Dana 44 upgrades

[VEGAS]

I have yet again blew out another pinion gear in my dana 30. Im wanting to upgrade to dana 44s front and rear. What should I look for when im looking for these. What years should I look for? Any tips would be helpful

[VEGAS]

Or do I get another dana 30 and put a truss and gussets on it? from what I have been reading is the only difference between the 30 and 44 is the ring and pinion. Housings are the same stub shafts are 27 spline like the 30 but inner shafts are a 30 spline.......just confused

[green50gt]

What are you doing to keep eating 30 pinion gears? Unless there is another problem, I'd blame whoever setup your gears. In the off chance you did happen to have a failure due to the pinion itself, I find it hard to believe you'd have the same problem, twice - what are the odds? Are your caps coming loose causing the carrier to walk?

None the less I've wheeled 33's and 35's for years on numerous 30's and have NEVER had a problem such as yours.

Gussets and trusses aren't going to anything for you internally. Have the new gears setup by someone who knows that they are doing and thats all you need...In my opinion.

I supose one could make the argument that if the tube was bent putting the shaft in a bind that the pinion could snap. That's possible, but if it bent that bad I suspect you'd know it by now..

[Ed Parot]

there is nothing wrong with a dana 30. most will hold up to 35-37 tires gears and lockers.if you have a bent axle you would be breaking shafts and u joints.unless you have 07-14 jk gussets and trusses are needed on 30 and 44.i agree with Derek on cj yj tj gussets and trusses waste of time,what I have learned over time is anything is possible,but I would have someone different set the gears up.

[airforceret]

You can imagine what my D30 has been through with 4:56 gears and air lockers and 7 years of moab four wheeling. I even drove out and back once on the 4:56 gears. You shouldn't be having these repeated issues with your 30. They are much tougher than some would lead you to believe.

[Duff]

Driving style has a lot to do with survivability in smaller axles.
Let's start with some basic questions.

1. Are you an aggressive driver that allows the front end to hop and bang while wheeling?
2. What size tires are you running?
3. Are you running a locker?

My thoughts are if your a reasonable driver with no locker and 37" tires or smaller.
You should have an axle guy set up that Dana 30 properly and add a solid spacer from Ratech @ (513) 742-2111.
I agree with the above comments about trussing the axle tube - that is not your pinion problem.
Hope that helps - Jeff aka "Duff"

[VEGAS]

I know the trusses won't help the pinion problem......I just didn't know if I decide to stay with a Dana 30 if I should gusset it. The pinion was set up by Zuk and myself.......the first time it happened you could take the yoke and it would knock up and down when shaking it. We replaced it with a different pinion and ring gear with all new bearings and races. Its starting to do it again. I was getting a noise when driving and thats what it was last time. I mostly drive on road and I have 33s.

[airforceret]

Have you had your drive shaft balanced? If it's bent a little or just out of balance it will wear on the pinion bearing.

Secondary, are you running too little or too much pinion angle?

[VEGAS]

Drive shaft is brand new from action machine, and I don't know why I didn't think about the pinion angle!! DOH! Can I just take that to an alignment shop to have them check it?

[VEGAS]

I had the alignment done by lochmandys when I replaced the control arms. Do they normally check that out?

[sandfox]

I had the alignment done by lochmandys when I replaced the control arms. Do they normally check that out?

no they would check caster/camber and toe, do you have adjustable control arms ?

[Duff]

I know the trusses won't help the pinion problem......I just didn't know if I decide to stay with a Dana 30 if I should gusset it. The pinion was set up by Zuk and myself.......the first time it happened you could take the yoke and it would knock up and down when shaking it. We replaced it with a different pinion and ring gear with all new bearings and races. Its starting to do it again. I was getting a noise when driving and thats what it was last time. I mostly drive on road and I have 33s.

Dave (Sand fox) is absolutely correct - they will not check your pinion angle unless they are looking for a drivability problem to start with (like a drive line vibration etc). Just for a alignment job, they 100% will NOT look at your pinion angle (unless its super stupid wrong and the mechanics are making jokes about your rig).

If you don't pound your rig. You don't have to truss it.
I think Action Machine does good work. They have built at least 8-10 shafts for me.
Double check how your setting up the ring & pinion.

[VEGAS]

Problem was found and fixed! Thanks for all the suggestions!

[White Rubi]

What was the problem???????

[Duff]

What was the problem???????

x2

[airforceret]

What was the problem???????

x3

[svtkev]

x4

[sandfox]

well he fixed it ............ he sold it

[White Rubi]

Sold the computer to. Id guess . No replys

[VEGAS]

LOL!! Yall are funny!! I didn't fix it by selling it.......I found a new axle, put it in and then sold it!