OK, so i'm just gonna skip the whole BB and 35's thing...

if i'm regearing, i'm going ALL OUT.

So all the research on Dana 30s and "can they handle it" and "they can be built up better than 44s" etc...

how are YOURS holding up..? whos broke what...? who's wheeled the crap out of it and STILL going strong... (bone stock axles vs cmollys..?)

This is directed at those driving a stick shift with 4.88s (2 dr pref) but all input is good.

this is to see if i should go ahead and do the gears on the 30 and enjoy it
or just wait and save $$$$ and go 60's.

can 30's handle moderate wheeling and not just mall crawl...?

 

I don't know yet, but I'll post if I break my 30 in Moab in a couple of weeks.

 

30's can handle some really good wheeling before being broken..

Turdy fives cant and will break going down the road with 35"s..

30's are plenty strong to run 35"s or so off road and do well, but you need to lay off of the skinny pedal. I would get chromo axles... but the rest should be just fine--maybe a couple of weld on axle gussets to beef up the actual assebly itself.

 

MaloCS, i couldnt have said it better
I wheel the same way. that is why it is called rock CRAWLING after all right?
Good advice, maybe i can get the family out to the Rockies someday and you can show us aroung.

07 JK Unlimited
33x11.5x16
JKS Quicker Disconnects
Warrior Products Tube Doors
Mopar Off Road Rear Bumper
Oil Pan Tranny Skid Plate by SkidRow
Custom Front Winch Bumper by RoundStar OffRoad
Skyjacker Adjustable Rear Track Bar
Skyjacker Brake Line Extenders
Rock Krawler Adjustable Front Lower Control Arms
And Plenty of "CHARACTER" From rocks and Trees

 

If you bend your 30 and can limp up to SLC, I'll give you my old 30 housing.

 

Sounds GREAT, thanks for all the input...

I will admit, being "older" i have laid back off the skinny pedal, and do better at picking a good line, tire placement and slow roll skill.
I'm going BIG for "clearance"... but looking for armor down the road too.

Its my daily driver too (till i get a beater) and want "dependability" and this is the vehicle i plan to keep. Some day it WILL have Dana 60's or better, but i'm going to enjoy "Jeepin" in JK style.

I dont think its a TANK, i know it has limits... sure i'll test it from time to time, but not BASH it. The molly shafts will come as needed till i'm ready to drop big money on it. Then.... V8 and an Atlas... "if your gonna dream, dream BIG".

Thanks guys, we'll see ya on the trails.

 

I'm 100% with MaloCS on this. I try hard to avoid situations where I'm going to end up in a mess. I think one of the benefits of having a 6spd (and also a drawback) is that I have to be very careful--a lot of situations that might be easy for an automatic---are really delicate with a stick.

That being said, its also easy to get into a herky-jerky situation and put too much down if I'm not exceedingly careful. I tend to go to the winch quick.

Teraflex, you guys rock! When I convert to long arm I'm going with your guys kit based on how well I've seen you take care of people over the last year on this board. I'm also hoping I make it out unscathed this trip. I did alright last year and I'm hoping for another good run this year.

I am planning on an axle upgrade, long arm conversion and supercharger for this time period next year

At which point I'll tell myself I'm done... again... (until the next year)

 

me want!!

 

me too, was really hoping to see more on these kits this year. So far it looks like Ripp is shipping a really good setup. I'm just waiting to see more feedback from folks who have it installed. I was thinking the adventure-Innovations kit was going to be the leader in this field but so far, haven't seen all that much about it. The website doesn't list the 3.8 kit either.

 

Remember the JK uses a high pinion 30. The drive is on the "coast" side of the ring gear which puts a lot less stress on the R&P than a starndard low pinion. I believe the axle tubes are the same for the JK 44 or the JK 30 as well as the u-joints.
Prior the the JK 30, many TJ's and YJ's owners sought HP 30's from the XJ Cherokees as an axle upgrade.