Dana 30 axle

[nyteRyda]

Ok so I picked up my dana 30 a couple days ago, and I have a few questions.

I need to replace the rotors on it an suggestions on good rotors that are reasonably priced? Should I go with drilled and slotted or just plain rotors.

next, the u-joints at the end of the axle just before the knuckle...can they be upgraded or is it even worth it?

I am only doing a spring under setup and running 33's I wont be doing any crazy rock climbing with it, just maybe some trails..any help or guidance here would be fantastic.

I already have my Leafsprings (rancho 44044) waiting on my SkyManufacturing crossmember and shockhoops...thanks for your time

[4x4zr2GA]

dont get drilled/slotted rotors.... a common misconception is that they stop better... they do, if you have a larger rotor and better calipers. your taking away surface area from the rotor with the drill/slot holes on stock size rotors. just get some new rotors from the parts store or find some good old ones and have them turned.

as for the u-joints at the end of the axle, yes... there are stronger ones that came in certain year/model cherokees, but you have to get the axle shafts as well for the larger joint- someone on here will know the part number for them, or what year cherokee to pull the bigger axles/joint from...

33's are fine on a D30.

[nyteRyda]

Right, so pretty much just leave it stock then..sounds good...hoping to get this started within a week or 2

[DieselS10]

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x4zr2GA

dont get drilled/slotted rotors.... a common misconception is that they stop better... they do, if you have a larger rotor and better calipers. your taking away surface area from the rotor with the drill/slot holes on stock size rotors. just get some new rotors from the parts store or find some good old ones and have them turned.

as for the u-joints at the end of the axle, yes... there are stronger ones that came in certain year/model cherokees, but you have to get the axle shafts as well for the larger joint- someone on here will know the part number for them, or what year cherokee to pull the bigger axles/joint from...

33's are fine on a D30.

Good info.

If your are without a doubt staing with 33's then it wouldn't be a bad idea to look for a set of the axles/u-joints mentioned above. If you think you ever might want to go with 35's then just spend you money upgrading to a D44.

[nyteRyda]

Ok so how much of a pain in the @$$ is it going to be to swap all that out, I am only keeping 33's for sure, no need for anything bigger

[BillaksBlazer]

axle swaps are easy. take off the brakes, take off the unit bearings and slide teh axle out.

[nyteRyda]

I mean is it really needed or can I run it with the stockies...I guess my main question was should I upgrade the axles and u-joints

[DieselS10]

I'd break 'em first, then upgrade.

[nyteRyda]

Alright cool thats all I needed

[wrekd]

Quote: Originally Posted by DieselS10

I'd break 'em first, then upgrade.

x2....no need to upgrade if ya dont have to

[nyteRyda]

Now I just have to wait for my crossmember to get here

[BillaksBlazer]

like they said replace the u joints with some new quallity pieces and run them till they break

[nyteRyda]

Anyone on the east coast have involvement with Sky manufacturing? Im just wondering because I placed an order with them on the 12th and havent recieved anything yet. The site keeps saying processing shipment...Im only asking because I ordered my leafsprings 2 days later and got them on saturday...so they only took 2 days

[wrekd]

Give em a call and see whats going on.

[Donahue]

have you called?

[nyteRyda]

Nope I didnt have to, I recieved my crossmember and shockhoops today, and boy do I have a stiffy...this shit is sweet, I cant wait to start this project. All I need is some Jeep rims for the front axle now, but thats only a quick stop at the junkyard...pics coming soon

[Donahue]

ford rims work too

[nyteRyda]

Yeah either way, I am just short rims, shocks and a pitman arm right now, which isnt bad because I can get all those in the same day!

[nyteRyda]

So I figure its time for an update
<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o202/prophecy666/?action=view&current=0522091459.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o202/prophecy666/0522091459.jpg" border="0" alt="SAS"></a>
this is my crossmember from SkyManufacturing
my Rancho 44044
my shockhoops from Sky


I cant wait to start this project im so excited

[nyteRyda]

fail

[nyteRyda]

Ok, I have another question. Is this axle going to be a simple place on the leaf springs or do I have to cut the perches off and set any angles??

[96superflow]

i grazed through the your thread, but didn't see which dana 30 you have. Im going to take a wild guess and say that you have a yj with the leaf spring perches and you are doing a sua swap, and that is basically what you do. HOWEVER, make sure you set your caster angle, i have discussed this with a bunch of guys on here and researched it online. I have found that you want your caster to be POSITIVE 2*-7* and that involves rotating the pinion shaft toward the ground. You achieve this with degree shims that you can pickup from almost anywhere. The caster allows your steering to be correct and not wonder all over the road as well as return to center. If by doing that, your front drive shaft doesn't like the angles (aka vibrations) you are going to have to cut the welds off the knuckles on the end of the axle, and rotate your pinion back to where the pinion angle is correct, as well as setting a good postive caster too. i hope this helps. Im getting ready to start my swap soon. Good luck.

