Topic: Chance to get an axle for a good price

[lax22]

I have the chance to get a High Pinion Dana 30, with 4.56 gears, lock-right, and a Rubicon Express tie rod and drag link for 300 and its near my house. What do you guys think, He said it will need new calipers and brake stuff and i was not planning on gearing to 4.56's but i think this is one hell of a deal.

[Jeffy]

I'd say it's an OK deal.  Stock axle, even with lower gears aren't really high priced.  $250-500 depending on what's been done.  if you want to go with 4.56's then it could be a good deal since regears would easily cost double that.

As for the calipers and brakes, you could easily swap your stuff onto it.  Keep track of the years of the axle.  They changed wheel bearings and shims on certain years I think.  Although if you swap them in pairs it should be a problem.

[dexetr30]

Sounds like a good deal to me. Next spring I'll be looking for some Rubi axles. I'd like to have it ready for next years 21st Annual TOYO TIRES Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania next July.

[lax22]

Well thats my other problem, I really want to do the 8.8 inch in the rear and a rubi 44 up front. I am wondering if i should just save up and get that done since the rear is more importaint and the 44 front is stronger. then go with some 5.13s instead to turn the 33s better and maybe even bump up to 35s. That would be my ultimate goal so i am wondering if i should waste my time and money.

[Jeffy]

Well thats my other problem, I really want to do the 8.8 inch in the rear and a rubi 44 up front. I am wondering if i should just save up and get that done since the rear is more importaint and the 44 front is stronger. then go with some 5.13s instead to turn the 33s better and maybe even bump up to 35s. That would be my ultimate goal so i am wondering if i should waste my time and money.

You'll probably never make any money on the axles if you bought them regeared then sold them.  I'd wait and do it all at once.  If you're not hurting now then you can wait.

[neale_rs]

If you are planning to get a D44 front eventually I would recommend not getting this D30 and just going straight to your ultimate goal.

[dexetr30]

If you are planning to get a D44 front eventually I would recommend not getting this D30 and just going straight to your ultimate goal.

I agree with this. Otherwise you'll spend more $$ than you need to when all is said and done.

[lax22]

Yeah thats what i am thinking, mind as well go for the gold.

[oldjeep]

What's the advantage of the rubicon front?   The shafts and all the outers are basically the same as a dana 30, the gear strength is about the same as a high pinion dana 30.  Only plus is the air locker, but if you need to buy gears they are special rubicon only D44 gears.

[admin]

What's the advantage of the rubicon front?   The shafts and all the outers are basically the same as a dana 30, the gear strength is about the same as a high pinion dana 30.  Only plus is the air locker, but if you need to buy gears they are special rubicon only D44 gears.

Yes and no.  The inner shafts are 1.30" along with all the innards.  The outers are D30 though.  Still, you're gaining strength by changing out the R&P and innards.  Biggest advantage is being able to regear to 5.13's or 5.38's.  I'd pass on the Rubicon locker and use a standard D44 locker.  Rubicon lockers do not have a carrier ratio split and use the high for both high (numerically low) and low gears.  Not to mention the Rubicon D44's are limited to 5.13's unless you put a shim behind the ring gear.

[dexetr30]

Not to hi-jack the thread but... I was thinking Rubi 44's because of a few reasons. 1. Ease of installation. 2. Already have the air lockers in them and I want to be able to switch my lockers on and off since it's my DD. 3. I don't ever see myself going numerically higher than 4.56-4.88's with 33's. At this point I could use another 1" of suspension lift and maybe a 1" on the body if I get the axles I want.

[neale_rs]

In my case, since I won't go above 33 inch tires, the Rubicon front would be the easiest way to get a front D44. Even though not as strong as a regular D44, it is still a good upgrade.  According to Jim Allen (article in a 4wd hardware catalog) it can handle 35 inch tires vs. the high pinion D30 with large u-joints that he rates at 33 inches.

[lax22]

The ease of install and the selectible locker would be what i want. I am not going to be killing this thing off road so a rubi axle would do me fine up front, out back i want the 8.8 trying to see what the cost would be to have one built and researching as well. I would like to just gather all the parts and take it to a good off road shop and have them put it all together so i know its done right, as in weliding the housing and getting the parking brake figured out. So that when i get it back all i have to do is put it in. May cost more than i thought but if i spread it out over some time it might not hit my wallet so hard.

[Shawn_c]

In my case, since I won't go above 33 inch tires, the Rubicon front would be the easiest way to get a front D44. Even though not as strong as a regular D44, it is still a good upgrade.  According to Jim Allen (article in a 4wd hardware catalog) it can handle 35 inch tires vs. the high pinion D30 with large u-joints that he rates at 33 inches.

I personally wouldn't put much stock in what that guy is saying. The thing that normally breaks isn't the "innards" it's the U-joint.  Many people succesfully run 35's on a dana 30 with ZERO problems.   I myself have run 36" TSL's on one locked with no issues.  The main issue with the axle is that the yokes on the stock axles aren't heat treated and are prone to stretching.  This allows the U-joint to twist and break or take the yoke with it in many cases.  This will happen on a rubi 44 or a TJ 30.   The fix for it is simply buying chormoly shafts and a high strength U-joint.  The ring and pinion on the rubi will be stronger, but thats not normally a problem on a 30 anyway.  A rubi 44 is alot of money for not alot of strength gain then you end up with a low pinoin front end anyway, which is not ideal for off roading.  But the lower gear options would really help out a 4 banger rig.  Thats the only reason I have considered the swap.

As for the $300 deal.  Sounds like a great deal to me.  Your stock TJ calipers and rotors will swap right on there.  I wouldn't try and mix and match because certain years of TJ and XJ's came with thicker or thinner rotors.

[chardrc]

x2 on what shawn said. meet a guy at moab that had the stock shafts go bad 3 times before he bought the hardend ones ( the first three were under warranty).