Super Dana 30/Hybrid Dana30.44/Dana 44hp/Dana44lp which option?

[rockwerks]

I know the TJ with its low pinion and 4.88 gears likes to eat teeth. I just wonder how many stock gear ratio (4.10 or less) HP Dana 30 gears ever let go before the good shafts break. It is a poll I should probably post on a jeep furom, might have some interesting answers. I have my doubts that there are less than half a dozen HP Dana 30's in the whole world where someone actually upgraded the carrier to 30 spline, renforced the axle tubes, and install cromo axles with improved joints and still run an OEM gear set. There is almost always a re gear involved at that level, then there is a question of lower gearing pinion diameter/tooth contact, gear manufacturing quality and gear setup. With that said I still don't feel good about being the ginnie pig to prove my theory

I have built half a dozen myself. Most of the time I did not install chromo shafts TNT customs sells awsome trusses for both the dana 44 or the dana 30. I am not saying the dana 30 is the end all axle but they will hold their own when built correctly. The last XJ a I built had HP dana 60's front and rear

 

[RangerSVT]

Not to encourage you one way or the other, but I can help you out if you decide to go with the LP 44...I have a set of 411 gears out of my LP 44 I'm building. I have not removed them yet, but I do have my gears to replace it, so if you want them, $75 and their yours. They are not really for sale just yet, but if you want them, you can have first dibs.
SVT

 

[Toreadorranger]

I have built half a dozen myself. Most of the time I did not install chromo shafts TNT customs sells awsome trusses for both the dana 44 or the dana 30. I am not saying the dana 30 is the end all axle but they will hold their own when built correctly. The last XJ a I built had HP dana 60's front and rear

I have personally seen HP D30 gear sets break on 33" and smaller tires. Even broke a set on stock 30" street tires. Cherokees come to my friends house to die. That being said, stick with a 44 center section, even a LP44 is stronger then a HP30. HP only adds so much strength where the physical dimension of the ring gear adds alot more. Sure you can build a D30 to "catch up" to a D44, but your still stuck with a weak housing, small brakes and small R&P.

 

[rockwerks]

I have personally seen HP D30 gear sets break on 33" and smaller tires. Even broke a set on stock 30" street tires. Cherokees come to my friends house to die. That being said, stick with a 44 center section, even a LP44 is stronger then a HP30. HP only adds so much strength where the physical dimension of the ring gear adds alot more. Sure you can build a D30 to "catch up" to a D44, but your still stuck with a weak housing, small brakes and small R&P.

I have seen Dana 60 R&P do the same thing, not being able to drive and trashing things for fun has little to do with the real world.

There are hundreds of thousands of jeeps out there with large tires and hitting the trails everyday with dana 30's

 

[Toreadorranger]

I have seen Dana 60 R&P do the same thing, not being able to drive and trashing things for fun has little to do with the real world.

There are hundreds of thousands of jeeps out there with large tires and hitting the trails everyday with dana 30's

Im not talking 1-2 ring and pinions, Im talking in the 8-9 range. A 30-31" tire no matter how hard we beat it, should not be stripping ring and pinions. Specially with no traction on street tires. Stock shafts should be popping left and right but not RP's. My buddies dad has a YJ with a built to the hilt front D30. full Warn hub kit with Alloy USA shafts, cryoed 4.88's. Pinions never break, the ring gear always strips out the teeth and its an open diff too. hes gone through 4 of them. This is with 37" MTR's. Doesnt break shafts just RP. As said before a D44 is a better choice hands down. The benefits are too great all around the board over a D30.

 

[NMB2]

i agree, I broke the shit out of my HP30 w/ 33's and 35's. I actually broke every single part on it at least 1 time.

 

[2.3splash]

I ended up going with a LP dana 44. The dodge Dana Housing is narrowed, pinion angled up 10 deg more than stock, and housing moved to drivers side. The following parts have been ordered, an Aurburn ECTED. Superior Chromo Axles and Spicer 760 u joints with full circle snap rings. To get the axle lengths needed for my combo I ended up with the EB upgrade long inner axle, a 2003 Rubicon 30 spline Short inner axle, and F150 outer axles. I also ordered the Aurburn ECTED for my rear explorer 8.8 too.

I feel the low pinon will be my best combo for strength, and oil pan/ cross member clearance, added bonus is the dodge dana 44 has super thickwall axle tubes. I choose the Aurburn electric lockers for there price and the only real complaints I have found about them are mostly around the D30 units which don't always hold like a spool when locked. The larger diffs, 8.8 and 44, seem to have lots of happy customers with a few noting that in a really tight high torque situation the Ected has slipped even when locked. In small amounts this seems to not damage the locker and will probably work to save my spicer 760 u joints or my stock Explorer 31 spline rear axles.

Thank you for all your input. I will try to post some pics soon of the build.

 

[rockwerks]

I ended up going with a LP dana 44. The dodge Dana Housing is narrowed, pinion angled up 10 deg more than stock, and housing moved to drivers side. The following parts have been ordered, an Aurburn ECTED. Superior Chromo Axles and Spicer 760 u joints with full circle snap rings. To get the axle lengths needed for my combo I ended up with the EB upgrade long inner axle, a 2003 TJ 30 spline Short inner axle, and F150 outer axles. I also ordered the Aurburn ECTED for my rear explorer 8.8 too.

I feel the low pinon will be my best combo for strength, and oil pan/ cross member clearance, added bonus is the dodge dana 44 has super thickwall axle tubes. I choose the Aurburn electric lockers for there price and the only real complaints I have found about them are mostly around the D30 units which don't always hold like a spool when locked. The larger diffs, 8.8 and 44, seem to have lots of happy customers with a few noting that in a really tight high torque situation the Ected has slipped even when locked. In small amounts this seems to not damage the locker and will probably work to save my spicer 760 u joints or my stock Explorer 31 spline rear axles.

Thank you for all your input. I will try to post some pics soon of the build.

Good choice and good luck

 

[RangerSVT]

Good choice Let me know if I can help you out with those gears
SVT

 

[slammer67]

I hope you took pics of the axle build

 

[2.3splash]

Good choice Let me know if I can help you out with those gears
SVT

I already have gears worked out for a good deal. But thanks