[DieselS10]

Quote: Originally Posted by 96superflow

i grazed through the your thread, but didn't see which dana 30 you have. Im going to take a wild guess and say that you have a yj with the leaf spring perches and you are doing a sua swap, and that is basically what you do. HOWEVER, make sure you set your caster angle, i have discussed this with a bunch of guys on here and researched it online. I have found that you want your caster to be POSITIVE 2*-7* and that involves rotating the pinion shaft toward the ground. You achieve this with degree shims that you can pickup from almost anywhere. The caster allows your steering to be correct and not wonder all over the road as well as return to center. If by doing that, your front drive shaft doesn't like the angles (aka vibrations) you are going to have to cut the welds off the knuckles on the end of the axle, and rotate your pinion back to where the pinion angle is correct, as well as setting a good postive caster too. i hope this helps. Im getting ready to start my swap soon. Good luck.

Well put. You should be able to get your castor close by getting your front and rear spring mounting points right. Shoot for about 5* as a minimum.

[nyteRyda]

So to answer all that, I dont have to cut the spring perches off?

And yes my axle is from a 93 jeep wrangler, and yes I am doing a spring under axle swap.

[Tim99Zr2]

then use the stock perches.. 31" CTC on the perches.

i left the stock perches on my old D30, just put ones on top, exactly 180* off i think

[nyteRyda]

My big thing is I dont really want to have to cut the axle apart. So if I can use the stock perches and shims thats fine

[Tim99Zr2]

yea, you can use them. or if you would do spring over, you can leave them on there.


is your cross member 31" CTC on the spring width too?

im going to bed.

[Donahue]

is it 31 or 31.5? i know full width is 31.5

[wrekd]

The Sky crossmember is 31.5". Aren't the stock YJ perches 30.5". I remember a thread on this awhile back.

[Tim99Zr2]

i made mine 31 CTC

[nyteRyda]

so Im gonna have to cut the bastards off anyway....ok this is going to be fun..heh

[BillaksBlazer]

i didnt cut mine off. u can use the stock perches.

[nyteRyda]

Quote: Originally Posted by BillaksBlazer

i didnt cut mine off. u can use the stock perches.

so the stock perches are the right distance and everything?

[beedle4]

Bust out the tape and check it out...

[nyteRyda]

Quote: Originally Posted by beedle4

Bust out the tape and check it out...

I would but the axle is at my friends house where the work will be done, and the crossmember is here

[Tim99Zr2]

yea, you shouldnt have to cut them off.

[nyteRyda]

Yeah, now I just need to get the 2wd done....then I can start my SAS, the guy who is helping me do this swap has my old 2wd with a long travel kit on it. so thats almost done, then my truck

[Tim99Zr2]

you need to come here too!

[nyteRyda]

Of course I have to pick up the parts truck!! that actually excites me I want to get that front end on my truck

[Donahue]

you can use the stock YJ perches in the SUA configuration, but if you want SOA then you need to add some new ones directly above the stock ones. the distance is correct on the stock ones.

[Tim99Zr2]

ha i want you to get it too! i just tossed the front clip on with a few bolts to make it easier to pick up.

would you guys want my old steering box to? to put it back in to move it around // beat on it?

[nyteRyda]

I guess, lol, I dont know what much we are doing with it, that has the 4.3 in it correct?

[Tim99Zr2]

yea, the older style.

runs good.

[nyteRyda]

Alright, I talked to him tonight he said his main issue with taking it is the money, so I told him I'd pay for it if he can put it at his house, he said no prob. so we have to arrange something for next week because I work the rest of this week. so you said 250 for the truck an 100 for the bumper correct?

[Tim99Zr2]

yea. 350 you can have her all.. do you want the title? if so i thik it cost me like 58$ to transfer it.


my best days would be friday, saturday, sunday. i work 4-10s monday - thursday

[nyteRyda]

Yeah we are gonna transfer the title too, I am gonna have him call you this weekend so we can figure out when to pick it up

[nyteRyda]

Ok so I got my Rancho Shocks in today, along with my procomp drop pitman arm, also took my truck offroading the other day...alcohol+4x4= broken swaybar. lol anyway good thing im cutting all that stuff off..haha, but I should be starting my SAS next week!! Im so excited

[beedle4]

Dont talk about drinking and driving!

Just makes you sound like a dumb ass.



I may have missed it but you keeping the stock rear?

[wrekd]

Where do you wheeel at??

[nyteRyda]

Was up on Mt Cobb, up by Olyphant