.8, or matching d44's

[Bounty Hunter]

4.88 is as low as you can go, here's a good source.

You would need to upgrade to a D44 for 5.13 or 5.38 gears.

I went with a Wagoneer front D44 and an Isuzu Rodeo rear D44 so I could have 5.38 gears and stronger axles.  Both axles are 6-lug and disc brakes.

[JeepGuyBill]

what are the stock widths of those 2 44's?

[Jeffy]

If you're going to go with tires larger then 33's or like the skinny pedal, I highly recommend upgrading the axles.  This will give you the proper ratios for 33's (5.13) and 35's (5.38).  Not to mention the added strength from going larger.  IIRC, Wagoneer D44's are something like 60 3/4" up front and 58 1/2" rear. 

[Bounty Hunter]

The Waggy front is the same as the YJ axle, and the 'Zu rear is about 1.5" narrower.  I used 1" wheel spacers on the rear but it's not mandatory.  The 'Zu is a good axle option to match the 6-lug waggy and to get 4whl disc brakes.  Very abundant in the yards.  I think JP mag just did an article on this very swap.

[Bounty Hunter]

Here's a shot of the front D44, and I'm running spools at both ends.  I run a funky disco D44 with a cable, but they are abundant without the disco.

[dexetr30]

Just to clear up my original post to this thread. I meant numerically higher. 

[chardrc]

do the leaf spring mounts on the waggy axles line up for a yj or is that all have to be custom welded?

[Bounty Hunter]

You will need to weld spring perches on most any axle on a custom installation.  The DS perch is generally reused as it is cast into the diff housing, and the PS perch is located in relation to the DS perch.

[neale_rs]

You will need to weld spring perches on most any axle on a custom installation.  The DS perch is generally reused as it is cast into the diff housing, and the PS perch is located in relation to the DS perch.

Seems to me this would only work if the perches are pretty close to the right location to begin with.  If they are too far apart originally, doing this would make the passenger side tire stick out too far, requiring cutting to the right width, rewelding the knuckles, etc.

[Bounty Hunter]

Your reasoning is fairly accurate, but doesn't take into account the wider body of the Waggy and the need to have a wider perch spacing, pushing the PS perch further outboard, to center the axle on a Waggy.  It really works out well on a YJ to put the DS pad close to the diff housing, but you should really measure and center the pads on the axle based on the YJ perch spacing.

My application is a little different because I used a Waggy disco D44 that has a slightly wider diff housing.

[JeepGuyBill]

k, couple Q's.  first,  what would  a normal shop charge for cutting/welding of spring perches and shock mounts?  i don't have a torch or welder yet, so i'll be paying for this =[

also,  for those of you running 35-37" tires,  how well do they turn with 4.88 gears?  and what gears are you running for this size tire that is working well?

i run stock 4.10's with my 33's, and i know i could be going a bit faster, i still think i turn the tires descent enough