terraflex HD d30 housing
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: South of heaven
I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I don't see the Tera30 and Tera44 as being comparable products to a person like he and I that have a complete Dana 30 already.
For some of us, the ring and pinion isn't an issue, some of us don't wheel hard core. Look around for the hundreds off threads about D30 gear failures in the JK. They aren't out there! Now look for bent housings, you find a never ending supply of threads with bent housings, so to that point, and the fact that with 3000 miles on my 2014 Willys my front axle bent. So what I need to "fix" is the weak housing not the ring and pinion.
You can hunt used our take off parts, maybe pay $800 for a full D30, but a factory new bare housing for $1300, buy a factory new complete assembly for $1800 or buy a Teraflex for about $1800-$2000 and never worry about it again.
The Tera30 housing gets a bad rap, and your told that if you were going to buy it, buy the Tera44.... But the Tera30 doesn't cost more to us 30 owners than the housing. The 44 will take another few grand to load with parts unless you can buy a used Rubicon to donate parts out of.
For me, I've got $2000 to work with, and in that range I've got options of used assemblies, new housing, new assembly it Tera 30.
I don't have $3000, $4000 or $5000. So, with $2000 to play with, a jeep that will maybe someday go to 35" tires but will never be a hard core wheeler, a Dana 30 built on a Tera30 it's a fine way to go while living in a budget. And even should the gears go one day, that's a way cheaper fix than another bent D30 housing.
My vote is leaving towards a Tera30 housing. I just don't see the Dana 30 ring and pinion as being the Big problem, the Big problems are the junk tubes and C's and that is exactly what the Tera fixes.
For some of us, the ring and pinion isn't an issue, some of us don't wheel hard core. Look around for the hundreds off threads about D30 gear failures in the JK. They aren't out there! Now look for bent housings, you find a never ending supply of threads with bent housings, so to that point, and the fact that with 3000 miles on my 2014 Willys my front axle bent. So what I need to "fix" is the weak housing not the ring and pinion.
You can hunt used our take off parts, maybe pay $800 for a full D30, but a factory new bare housing for $1300, buy a factory new complete assembly for $1800 or buy a Teraflex for about $1800-$2000 and never worry about it again.
The Tera30 housing gets a bad rap, and your told that if you were going to buy it, buy the Tera44.... But the Tera30 doesn't cost more to us 30 owners than the housing. The 44 will take another few grand to load with parts unless you can buy a used Rubicon to donate parts out of.
For me, I've got $2000 to work with, and in that range I've got options of used assemblies, new housing, new assembly it Tera 30.
I don't have $3000, $4000 or $5000. So, with $2000 to play with, a jeep that will maybe someday go to 35" tires but will never be a hard core wheeler, a Dana 30 built on a Tera30 it's a fine way to go while living in a budget. And even should the gears go one day, that's a way cheaper fix than another bent D30 housing.
My vote is leaving towards a Tera30 housing. I just don't see the Dana 30 ring and pinion as being the Big problem, the Big problems are the junk tubes and C's and that is exactly what the Tera fixes.
I understand your point but if you don't " wheel hardcore " why worry about it at all, I wheeled big rocks with heavy Nitto 35's on a bone stock 30 with shitty 3.21 gears and an open diff for years till I could afford to put money into my jeep with no problems. You do what you like it's your money I just feel that if you are gonna spend thousands of dollars on an axle you should spend it wisely. If you build a 30 there will be weak spots which is either your shafts your ring and pinion or your spider gears. I would take the $2000 you have buy a 44 and acquire pieces to build the rest up over say the next year. This is my 2 cents which means 0 to anyone but me. Good luck.
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: huntington beach CA
I'm on the side of buying some form of strong, aftermarket D44. When I was a kid I had a toyota with 38" tires, 5.29 gears, and 150 HP 4 cylinder motor,,, result,,, broke the ring& pinion twice,, while driving on the street!! If you stick with a 30,, you better be super gentle with your 285HP V6. Why not spend the money on a vast improvement that will give you peace of mind and increase the resale interest/value that other Jeepers want? Save up and go D44
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 782
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
I don't have a 44. My brand new jeep, my daily driver... is not driveable, I don't have a year to build up for this, it's a right freaking now issue. Dana 30 ring and pinion or axle failures are few and far between with guys running trails and playing on dirt, and even if they fail it's a $175 fix, so it's not a big deal. I have to spend at least $800 right now, so a Tera30 is only $1000 additional costs and corrects 90% of the concerns I would have with a Dana 30.
All raise hands, who here has personally broke the Dana 30 R/P?
If I wanted to upgrade, seriously upgrade, a 44 would not be my choice. It's rather just go to a 60 and be done.
All raise hands, who here has personally broke the Dana 30 R/P?
If I wanted to upgrade, seriously upgrade, a 44 would not be my choice. It's rather just go to a 60 and be done.
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 782
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
I'm on the side of buying some form of strong, aftermarket D44. When I was a kid I had a toyota with 38" tires, 5.29 gears, and 150 HP 4 cylinder motor,,, result,,, broke the ring& pinion twice,, while driving on the street!! If you stick with a 30,, you better be super gentle with your 285HP V6. Why not spend the money on a vast improvement that will give you peace of mind and increase the resale interest/value that other Jeepers want? Save up and go D44[emoji481]
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: South of heaven
Hey Larry it seems like your leaning towards the Tera 30...it's your money do what you want with it. And just to point out there are many people who have destroyed there R&P in a 30 as well as there spider gears. Just two off the top of my head are a guy named JKRED in CT and a guy named HeatTreater in MA. Good luck
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 782
Likes: 3
From: Pittsburgh, Pa
I don't at all doubt that there are those that have experienced ring and pinion our spider gear failure, but the number of those is miniscule when compared to bent Dana 30/44 housings. And a good deal of it, I'm sure, has to do with the size of tires as well to the terrain and driving style of the owner. I really believe that the bent axle housing is by far a much larger threat than a failed R/P. Not to mention that a failed RP is not a $1000 repair, you can buy a gear set for under $200.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
The second sentence, not so much. You are leaving out the install/master kit and the labor charge that the vast majority of us are paying. Average regear costs seem to be around $1600 or so, with some as low as $1000, others as much as $3000. So your 200 quickly becomes 500/800/1500, depending on location, for those who are not installing themselves.