Dana 30 SAS

[Jakob3453]

Hello, I'm starting to do an axle swap on my 88 Bronco II with a dana 30 out of a jeep cherokee. I'm posting to get some advice on the best way to tackle this and maybe a list of what parts I'm going to need to be able to make it a mostly bolt on job.

 

[Curious Hound]

This is a project with a good bit of fabrication involved. There are several articles in our tech library that will get you started.

Axle Tech - The Ranger Station

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www.therangerstation.com

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site. Why not use a 90 or newer axle. They're a Dana 35 instead of a Dana 28.

 

[4x4junkie]

Welcome to the site. Why not use a 90 or newer axle. They're a Dana 35 instead of a Dana 28.

I would certainly suggest this as well. It's a step ahead of the Dana30 in strength, and is almost entirely bolt-on. You just need the donor axle and steering linkage from the correct Ranger or Explorer, and to shorten your front driveshaft one inch (it can be made fully 100% bolt-in if you also get a 1990+ front driveshaft & t-case, could be an opportunity to swap to a manual-shift t-case if yours is electric-shift).

If you're dead-set on a solid beam axle, then just keep in mind, a D30 isn't the best axle to use, but is still an upgrade over the D28. With the light weight of a BII (compared to, say, a Supercab Ranger), the D30 does have a chance of survival with 33" or so tires if you treat it well (35" tires if you find a '95 or newer D30 having the larger u-joints).

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

I'm swapping my D30 out for a D44. The D30 has been good to me, but at the end of the day its not a D44. yes the newer ones have the same size u joints and yes i get it, but do a side by side picture of the D30 compared to a D44. Its like a D60 compared to a D44. That's my opinion and I have a D30 swapped rig.

 

[Jakob3453]

I would certainly suggest this as well. It's a step ahead of the Dana30 in strength, and is almost entirely bolt-on. You just need the donor axle and steering linkage from the correct Ranger or Explorer, and to shorten your front driveshaft one inch (it can be made fully 100% bolt-in if you also get a 1990+ front driveshaft & t-case, could be an opportunity to swap to a manual-shift t-case if yours is electric-shift).

If you're dead-set on a solid beam axle, then just keep in mind, a D30 isn't the best axle to use, but is still an upgrade over the D28. With the light weight of a BII (compared to, say, a Supercab Ranger), the D30 does have a chance of survival with 33" or so tires if you treat it well (35" tires if you find a '95 or newer D30 having the larger u-joints).

I am aware that the D30 is not the best solid axle on the market, but to my knowledge, the D44 is wider. which, at the moment, I don't plan on swapping the rear as well, maybe in a few years,and when my bronco isn't my daily I might, plus I don't wheel too hard and mostly do trails. but if decide to, the dufftuff long arm kit that am interested in can be fitted to a D44.

(edit): I plan on collecting the parts for refurbishing and the mounting parts for the D30 over the next 6-12 months.