Front end

[tj97jeepster]

Well I opened my diff cover the other day to drain the gear oil and found a broken tooth off my ring gear. I have a Dana 30 in my jeep now. I want to beef up the front end. But i don't know what front ends would fit in my TJ. I have an 8.8 for the rear behind my shed. I am just waiting for the 35 to break. Does anyone have any suggestions for this issue in the front. 

thanks,
Steve

 

[NomadJeep]

Dana 44 out of Wagoneer.

Build up the 30 you have.

Get a HP Dana 30 out of an XJ

Dana 44 out of a Rubi

plus many more...


all depends on your wallet.

If your looking to fix what you got, call Pete at CT Axle.  Web site is up in the right corner. 

 

[tj97jeepster]

Well I had Pete do all the work before and he was great. I just wanted to know what my options are. Whats the difference between a HP 30 and a normal 30? Is the HP stonger or does it just have to high pinion. I would want to do it as cheap as i can but i want to get the most for my money. what other ways would i beable to build up my 30 now? I have the bigger u-joints. For the 44 out of a wagoneer do they make kits to weld on brackets and mounts?  thanks for the help.

steve

 

[petey]

I boke two teeth on my dana 30 when i was welding up the spiders gears and it feel off the work bench.  I installed it and wheeled it and had no isues.
JeepBig Has a waggy dana 44 in the front of his TJ.  He just cut off the old brakets and installed them on the Dana 44 he told me it took  awhile but it works and works well.  also rubicon exspress sell the brackets but a they are pricey.

 

[jipjip]

a hp d30 is a lot stronger than the stock tj 30. they came in the yj's and xj's for many years. the difference is the reverse cut gears needed for a hp axle. obviously if the pinion is at the top of the ring gear, instead of the bottom, the gears would turn backwards if it had regular gears, they use reverse cut gears in these axles, and they are a LOT stronger than low pinion axle gears are. i would advise going w/ a hp 30. it's cheap, and will handle 37's w/o issues.

 

[tj97jeepster]

Now if I went with a HP dana 30, would I be able to use the same arb locker or would i have to buy a new locker with ring and pinion. Do alot of people use the HP 30s or do they just switch to a 44 right away.

 

[ctaxle]

call me on the telle tomorrow. pete

 

[tj97jeepster]

Ok well... with all the Info that I have gotten so far and after I have talked to my brother. I think what I want to do is go with a dana 44. I think a hp 30 would be alittle easier to install but it will save on the up grades later on. The question is how much do they run for and how hard are they to convert over to the TJ mounts... Is the waggy the same size as the TJ? Do they come with disc breaks or is it easy to get disc for them? Sorry for all this but I am not the best with this stuff. so i am looking for the best way to do this?

Pete Ill give you a call tomorrow sometime and let you know what I am talking about.

thanks again for all this help,
steve

 

[jon]

pretty much same width as a TJ.

Leaf sprung so you have to completely set up the mounts.  all depends on how good you are with a welder,  and how well you can jig it all up

Waggy fronts = 12" disc brakes

one problem.  waggy 44 fronts are 6 lug on 5.5  you can convert them to 5 on 5.5 but 45 orn 4.5 is a pain.  and really weakens the axle.  So the only way that 8.8 will work is if you get custom shafts or redrilled flanges.

If you want a 44 front I would go waggy front  and isuzu rodeo 44 rear.  the isuzu is 6 lug,  disc braked, and you can get it with 4.10 or 4.30 gears and a Tracloc easily and for around $100

 

[tj97jeepster]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I think I made up my mind and I am just going to go with the dana 30 HP. This way its easy and I can still use the same air locker. If its as strong as you say it is then I hope it can handle my Q's.

thanks
steve

 

[beaker]

Talk to artie on the dana 30 hp front and q's.  He's got some experience.