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Dana 30 W/ Drums — Putting It Back Together

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by RVSwisher, Sep 20, 2020.

  1. RVSwisher

    RVSwisher Member

    OK,

    I am starting to put my Dana 30 with drum brakes back together. I broke my cardinal rule of taking photos of everything and find myself in a bind.

    I have a tapered sim that goes between the knuckle and the spindle. I can tell the taper is either thick side toward the front of the jeep or toward the back by the marks on the spindle and knuckles.

    Anyone have an idea which way the shims should go???

    Additionally, the spindle goes on and then the brake backing plate (just making sure I have my order right).

    Thanks

    RVSwisher

    831A545F-3439-4DF9-8848-818DF536D321.jpeg 62CE1C44-E3C7-4CBC-A72E-074AC3FEEC16.jpeg A51F7595-6D98-44AB-9911-90050BF9C81F.jpeg
     
  2. Framer Mike P

    Framer Mike P Member

  3. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Note that these Jeeps did not come with camber shims from the factory. The axle housing is welded together with the correct caster and camber settings. Apparently someone decided they needed a camber shim for this axle. I would measure and not assume that it should be in there. Unless the housing is bent, the camber should not change.

    https://www.amazon.com/Wixey-WR300-...ds=Digital+Angle+Finder&qid=1600697044&sr=8-5 - very handy.
     
    Rubicloak likes this.
  4. RVSwisher

    RVSwisher Member

    Thanks for the information and advice. I will be putting it back together without the shims and see what I end up with. If I need the shims in the future, I have them.
     
  5. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    i have 3 of these dana 30 axles and 2 came with the shims. They were not metal. They are also not readily available. When I put mine back together, the shim came off in pieces, so I put it back together without any and it worked fine.
     
  6. RVSwisher

    RVSwisher Member

    That is good to hear. I don’t see any damage to the axel, so I should not need them anyway.
     
  7. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    I would put it together without and then asap have the alignment checked. It is somewhat labor intensive to install these so someone did it for a reason. Which way they are installed depends on what the problem and angle of your knuckle is at. If it turns out you do not need them they sell quick. I made the mistake of posting up quite a while ago I had some and I'm still getting e-mails from people wanting some (long gone). You will need to know what degree they are though as they came in .25 degree increments.
     
  8. RVSwisher

    RVSwisher Member

    NickMil,

    Any way to measure the thickness of the shims and related to degrees?
     
  9. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    I cheat and use my workbench and an electronic angle finder. I check the angle of the workbench (steel) and then the angle of the shim. I've been pretty darn accurate that way.

    Edit: I mark the shims with a permanent marker once I check them so I know what they are.
     
    Lockman likes this.
  10. RVSwisher

    RVSwisher Member

    Would not have thought of that, great idea.
     
  11. 47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor