Yep another Dana 28?

[1RangerNut]

I was just wondering which is better on the Dana 28 or even the Dana 35 for that matter.

Do you break more axles with flexier suspension's that keep the tires on the ground (more traction) or with less flex (less traction) but have to "beat" on it more to make it up the same trail?

Also I know everyone is gonna say put a Dana 35 under it but would it help any to tact the caps, clearance the window, and trim the radius arm bolts on the 28?

Thanks: Steve

 

[4.0B2]

flex or nonflex is not the issue w/ the d28.. the issue is the pure weakness of it. trust me i've had a d28 leave me stranded on trails...

you can try to polish a turd but its still a turd.. but if you're not planning on replacing it any time soon you might as well weld the caps and all that jazz IF it needs to be done. but most ttb lift kits or stock you will not need an "opened window" b/c you simply don't have that much flex..

why would you trim radius arm bolts? this is the first i've heard of this...

 

[1RangerNut]

Yeah I know there weak but at the moment I have have 2 complete Dana 28's and some spare parts/axles.

I'll be running 6" SJ coils set at 4" of lift with extended radius arms.

And I've read you sometimes have to trim the inner radius arm bolts so they don't bind on the axles but that might only be the Dana 35's.

 

[4.0B2]

if you got parts for it and can do it for cheap/free... why not right? once you run out of 28 parts do the d35 swap. i guess... i have another d28 but since i'm regearing and doing the 8.8.. i'm just gonna do the d35 now to. i'm not buying gears for d28's... never.

 

[1RangerNut]

Thats kind of what I was thinking. Keep the D28 until my parts run out and then upgrade to the D35/8.8 with 5.13 gears and some lockers. Since I already have a D35 laying around.

 

[legoms013]

why would you trim radius arm bolts? this is the first i've heard of this...

Its pretty common, just as common as widening the window.

The radius arm bolts that go into the beam top and bottom need to be trimmed if you run a lot of flex, as soon as the contact the shafts say good bye to a u-joint or the shaft itself. Its basically a side load....

Mine show signs of touching in the past, but I don't wheel very often nor do I have tremendous flex so I haven't bothered to trim them flush with the welded insert.

I say ditch the 28 for a 35, much stronger and pretty plentiful and nearly bolt on.

 

[1RangerNut]

What about my flex no flex question? Just wonderin since it applies to both axles.

 

[4.0B2]

What about my flex no flex question? Just wonderin since it applies to both axles.

i think more flex will put stress on joints but having to hammer it b/c of lack of flex/traction is gonna put stress on everything..

why would you want less flex anyways? make that thing a slinky!

 

[1RangerNut]

I want more flex

It just entered my mind and I thought I'd ask.

 

[legoms013]

I'd say less flex is harder on the drivetrain.

B/c then you will be constantly lifting a tire, and once that happens forward motion is lost (if you don't have lockers). So to compensate, you hammer the throttle down to power through said obstacles. When the tire(s) catch traction that were spinning before, you shock load the drivetrain and risk potentially busting the weakest link. I have seen it happen many times.

Now if you put lockers in, you eliminate the powering through method, and minimize shock loading (unless you are a true lead foot).

If you have lots of flex, then your rig is more capable of keeping traction with terra firma, and you thus lower the amount of times you need to power through and build up speed for obstacles.

$0.02

Also, much of it has to do with the driver's driving style. Lead foot = broken $hit.

 

[4x4junkie]

IMO, the one thing that'll break axles faster than anything on a TTB frontend (outside of driving like an ass lol) is having the passengerside shaft bind up within the beam window or against the ends of the radius arm bolts inside the beam. Provide sufficient clearance for the shaft for whatever amount of flex you have and there shouldn't be any issues.