Topic: Front axle for 5.36 gears?

[Bob416]

in the next few months ill probably be looking into gettin rid of my stock D30/D35 to something a bit stronger. eventually i want to have 35's or 36's but in the mean time i dont wanna buy a locker or gears for an axle that ill be getting rid of.

Im pretty sure ill get either a ford 8.8" or 9" rear depending on what i can find but my problem is with the front. i know a D44 would be plenty strong enough but that would limit me to 4.88 gears and i dont think thatll be low enough. does anyone know what the cheapest axle is that will fit 5.36's? i think a D44 high pinion will work but im not sure where to find one that would fit and keep the same bolt pattern

[Mozman68]

The D30 will limit you to that...but the 44 will let you go lower....

[neale_rs]

You can get 5.38 for a Dana 44.  The D30 is the one limited to 4.88.

http://www.4wheelerssupply.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/470_496_23_410/sort/2a/page/2?osCsid=a54a958f1edb1ef9898f07398c9bdb35

[oldjeep]

A "real" dana 44 (both high and low pinion) will take 5.38 gears.  The Rubicon (I wish I were really a D44) only goes down to 5.13

[neale_rs]

Is this limitation of the Rubicon due to the stock carrier with the special 4.10 gears?  Can it use 5.38 if the carrier is changed?

[oldjeep]

Is this limitation of the Rubicon due to the stock carrier with the special 4.10 gears?  Can it use 5.38 if the carrier is changed?

If you tossed out the rubicon locker and used a standard D44 carrier then you could use 5.38 gears.  If you did that, what's the point of keeping the rubicon 44?

[neale_rs]

Sounds like it could be about the same price to put in a real D44 in that case, especially if you sold the Rubi axle to offset the cost.  Might even come out ahead.

[oldjeep]

Sounds like it could be about the same price to put in a real D44 in that case, especially if you sold the Rubi axle to offset the cost.  Might even come out ahead.

There's really no point in doing that.   A dana 30 with alloy shafts is pretty close to being as strong as a Dana 44 in all the important ways.  A d30 stub is stronger than a d44 stub - the inners on a 30 are slightly weaker.  I havn't heard of anyone ever breaking HP D30 ring gears, so the d44 gears being stronger is irrelevant.  Balljoints on a real 44 are stronger - only ever seen someone shear off a balljoint on a D30 once.

[neale_rs]

I always learn a lot here.  In my own case, I'll stick with my D30, maybe one day get alloy axles.  For lower gearing I'm thinking about an SM420 and engine swap.

[Jeffy]

There are a few choices.  One is to get a Rubicon D44 core and put your own carrier in it.  You'll be able to reuse your outer knuckles, outer shafts, brakes, etc...  Then all you'd need to do is get gears and the inner shafts.  That would probably be the easiest.

Next option would be to get a D44 from something like a SJ or a Early Bronco.  These will be the wrong bolt pattern for your rear axle.  You'll need to either get adapters and run new wheels or else drill the flanges and run the larger pattern.  Best to go with a SJ since you need to upgrade both axles anyway. 

Other option would be to go big and get a D60/70 combo from a Ford F-350.  You'd be going full width but you can fix that with some negative offset wheels.  This would be equivalent to you running 3.75" BS on stock axles.  Not cheap but a good increase in strength.

Also, if you're planning on going with super low gears like an Atlas 4, Klune or and engine swap, then you'd be better off with a D44 then a 30.

[neale_rs]

Do you think the combination of a GM 4.3 V6 with an SM420 which would give me a crawl ratio of 7.0 X 2.72 X 4.56 = 86.8 would be too much for a stock D30?  How about a D30 with alloy axles?

[oldjeep]

Do you think the combination of a GM 4.3 V6 with an SM420 which would give me a crawl ratio of 7.0 X 2.72 X 4.56 = 86.8 would be too much for a stock D30?  How about a D30 with alloy axles?

That's going to depend on tire size/weight and driving style.  Friend of mine ran a 4.0L/5 speed/Atlas with 37's for years on a d30 without problems, but he was a very technical driver.   While I used to run a 225/TH400/D18 on 37's and was snapping D44 stub shafts like they were made out of glass.

[neale_rs]

I guess I'll just have to try it some day and see what happens.  In general I try not to be too hard on vehicles and the tire size would be just 33 inches.

[oldjeep]

I guess I'll just have to try it some day and see what happens.  In general I try not to be too hard on vehicles and the tire size would be just 33 inches.

That should work just fine.  I'm running 35's on big heavy wheels with a stock disconnect D30 and a drive by braile style.  So far no breakage.

[Bob416]

thanks for the speedy replies every1! i think ill look for a rubi 44 and if i decide that i really need somethin more than 5.13's then ill only have to worry about switchin out the carrier