Advice requested on Dana 30 high pinion build

[wkelley70]

I will be building-up a Dana 30 high pinion from a 98 XJ (no CAD) for my LJ and am requesting build advice.

I currently have a 3" lift with 33" tires and will be installing 4.88 gears. There is a small chance of 35" tires and 5.13 gearing in the future.

Questions:

1. Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?
2. Should I reinforce the inner Cs?
3. Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing?
4. Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?
5. I will be purchasing chromoly axles. Should I go 30 spline or 27 spline? Which u-joints should I run?
6. I will be installing an ARB air locker that I have not yet purchased (could be 27 spline or 30 spline)?

THANKS

 

[Weasellee]

Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?

I wouldn’t

Should I reinforce the inner Cs?

I did but only because the brackets were free. Always been told not needed.

Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing

Interesting question not sure but it definitely helps when bashing it on rocks

Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?

I only use Timken but they aren’t made in USA anymore

…. 30 spline Revolution, bigger is better and match the ARB 30 spline.


These are all opinions

B

 

[hosejockey61]

Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?

Nope.

Should I reinforce the inner Cs?

Not needed.

Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing?

Nope. If playing in the rocks, go with a Barnett diff cover to prevent interference issues.

Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?

Timken or Koyo.

I will be purchasing chromoly axles. Should I go 30 spline or 27 spline? Which u-joints should I run?

30 spline is stronger. Be sure to get matching locker splines too. I've run 27 spline for years with no issues though.

This video will help with your ARB install.

 

[NskLJ]

I will be building-up a Dana 30 high pinion from a 98 XJ (no CAD) for my LJ and am requesting build advice.

I currently have a 3" lift with 33" tires and will be installing 4.88 gears. There is a small chance of 35" tires and 5.13 gearing in the future.

Questions:

1. Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?
2. Should I reinforce the inner Cs?
3. Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing?
4. Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?
5. I will be purchasing chromoly axles. Should I go 30 spline or 27 spline? Which u-joints should I run?
6. I will be installing an ARB air locker that I have not yet purchased (could be 27 spline or 30 spline)?

THANKS

If you haven’t purchased the ARB yet but the 30 spline. Buying new 30 spline spider gears are have the price of the locker. (Ask me how I know)

 

[wkelley70]

Nope.


Not needed.


Nope. If playing in the rocks, go with a Barnett diff cover to prevent interference issues.


Timken or Koyo.


30 spline is stronger. Be sure to get matching locker splines too. I've run 27 spline for years with no issues though.

This video will help with your ARB install.

Thanks. Love your videos. Great content and presentation. No irritating music. .. and not trying to act edgy. Also, the video you linked is what inspired me to purchase ARB (already have one for the rear sitting on the shelf) and do the install myself.

 

[mrblaine]

I will be building-up a Dana 30 high pinion from a 98 XJ (no CAD) for my LJ and am requesting build advice.

I currently have a 3" lift with 33" tires and will be installing 4.88 gears. There is a small chance of 35" tires and 5.13 gearing in the future.

Questions:

1. Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?

If you toss on something like the Savvy upper mount and long side stiffener, that isn't a terrible idea. If you are going to get one of those that pukes metal all over the place, then not so much. The long side is what bends but generally only after you've done something that tears the rest up anyway.

1. Should I reinforce the inner Cs?

Not really. If you truss and beef up the Cs, the weak link is still the ball joints and there isn't much you can do to fix that.

1. Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing?

Yes, but none I've ever seen except those we can no longer get, so not without also creating an uptravel clearance issue.

1. Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?
2. I will be purchasing chromoly axles. Should I go 30 spline or 27 spline? Which u-joints should I run?
3. I will be installing an ARB air locker that I have not yet purchased (could be 27 spline or 30 spline)?

THANKS

Better is to get 30 spline inners matched up to the 30 spline ARB.

 

[Strizzo]

I would have liked to go 30 spline but i found a used 27 spline eaton elocker for cheap. I wasn't too mad though since i can use the original shafts as spares, if it comes to that, but I really can't see me wheeling hard enough to break a 27 spline chromoly shaft.

 

[Longwhitejeep]

Would be a decent time to add iron rock off-road lower control arm mounts too but not necessary. I did that vs control arm mini skids. Again, not necessary.

https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/universal-lower-control-arm-brackets-tjljxjmj.html

 

[jjvw]

Would be a decent time to add iron rock off-road lower control arm mounts too but not necessary. I did that vs control arm mini skids. Again, not necessary.

https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/universal-lower-control-arm-brackets-tjljxjmj.html

Easier to add the RockJock mini skids.
https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9085MS

 

[Longwhitejeep]

Easier to add the RockJock mini skids.
https://www.rockjock4x4.com/CE-9085MS

Yes it is

 

[mrblaine]

Yes it is

My rule of thumb is do the IRO brackets if the axle is already out, mini skids if it isn't.

 

[Weasellee]

My rule of thumb is do the IRO brackets if the axle is already out, mini skids if it isn't.

I used the Barnes LCA mounts AND skids. Call me over protective

 

[Sensei]

I will be building-up a Dana 30 high pinion from a 98 XJ (no CAD) for my LJ and am requesting build advice.

I currently have a 3" lift with 33" tires and will be installing 4.88 gears. There is a small chance of 35" tires and 5.13 gearing in the future.

Questions:

1. Should I truss my axle - forum sentiment seems to be 'no', but would like to hear opinions on this?
2. Should I reinforce the inner Cs?
3. Does a heavy duty differential cover help with the rigidity of the center housing?
4. Which brand of unit bearings should I purchase?
5. I will be purchasing chromoly axles. Should I go 30 spline or 27 spline? Which u-joints should I run?
6. I will be installing an ARB air locker that I have not yet purchased (could be 27 spline or 30 spline)?

THANKS

Just put a 2nd HP Dana 30 in the front of my 2nd TJ Wrangler. One jeep I built for 33-35s, 3 spd auto. This axle has 4.56 gears, which is "factory" for a 35 inch tire, aggressive for 33 inches. This axle is fairly bare bones, stock shafts, no truss, no sleeves, no gussets, open diff. The other jeep is built for 35s-37s, has the 5 speed ax15. Its got 5.13 gears, which is "factory" for a 35 inch tire, economy for 37 inches. This axle is trussed, sleeved, and I have the outers gusseted. I also run a Spartan, and 27 spline chromoly's on the 2nd jeep.

Ultimately, the way you build the axle should compliment the way you plan to use the vehicle. My auto I mostly use for on road driving and some light trails/hunting. Therefore I didn't build it with all the bells and whistles. The manual I plan to offroad more aggressively, therefore I spent a bit more for some "insurance" and peace of mind when having it built.


To answer your questions directly, my advice would be...
1. Yes, if you plan on wheeling hard with 35s
2. Depends, 35s or larger I say yes.
3. Doubtful
4. Timken
5. 27, for U joints go with oem/spicer
6. I'd personally stick with 27. Check out OX locker if you haven't researched them already. Highly customizable locker, can be actuated with air, electric, or a mechanical cable.

 

[Longwhitejeep]

My rule of thumb is do the IRO brackets if the axle is already out, mini skids if it isn't.

Yes sir and I followed said advice with my hpd30 in LJ and long term plans. IRO control arm mounts, tie rod flip brackets and steering/trackbar reinforcement plate before the axle went