XJ D30 axle, any years to avoid?

[Jerry Bransford]

I have an opportunity to buy an XJ Dana 30 axle housing that I'm thinking of installing in my TJ. Are there any years to avoid? They are all pretty much a bolt-in, right?

Everything except the R&P gears in my present Dana 30 will fit ok? He wants $100 but I'm thinking he'll take $50 which sounds like a good deal to me. Comments would be appreciated, thanks.

[Robert J. Yates]

Just stay away from the housings with the vacuum disconnect and you'll be fine.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Robert J. Yates
Just stay away from the housings with the vacuum disconnect and you'll be fine.

Oh yeah, thanks I forgot about that. So based on what you're saying, it sounds like there is more to it than just covering that location on the axle housing with a cover plate like comes with Warn's axle shaft kit. Do you recall when the XJ switched to the non-disco axleshaft? Like 96-97 when the TJ came out?

[Robert J. Yates]

The vacuum disconnect was not related to TJ availability but rather t-case availability AFAIK. I have a 96 axle in the front of my rig.

[Jerry Bransford]

Heh, forum conversations are sometimes drawn out longer than expected due to small unclear points... what would the t-case have to do with anything so long as the axle didn't need a vaccum line? Thanks Robert.

[Robert J. Yates]

Some XJ's came with full time 4 wheel drive Jerry, ie the 242 t-case and thus, no disconnect was needed.

[Jerry Bransford]

Oh ok, gotcha. Thanks Robert!

[Jeff Weston]

Jerry,

Robert hit the nail on the head. Based on the stamped code on my HP D30 (provided by Robert ), it came out of an '88. Having owned an '88 XJ with the 231 tcase (Command Trac), I know it had a vacuum disco. The XJ's with Select Trac had the full-time 4WD capability and not disco. In other words, you cannot go by model year to determine the suitability of the axle. Just make sure it doesn't have the disco and it is a high pinion (I think they switched back to low pinion in the final years) and you'll be good to go.

As for blocking out the vacuum disconnect and using one of those axles, I can say this ... my dad's YJ D30 distorted quite a bit where the tubes pressed into the cast disconnect section. Granted, he has a Warn XCL which puts quite a bit of stress on the tubes.

Excellent mod BTW!

[Jerry Bransford]

Oh ok, that cleared up a few areas very well for me, thanks very much for that added info Jeff. Now I just have to see which version of that axle that he has!

[Paradiddle]

Jerry - do you still go wheeling?

[igofshn]

I just picked up an axle from an 87. HP without disconnect. Local junk yard = $125. Next will be a 9" for the rear.

[Robert J. Yates]

Originally posted by igofshn
Next will be a 9" for the rear.

Givin up on the Suuuuper 35 I see

[Jeff Weston]

Originally posted by Paradiddle
Jerry - do you still go wheeling?

Ouch!

[Jeff Weston]

Originally posted by Robert J. Yates
Givin up on the Suuuuper 35 I see

Double ouch!

[cbassett]

Originally posted by Robert J. Yates
Givin up on the Suuuuper 35 I see

Super 35. I laugh.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by Paradiddle
Jerry - do you still go wheeling?

I hear ya Jeff and it has been a while since I've done any serious offroading... there's some stuff going on at home that I'm working through that has made offroading take a backseat for now. I'm using the downtime to do some repairs/enhancements for when it's ok to get back into the offroad thing. This all helps to keep my sanity, put it that way.

[Robert J. Yates]

Originally posted by Jerry Bransford
... there's some stuff going on that has made offroading take a backseat for now.

Heh, I unfortunately, can relate to that. I am getting real good at e-wheeling though

[igofshn]

Originally posted by Robert J. Yates
Givin up on the Suuuuper 35 I see

Eventually. not because of performance though. It really isn't any different than a stock 44, performance wise.