Tell me if I should buy this jeep dana 30

[PRanger]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/3013479681.html

Lookin to offer him maybe $350 for just the front dana 30

Is a dana 30 from a jeep harder or easier than others or what is the easiest on a 98'?

 

[4.0B2]

IF you want a d30, that's probably the idea one... non-CAD, its high pinon...


however, IMO for $350 i'd be looking for a d44. stock d30's go for like $100-150 here, unless its 4.10 geared or has aftermarket stuff on it already, then its closer to $200 or more (depends on mods).



and for your sas... non of them are probably any harder than others... some might be more work, like moving in spring pads, welding on radius arm mounts or control arm mounts... or other setting it up factors. the d30 is closer to the right width than MOST other axles, but not all...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

$350 sounds like the price of a parts Jeep to me...

 

[Captain Ledd]

I paid $400 for an entire, complete jeep XJ once.

Unless that axle has a bunch of obviously new parts on it, with reciepts, I'd walk away. That's too damn expensive.

 

[94 lngbd]

The plus side is that the D30 has the same bolt pattern. I would offer the guy $150 & see what happens. More then likely its a stock set up & probably doesn't have 4.10 gears.

 

[Freshmeat]

That's a JK axle set. $1k should get you axles with gears and a locker.

JKs have 65" WMS. This means they are as wide as a full size Ford (78/79 Bronco) axle.

These are 5x5 lug pattern. NOT 5x4.5.

$350 won't get you anywhere close to a D44 front to match that rear.

The housings are weak- you'd need to get a truss/gusset kit, which is ~$200 and a couple hours of welding. To give you an idea, my Jeep has 7200 miles on it, 5k of which was on 35s. I already need to strevgthen the axle because it's showing signs of bending.

Don't buy that axle.

 

[4.0B2]

Ha. That is a jk 30. It says 2009 jeep in the title. I didn't even notice that.

Yeah, don't buy that 30. Find a 96ish XJ 30 if you want the d30

 

[Freshmeat]

Yes. XJ (Cherokee) Dana 30 is ideal. It's high pinion so a lot stronger than a Wrangler low pinion D30.

2000-01 Cherokee had low pinion D30 also, so avoid those.

 

[88_Eddie]

i wouldnt pay $1000 for those axles unless they had solid gold axleshafts, or came with a good looking lady with a decent rack.

i just paid $150 for D30 with the steering linkage, track bar and 373 gears. you can find them less than $100 around here all day long (but with 3.07's or 3.54's or some other useless ratio)

 

[Freshmeat]

Older D30s are still cheap here as well. The difference is that this is a JK axle. It's the current model so it's all still expensive.

Still, we have a local selling a set with 5.13s, new everything, and gussets, braces, etc for $1k.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Before I spent a grand on those I would rather go get me an old one ton and fix the problem completly... much like the guy selling them did.

 

[88_Eddie]

Older D30s are still cheap here as well. The difference is that this is a JK axle. It's the current model so it's all still expensive.

this is true

but like 85_ranger is saying, you could buy tons for that price, even here.

 

[Freshmeat]

No joke. For the price one could absolutely one ton it.

 

[4.0B2]

The beauty of the jk 44's are the gears and lockers

 

[88_Eddie]

IIRC, 98 is when ford went to IFS, right?

a 30 would be almost as much work as any other SAS. but the good about the 30's is that they dont require narrowing if you dont want a FW axle.

you may need to find a new steering box though