Dana 35 strength

[swynx]

My buddy was asking me how hard you can beat on the Dana 35 with 33s before breaking. I told him some run 37. But he wants story's I guess.

 

[bigmark303]

What Dana 35 setup? TTB or IFS. The Dana 35 ring and pinion doesn't seem to be an issue. The axle shafts, joints, hubs, wheel bearings, ball joints, and other parts seem to be the weak points.

I use 4x4 every day with two of my Dana 35 TTB trucks. One has 33x10.50 and the other had 33x10.50 and now has 35x10.50. To be honest ive never had an issue at all. Not only do I make the Dana 35 front end rotate those larger tires in 4x4 all day, but do that with 1,000-1,500lbs extra weight in the bed 90% of the time.

I Don't at all like the IFS dana 35 front ends 1998+. Ive tried using my 1999 for the same work as my 1997s and something always breaks. Nothing related to the ring and pinion, but I can always expect a shredded bushing, bad wheel bearing, junk plastic hubs popping off, or any other front end suspension related part. Ive bent a few control arms as well.

 

[PlumCrazy]

It all depends on what you consider "beating on it". If you are just driving through some mud holes with an open diff you will be fine, but like any D35/D28 TTB you will need to keep an eye the wheel bearings and make sure the nut didn't back off.

If you lock it and/or start getting into serious gear reduction and pushing limits on solid obstacles...then it will self destruct.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I have a buddy that wheels a 4.0 BII with the Hybrid 35/28 on 31" Boggers and he does his best to conquer obstacles must 37" guys struggle on...what he lacks in tire size, he makes up with wheel speed and a lack of f*cks given. He is yet to break a hybrid shaft (only about 5/8" at the pig), but he is open diff and has a stiff suspension so he lifts front tire a lot taking the stress off.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I have taken my 35 to play in rocks and with my 37's I'm guaranteed bearing replacement every time. As for the axle it holds just fine. I exploded a hub once so far.

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[swynx]

He was asking about the ttb. He's a jeep guy looking at an explorer. He has 35s on his xj and beats on it pretty well. He's going across stuff guys on 40s do. Gets air borne from time to time. And yes locked.

 

[bobbywalter]

He was asking about the ttb. He's a jeep guy looking at an explorer. He has 35s on his xj and beats on it pretty well. He's going across stuff guys on 40s do. Gets air borne from time to time. And yes locked.

not sure if he will like the ex over the xj, but the ex will take more abuse in the end stock.


xj much more balanced machine too.

 

[swynx]

Ya I told him he had no worries running 33s locked.

 

[4x4junkie]

Lot of opinions being bantered back & forth in this thread about the D35 and the D30 under Jeeps...
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148460

38s have been done by a few here on the TTB D35, and one guy on here I seem to recall was even running 39.5s. I personally don't recommend bigger than 37s on the axle on a BII, 2-door Explorer or 4-cyl Ranger, and 35s if it's under a Supercab Ranger or 4-door Explorer.

I've had 35s on my BII and pushing 10 years now it's been almost 100% trouble-free (which I'm actually a little surprised myself, I had been expecting at least one busted shaft every few years given my past history of breaking the D44 under my Ranger currently... probably goes to show the difference in weight between the two trucks).

The D35's wheel bearings can be finicky for sure, though it's fully possible to make them last no problem. Big thing is to use good quality bearings (Timken SET-37 or OEM), don't ever mix bearings & races (get rid of the POS races in any new rotors you buy), and don't overtighten the bearing preload on them (but do tighten the outer locknut to 225ft-lbs if it has manual hubs on it).

 

[swynx]

Well a 39.5 is a big tire.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah it is...

I think the guy played only in mud pits, as I seem to recall an avatar pic of a truck covered in mud. I can't recall his username unfortunately (maybe someone else here remembers?)

Warrlord was a user here a few years back, had 38" TSLs on a Supercab with a big winch bumper hanging off the front too. I seem to recall he broke a shaft maybe once year or so rockcrawling with a Detroit locker up front, then eventually downsized to 36s. I recall he was going to do a D60 swap and maybe go to 40s, but I haven't heard anything in awhile.

 

[swynx]

Think I saw that avatar yesterday. That'd all good news. I'm light footed. Cuz I'm too broke to replace any thing. Seems to be all about your lead foot. Which is good news. I was telling him that I can get chromoly shafts for the Dana 35 too. Should make it alot stronger

 

[PlumCrazy]

Where are you getting ahold of TTB chromos?

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[swynx]

I emailed branikmotorsports ans they said they would make them for 250

 

[PlumCrazy]

I emailed branikmotorsports ans they said they would make them for 250

Thats cheaper than a 44 and they mass produce those, not mention they have two shafts less.....IDK how they could possibly be that cheap.

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