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Dana 30 Or 44 Up Front????

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Jay's WWII Jeeps, Feb 1, 2019.

  1. Feb 1, 2019
    Jay's WWII Jeeps

    Jay's WWII Jeeps Member

    Napa CA
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    Mar 14, 2018
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    166
    I'm thinking about changing out my Dana 25 with power lock to a narrow track 30 or a 44. What are the pros and cons of either one? I do have a 44 19 spline ARB in the box but no 44 to put it in, and I do have a couple of NT 30's.
    Thanks in advance
    Jay
     
    RATTYFLATTY likes this.
  2. Feb 1, 2019
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    I say NT 30 if you're not running huge tires and large cube engine with a heavy foot. 11" drums or Disc brakes and plenty of aftermarket support. Also you already have some sitting around....
     
    47v6 likes this.
  3. Feb 1, 2019
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    The 19 spline locker will need custom shaft for the front since 19 spline was intend for rear application.
     
  4. Feb 1, 2019
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    44 is a more difficult swap up front. Aside from an expensive fully custom axle, few options exist if you want to stay anywhere close factory width. International Scouts with front 44 exists. Not sure what years. Not sure just how wide. You'll have to do that research.

    I think one member, maybe others, have some experience with narrowing other 44 to cj5 width. The passenger side spring perch seems to the major hang up as I recall. It's been a while since I looked into. Simply put, the 30 is the easier option.
     
  5. Feb 1, 2019
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    Aug 14, 2006
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    3,466
    Just my opinion here but if you really need the strength of a D44 up front then you probably need a D60 in the rear.
     
  6. Feb 1, 2019
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    Without going with huge $ aftermarket parts, the weak points of a D44 are the same parts as a D30.

    Also, the larger housing of the 44 forces you to mount the housing more centered to clear the springs, and that in-turn creates issues with driveshaft- and axle housing-to-engine clearances if you're not going with a huge lift.

    The 30 is an uncannily strong axle for what it is.
     
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  7. Feb 1, 2019
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
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    Scout dana axle share the same outer as Jeep cj dana 30. They have the same weak external bolt locking hub.

    A scout dana 44 can be narrow. they have a factore 58.5" Wms. You can take off 5 inch of the long tube and use an early broncos dana 44 axle shaft that is 5" shorter than the scout one. This will bring the wms to 53.5 that is almost the same as narrow track axle.

    Scout also have a problem with the built-in caster at zero degree. You need to turn the knukkle by grinding the weld...
     
  8. Feb 1, 2019
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    I agree with Itlksez on this. A D30 can be built almost as strong as a D44. There are simply no bolt-in D44 narrow track options I am aware of. Even if you get a free D44 front axle out of whatever, you end up with a pretty good investment in it if you cut it down-including custom axle shafts.

    Unless you want tires larger than 33's and have some big torque engine, It makes the most sense to stick with a bolt-in D30-along with its well supported aftermarket off-the-shelf parts.
     
    fhoehle likes this.
  9. Feb 1, 2019
    Jay's WWII Jeeps

    Jay's WWII Jeeps Member

    Napa CA
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    Mar 14, 2018
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    Thanks guys. Dana 30 it is. Anybody want to trade a Dana 44 19 spline arb for a Dana 30 arb???
    Thanks
    Jay
     
  10. Feb 1, 2019
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    i agree...a dana 30 be built as strong as a dana 44...only the gear will be weaker. You can upgrade a dana 30 to 30 spline axle shaft along with dana 44 outer
     
  11. Feb 1, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Nov 22, 2003
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    Not to quibble, & AFAIK it's not a proven workable swap but the Roxor front axle may qualify-

    [​IMG]

    ROXOR Offroad
     
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  12. Feb 1, 2019
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    they have f/r dana 44 ?

    but seem to have front 10 spline outer....
     
  13. Feb 1, 2019
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    And also..... 19 spline right? :)
     
  14. Feb 1, 2019
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    No idea on the outer spline count but the spider gear is 19.

    ROXOR Offroad
     
  15. Feb 1, 2019
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Has anyone actually determined if the Roxor axle parts are interchangeable with the Dana stuff?
     
  16. Feb 2, 2019
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
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    I have narrowed a few Scout rears down to early Jeep dimensions. That being said I would go with a Dana 30. They really are strong for their size. Less headaches all around.
     
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  17. Feb 3, 2019
    Tom_Hartz

    Tom_Hartz Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    North Carolina
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    Dana 30. Easy to install and plenty strong. I ran one in a TJ with an ARB locker and 35" tires. Just don't drive stupid.
     
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  18. Feb 4, 2019
    jonah

    jonah Member

    Huntington Beach, CA
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    If you go 30, I would definitely upgrade to chromoly shafts. When I was running a dana 30 with 33" tires, a dauntless and a moderately heavy foot at times, I broke a couple of stock outers before buying chromoly shafts. After that I never had a problem.
    I would also consider switching to the ford style locking hubs. It is a tougher design, they do stick out a bit further but they can take a beating. It takes a mashup of GM and ford parts, but it isn't too difficult.

    How it holds up depends on engine, tire size and driving habits. I have seen a 30 hold up to 37" tires with a really conservative driving style. And I have seen them grenade on 33s, with a slightly less conservative driving style.:clap:
     
  19. Feb 4, 2019
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    USA
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    I am pretty sure I would explode my D30 AND my Full Float D44 under moderate wheeling with my 35s and buick 225 with a 4 barrel. Good thing all i got around here are stair sets to drive up and down:lol:
     
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  20. Feb 4, 2019
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    X2 on the ford outer...they bring the dana 30 to a ultimate dana 30 axle. The weakest link of a jeep cj dana 30 and front dana 44 from scout is the outer. They have an external lock using bolt to transfer power from axle to the hub. Those bolt prone to loose and it's were the problem begin. It will get worse is you running with a full time locker..

    Now you can buy all the stuff on specialized broncos website like tombroncos or broncos graveyard. Just need to buy a complete disk conversion with the 6 bolt spindle and it will be bolt-on over any jeep cj dana 30.

    Ford Bronco Disc Brake Conversion Kit w/ Pro Valve & Lockout-Broncograveyard.com

    As for me i run that mixed part of gm/ford/waggy on my front scout dana 44 along some rvc alxe. With the 360 amc , 36" tsl and full lock axle it's still hold without any problem for two years.


    I did destroy everything in my dana 30...gear, gear carrier, gear, outer, inner, and lockout (10-12x this one).

    On the rear dana 44 in 10 years of wheeling i did broke a gear and the gear carrier (actualy the weld for the lincoln locker broke appart) but never an axle, bearing or other and it substain a lot of abuse over the years so the broken part mention is just normal from there.
     
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