Ok...From what I'm gathering RCV axles have lifetime warrenty. I've done some looking around to try and find out if there are any stipulations on this and havent found any. My ?? is...Is there a problem with running these in my d30 w/ 37s? If I did I would sleeve it out and do all the proper reinforcing. I'm currently runnin 35s w/ plans of going to 37s when they wear out. So I've been going over all the options and d60s just are not anywhere in my near future, PR44 maybe but still 2grand just for the housing, thought about finding a rubi 44 and swaping it in but from what I understand the housing really isnt much better than the d30. Soo, if I can have a lifetime warrenty on RCVs in a d30, then why should I spend the extra $$ for the d44 housing??

I hope this makes since...by the way, I dont see myself going any larger than 37s, I plan on either 5:13s or 4:88s, and I wheel moderatly

 

For the D44 gears that go in the D44 housing.



A lifetime warranty on axle shafts is utterly meaningless if you grenade the tiny D30 R&P each and every time you go out.

 

Is the d44 R&P that much stronger??

 

I would rather snap shafts then r&ps. The pinion should be ok as long as you aren't into 5.13s in a d30

 

a dana 44 ring & pinion is BIGGER than a dana 30 and therefore stronger. if you plan on running 5.13 gears to help compensate for the 37" tires, your pinion will be very very small and, it will be a very real weak point. upgrading to a chromoly shaft is a good idea if you really want to go this route but, i'm not so sure you really need to get something as expensive as an RCV. any standard chromo shaft will do the trick and being that they have full circle clips, their u-joints will not fail like the factory ones do.

 

That is good advice, but when I upgraded mine, I was surprised to find the RCV's were not that much more that traditional chromoly shafts (if you shop around). I just put the RCV's in, it was worth it for a extra $100 or so.

 

What WOL said is right on the money. The only thing I will add is that if you plan on doing a lot of wheeling, even a D44 might not be enough with 37s. It all depends on what you plan to do with it and what your driving style is.

Given the price of D60s, it may be cheaper to just go build a buggy for the heavy duty trails.

 

A few more pics from the axle basics writeup. Gives a fairly good comparison of the size differences between D30's, D44's, and D60's.












On a side note - would anyone have, or know the location of, a side view of those ring gears? I'd like to see a thickness comparison also.

 

That really puts things into perspective... I'm going to feel weak and inadequate the next time I get in my jeep and go wheeling.

 

Size matters!