D30 axle swap?
 

i have been looking for a few weeks now to do a solid axle swap on my 2005. i have been looking for a waggy d44 but i cant find one anywhere. i just found a D30 from an xj with brand new axle shafts and u-joints, new calipers, new ruffstuff diff cover, all for $240.... only problem i see is it was originally set up for coil buckets. i want to run a leaf set up.... should i pick this up or keep searching? even if i only use this axle for mock up it would at least get he ball rolling for me

Yeah start collecting other parts as you are waiting to get your axle. Don't be impatient and get something you don't really want, you will be kicking yourself later for it. Just hold out and get what you really want and in the end you will much happier.

hats what i was thinking too. my biggest concern with the whole swap is being too wide and too tall. i want to run 35s and sit about the same as rstangboi's truck. one thing i do not know is what leafs to run on the front for a 4-6" lift and what to do for the rear lift?

i have shackles already. i need to find an axle before i get leafs so i can see it mocked up

+1, hold out for a D44, try early Bronco forums unless you're dead set on going with leafs

i am going for leafs for simplicity and i am really leaning towards a d30 because i dont want to spend more on new rims too

You could get a cheapo set of steelies and put those on to mitigate the cost issue for a while (lots of steel wheels at the junkyard can be had for little $. I would discourage getting a weaker axle because you don't want to buy new rims. Save up and get a d44.

i have seen 08rangerdan's ? truck set up on a d30 and it was perfect. being a daily drover i doubt i will break it. i have been researching this a lot and there are several people who are still running the d30 with no problems

So just do the D30. If people are giving you tons of reasons why not to go with it and you are arguing them all just do what you want and don't ask. Why ask if you don't want to take advice?

^ +1 To each his own.

If you're going with leaves then fine do the D30. If you're going coils, which is what that XJ axle is setup for then find a D44.

The D30 has been strong enough for me so far, but I think the bigger problem with it is the width. The axle just isn't wide enough to run coils correctly. You'd be better off with a full width axle.

Heres one, all you'd need to do is get bronco these
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...ts-4-drop.html
http://www.tomsbroncoparts.com/produ...ry=107&id=1098
and the bushings, coil buckets, and coils/retainers to go on this
http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...o-spindle.html

that is because you are trying to utilize coil springs on a narrow jeep axle

the jeep frame rail width is narrower than the rangers frame rail width

what you need is these little saviours , they require welding to the top of the inner C`s

these brackets allow the front end weight to be placed as close to the wheel as possible

thus taking the weight and strain off of the axle tubes themselves , quite a few jeepers have converted to this setup with excellent results

and allow you to use a coil over setup without the clearance issues

BTF Coil-Over Shock Mount for Dana 44 Inner C :: Blue Torch Fab

There's a difference between "coil-over" and "coil spring". What if he didn't want to go coil-over?

By the way, did you notice this is a 2.5+ year old thread??

you are correct about the differences between coils and coil overs

the width of the ranger frame rails will not allow the proper centering of coil springs on the dana 30 axle tube in regards to coil spring -- to inner C` placement

the jeep dana 30 front axle is simply too narrow and too weak to be used as front drive axle
that is why most jeepers convert to the high pinion dana 44HD front axle

WHY?? you ask , simple the amc 258 straight 6 engine is very heavy

the dana 44 HD axle tubes are a lot thicker than the dana 30 axle tubes

the other reason jeepers utilize those weld on inner C` brackets is because coil over shock setups allow for far greater axle articulation than a standard coil spring setup would allow

i have a 2006 fx4 evel 2. im going to sas my truck as well and was looking for a dana 30. with that said i need to go with a coil over set up versus a coil spring set up? and im using my stock rear end so i was looking into the d 30 because of the width? is a d 44 the same width as my truck now? i dont want it to stick out in the front and be narrow in the rear. i would like to have all my wheels the same offset for rotation purposes.
i dont really wheel this truck at all just going for looks and drivability

if you do not do any hard core wheeling , then a dana 30 will do just fine

but for longevity , a dana 44 is a must

the newer jeep tj`s have the same axle width as the rangers do ( some jeepers use ranger axles in the rear for better strength )

you should be looking for a jeep with the off road edition package , some of those tj`s came factory equipped with both front and rear dana 44`s ( only the rear axle is a dana 44HD option )

the front dana 44 axle is a high pinion option

those front D44s are not really the traditional D44 however. It is better than the D30 but not worth the price IMO.

A D30 will work with coils but its not the best. D30 with coilovers might be decent.

thank you guys! great answers. should have my head on straight here in no time. thanks for the help!

true , the newer dana 44`s are more stout and are the high pinion type ( factory special order ) and are easily converted to part time front axle