Axles, I'm sure this has been asked before but....

I know that this has probably been asked before, but I am having trouble finding the info I want.

I am considering swapping out the stock Axle in my 72 CJ5 with a late 70's Dana 30. The thought behind this is to be able to change to disc brakes, and the later model springs all at once.

My question is that my current axel has the 3.73 gears, the late 70's models have 3.54 gears. Does this pose a problem, can it be changed, or does it bolt straight in with no issues whatsoever with out having to change anything else in the driveline?

 

The front and rear have to have the same ratio or you'll break something. You only mentioned the front. You can, of course, change the ratio on the new front to match your rear, or vice versa.

 

Can I use my current gears in the later axle?

 

Don't swap the gears - just swap the knuckles. Take the axles apart at the ball joints and install the knuckles with the disk brakes.

The axles don't care which springs you have. It's the frame that allows you to have the wider springs. So the newer springs won't fit, even with the newer axle in the older frame.