I think some of yall are missin the big picture here. The 5.13 IS optimal for 35s and an auto. It's not necessarily ALL about "......a lot of stress will get placed on the one or two teeth.........". Granted, this point is a huge point, but it's not all the picture. By the time you've upgraded to 5.13s, you've probably got at least 35s, larger wheels, possibily mods to the engine to make more power......PLUS, you're USING all this on the trail wheelin a Jeep. This is getting out of the Dana 30s realm altogether. It's becoming time for an entirely different axle. The Dana 30's small diameter pinion shaft is it's weak point, IMO. That coupled with those one or two teeth making contact and it's time for somethin to break. It's been said time and again that the D30 will hold up to 35s....and they will. I think though, that it's on the edge of the axle's capabilities. In other words, if there are ANY weak spots as far as defectively cast parts, it will show up very quickly because of the stresses involved in using a smaller axle in a performance area.

Now, I'm not trying to say the gear was defective. Hell if I know. It did sound like though, in his description that it was something that happened immediately and the picture seems to back that up. The D30 is not a heavy duty axle. It never has been. It's small. Will it hold up with 35s, 5.13s and other mods? A lot of them have.......but they are not MADE to do so. Even if you upgrade everything in the housing, you still have that small pinion shaft driving the axle. Nuthin you can do about it. A lot of people have successfully wheeled hard with the D30 with no problems. Did they get lucky? Maybe. I guess it's all about expectations. Don't expect the D30 to do something it was never designed to do. You might get by with it....but then again, you might not.

Oh and Eddie....I wasn't trying to contradict you're point....I was merely adding to.

 

your screwed eitherway with 40's on the dana 44. If the gears dont break, the axle or locker will

 

Just for the record, ring/pinion gears are forged, not cast.

 

LOL....ok dammit.....defectively MADE. How's that?

 

You're a good sport, RNJ.

Signed,

The Word Police

 

LOL. Well, don't let it get out that I've changed my ways.

 

Anyone out there buy these gears from northridge too?
I am getting these in a couple of months and am now second
guessing my decision. Anyone run these without issue?

 

Northridge gets his gears from the same place every other vendor gets them from. So i wouldnt second guess your decision on this guy having issues


I've ran my 5.13s in both my JK's, (same gear set, installed twice) and have not had a single issue. The gears probley have 40,000 miles combined

 

Yes, hundreds.

 

We have sold 100's if not thousand of gears and you are going to have a few issues here and there with anything. Just for the record I still have not been contacted as far as I know from the guy with the busted gear I have not seen any good pictures to be able to tell you if it was a bad gear or a install problem.

There is nothing special or unique with the gears we sell like pig said they are the same as you would get from everybody else.

David