You didn't have your bearings set up right. It took me quite awhile (years actually) to learn how to set up 35 bearings correctly when running large tires. With some trial and error, help from Junkie and MAKG, I've got my bearings set up so they'll last for years. I've been DD'ing my truck for about a year with the current bearing setup. I'm running 35s on a 10" wide rim with 4.5" BS. I had the front jacked up the other day and the tires turn just like they did a year ago when I set the bearings up. Junkie and Todd both run 35+ tires and have reliable bearing setups.
As far as the strength of the 35 vs. the 30, it isn't a matter of opinion. For the most part the 35 is stronger all around. And if we're talking the majority of 30s (1995 and down) the 35 is substantially stronger.
If I had a D28 in my truck and access to a free D30, I might consider swapping a 30 in. But you can get a stronger bolt-on 35 dirt cheap at most yards, and 44s can be had for cheap most places. If you're gonna spend something on a SAS, might as well get something that's reasonably strong and has lockout hubs.
he hehehehehehhehehe...
dont set my bearings up right
mah hahahahahahahahaah...
thats fukin funny shit right there.
i have to say the d35 rules for changing axle shafts...dirtier then a d30 but i can do it faster.
granted,
i was driving in serious heavy detroit/toledo/cincinati traffic.....i would drive 100 plus mph for hrs sometimes stopping twice for fuel between detroit and cinci... with a ranger that weighs 5500-7000 pounds loaded with tools and material...so thats way past a d35's expected ability...still even lightly loaded the heavy traffic and brake heat was murder...
drive the truck 30-60 k year too...
with 35's the bearings brakes and balljoints/steering were in constant need of attention...constant constant constant need. but with 456 gears i was stuck with the fawkers..
the "good " d30's are what i am rferring too...they are available in mass where i was living...for every d44 there were dozens of 30's..and quite a few 10 bolts...very very rare a 60.
the d35 is hard to find these days in the yards in good condtion..the center slips usualy are fused and they are rotted at the pinchbolts..and on and on...
but thats just in my hood....there was a time when the d35 was the most common front axle that was usable and i was liking it. but those days have past.
considering i have been packing and properly setting up bearings since before rangers were even invented....and have been warping and loosing lugs out of the rotors amongst other failures and generally have no issues with setup....i have had 44 knuckles on and off with no issues even with 38's..though they were not really used on the road...problem with those is i have to give up clearance as i did not have 6 in pivot holes.
i dont think its me setting up my bearings wrong dude.
not even a consideration....35's were just too big to run the roads with in city traffic 100-200 miles a day...on and off job sites full of gooey mud and skytrac ruts ect....35's in these condidtions dramatically shorten the life of the bearings...its impossible to keep them balanced in these conditions even with my dyna beads..
where comparativly, 33's in at's will last indefinatly....no issues at all.
d30 is a great axle.....for conversions. i sure as fawk would not trade my 35 for one...but if i had a 2wd...
but if sas is the goal its cheap easy and not a big loss of strength ime.
you use your trucks like i use mine and those bearings and rotor hubs are doomed....i cant see you driving 200 miles a day and not having issues unless your tires are perfectly balanced and never leave the pavement.....i didnt shitcan my 35 cause i wanted a straight axle...though it was inevitable due to parts supply shrinking...it was the 8.8 i was killing that made me change...
and thats saying alot for the d35 right there.
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