37s on dana 30? Anyone doing this?
04-30-2016, 07:12 PM
#21
Fusion knows what's up. I've chipped two sets of 3.73s in my 30 but neither stopped it from riding the rest of the night. I even changed the fluid and road all of last year with the chipped ring lmao.
I've done all my own work including regearing so nothing was too expensive. If I wasn't able to then I probably wouldn't be running 37s on anything as I have an opinion sorta like " if you aren't able to do the work yourself then you shouldn't even be off-roading where you would need all the upgrades". Although that's just an 'ol poor boys opinion.
I've done all my own work including regearing so nothing was too expensive. If I wasn't able to then I probably wouldn't be running 37s on anything as I have an opinion sorta like " if you aren't able to do the work yourself then you shouldn't even be off-roading where you would need all the upgrades". Although that's just an 'ol poor boys opinion.
05-01-2016, 05:57 AM
#23
JK Super Freak
Most logic was covered here. If you have the money for an aftermarket D44, run what you have until it breaks. A 44 is not magic. It has all the same weak parts as a 30, just a larger ring gear. With 37s, you can also break a D44 ring gear. We've done it as have plenty of people. What you don't want to do is spend a bunch of money on a 30. If it fails, you have an expensive piece of scrap metal. In addition, it is worth understanding what makes an axle weaker. Re-gear a D30 and you are significantly increasing the risk of failure. As you go higher numerically in gear ratio, you have less teeth on the ring gear and less tooth contact. That means far more stress on the teeth engaged. It would be hard to blow a set of 3.73 gears in a D30. You can spit teeth all day long with a set of 5.13s. Add to that chromo shafts that won't break or a locker, and it's sort of like playing with fire - eventually you'll get burned. Even running 4.88 or greater on a D44 is a lot to ask such a small ring gear. In the end, it's fine to do so long as you can afford to break a ring gear. Even then, if you made it two years, it doesn't mean you have to drop $5k. A new set of gears and install kit is maybe $300. Replace it. Just don't buy into the hype that by going to a D44 all your worries are gone. You can still break the ring and you will still wear through the small ball joints, hubs, and steering parts. None of those items were designed to run anything close to 37s.
05-01-2016, 06:02 AM
#24
JK Super Freak
Buy the latest edition of JPMagazine. Cool article! <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=645603"/> <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=645604"/> <img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=645605"/>
05-01-2016, 07:13 AM
#25
An automatic with a low power 4-cylinder. Increase hp or more violent shock loading and you will have a much lower life expectancy. A lot of people wheel D30s hard, but wheeling hard doesn't mean you have to abuse your rig - wheel smart and you get back to the trailhead on your own terms.
05-01-2016, 08:36 AM
#26
JK Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Ran 35's on my D30 in my XJ buggy with a Spartan locker and stock shafts for over 4 years with only one broken shaft. And wheeled it very hard. Now running 37's on my 13 JKU, but this time I pulled the axle and sleeved it, Complete Artec armor kit, Spartan locker and Synergy ball joints. Been pretty hard on it, so far so good. But that said, I see an awful lot of people running 37's on completely stock D30 axles.
05-01-2016, 10:45 AM
#27
JK Jedi
Lower gearing do offer more smaller teeth but they also allow you to wheel slower and in more control. A lot of people that run big tires with too high a gear will have to throw their jeep into some obstacles like steep inclines or tall rocks and this is where it is easy to break stuff. You are throwing all the momentum off the jeep into that obstacle and if you don't make it breakage is likely. Lower gearing makes it easier to keep off the skinny pedal. This is also true for driveshafts as lower gearing will take the stress off the entire drivetrain. As far as needing something bigger then a D30 to run 37's the same question could be asked if you really need 37's. IF you are just looking for justification and someone to tell you it is alright to run 37's on a D30 then you have it in previous posts, throw them on and good luck.
05-03-2016, 01:41 PM
#28
JK Freak
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I wheel with a guy who has done 37s on a D30 for years. Granted it is a well built D30 - sleeved, gusseted, RCVs. But he has not had an issue while he has bent rear shaft flanges a couple times. One thing he says is you just have to pick your lines - if you skinny pedal up stuff you will break things. Drive smart and you will be fine.
05-03-2016, 02:02 PM
#29
I wheeled my dana 30 in a couple locations, had it for over a year on 4.88s, just sold it and got a 44. (gecko)
My lady had the same set up and blow the spider gears last trail of the day on our season opener this year. (I just bought her a 44) hydro
My lady had the same set up and blow the spider gears last trail of the day on our season opener this year. (I just bought her a 44) hydro
05-04-2016, 05:20 PM
#30
JK Enthusiast
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Lower gearing do offer more smaller teeth but they also allow you to wheel slower and in more control. A lot of people that run big tires with too high a gear will have to throw their jeep into some obstacles like steep inclines or tall rocks and this is where it is easy to break stuff. You are throwing all the momentum off the jeep into that obstacle and if you don't make it breakage is likely. Lower gearing makes it easier to keep off the skinny pedal. This is also true for driveshafts as lower gearing will take the stress off the entire drivetrain. As far as needing something bigger then a D30 to run 37's the same question could be asked if you really need 37's. IF you are just looking for justification and someone to tell you it is alright to run 37's on a D30 then you have it in previous posts, throw them on and good luck.
I had a buddy that ran 3.21's on 37's (he now has 4.10's and 40's). He had to smash into every rock, ramp over every obstacle, just to keep up and not stall. His excuse was "oh well my ring gear is stronger." There I was with 5.38's and 37's, Idling up every obstacle that he was hitting wide open. He also refused to air down, saying that he would get too much traction and break parts.
"higher gears means a stronger axle" translates to "I'm too lazy to install proper gears"
It may be stronger, but you are increasing shock loads and breaking everything else. And honestly making your wheeling experience less fun.