Truth about Dana 30s
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor, FL
i go down some roads that have mucky ruts in them but i go like under 5mph im tellin ya since the day i bought this its been non stop agrivation just buyin stuff and ordering problems , then of course the usual leaks and then worrying about not having right gearing for wheels and then i hear oh youl need to beef up the dana 30 !! and i call and they say 2000 for gears and its a job to do gussets and axles and youl need a pro cal and youl need superchip but they dont make one for 2011 yet youl need a cat back any clunking is a jeep thing when shifting ! youl have to get the tire carrier ! i did then its well you got extra weight youl have to try and reduce it , take out the rear seat ! its a wonder why i havent gone nuts by now its been 8 months of this llokin at everyones jeep problems and wondering if mines going to do this too ! thanks for the good reply ! made my day ! i better get off here before i read another thing like the transfer case bushings that break off and leave you stranded !
i hope i can sleep now worrying about this !!
Settle down there buddy! There are many people that beat the snot out of there rigs. It sounds like you are not going to be doing half of the crazy stuff some of these folks are doing. Just keep the maintenance up and you are good. Use the Project JK for hints and how too. Think of your jeep as LEGO. One day you like the way something works and six months later you do not. That is the fun of a Jeep, you get to build it break it down and build it again. Use some restraint on the gas peddle and you will get many years of wheeling out of your jeep.
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
I've only had my JK for a few months, so obviously I've seen no problems.
I had a YJ and ran larger than stock tires on it and wheeled it fairly good...never had an issue. My buddy had a YJ and was rough as hell on it...even jumped it with all four off the ground sometimes. Not one single issue. My father drives a TJ with heavy oversized TreadWright tires and has wheeled it fairly hard. Zero issues. I'm not even going to get into the ZJs we have built and modded and wheeled.
I have NEVER once seen anything on a Dana 30 break or bend. Not a U-joint, C, housing, gear set, shaft, nothing. Not one failure.
That's just my personal experience. I think the D30 is tougher than a box of nails.
I had a YJ and ran larger than stock tires on it and wheeled it fairly good...never had an issue. My buddy had a YJ and was rough as hell on it...even jumped it with all four off the ground sometimes. Not one single issue. My father drives a TJ with heavy oversized TreadWright tires and has wheeled it fairly hard. Zero issues. I'm not even going to get into the ZJs we have built and modded and wheeled.
I have NEVER once seen anything on a Dana 30 break or bend. Not a U-joint, C, housing, gear set, shaft, nothing. Not one failure.
That's just my personal experience. I think the D30 is tougher than a box of nails.
dont get me wrong but, a JK is no YJ, TJ or ZJ. out of the box, they weigh about 5,000 lbs and, once you build one up, they can easliy get up to 6,000+ lbs. this is a MUCH bigger and heavier vehicle and these pics are just a few that i've personally seen break and believe me, there are way more. of course, this is to say nothing about the dana 44 breaks i've personally had and have seen.
Last edited by wayoflife; Oct 4, 2011 at 08:20 PM.
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
agreed. just because 5.13 is the better ratio to go with doesn't mean it the best option to go with. if you plan on doing any wheeling and or hope to install a locker in your dana 30, a really small pinion is something that will be a weak point. and, if you've ever broken a ring and pinion on the trail, i can tell you that it's no fun.
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
From: Barrington, IL
agreed. just because 5.13 is the better ratio to go with doesn't mean it the best option to go with. if you plan on doing any wheeling and or hope to install a locker in your dana 30, a really small pinion is something that will be a weak point. and, if you've ever broken a ring and pinion on the trail, i can tell you that it's no fun.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Sofia, Bulgaria
... Shafts are perhaps another weaker point, though IMO really no more so than a D44. You could get chromo shafts, or carry trail spares...this would be the cheapest way.
If you do all that then you got the ring and pinion as the weak point. 4.88's are really the highest (numerically) that I'd go, but thats just me. Plenty of guys run 5.13's.
If you do all that then you got the ring and pinion as the weak point. 4.88's are really the highest (numerically) that I'd go, but thats just me. Plenty of guys run 5.13's.
)
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 12
From: New Hampshire
pics tell so much !
thats prety crazy there ! are these people dropping off rocks with them or just goin through mud and stuff ?? this forum is great you learn a lot from people here !
Last edited by jeepmojo; Oct 5, 2011 at 12:57 AM.