Which front chromoly shafts for Dana 30?

MrTeak

MrTeak

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Currently looking for chromoly axle shafts for the Dana 30, I know Revolution axle are highly recommended but seem to be out of stock everywhere. Are they discontinued or just have to wait on stock? What other options are recommended? I plan on running 35s which will be going on soon after the Super 35 and locker which is scheduled for installation this week.
 
I have G2, came on my axles, and have been super solid. If you really want Revolution, I’d run what you have until they come in on the front, but it depends if you’re going to be hitting it hard right after the Super 35, although I wouldn’t think so during break in, but who knows.

There are some others folks may suggest.

And some may warn “don’t drive a day on those stock shafts” but I think you’ll make the wait.
 
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Depending on what kind of wheeling you do, there's RCV as a good option as well.

I've seen enough ujoints launched out the vehicle from throttle-down wheel-cut applications in the Appalachias that I see the benefit of the RCVs. And last I looked they were about the same price as all the other chromoly front shafts but that might have changed. Parts availability and pricing has been wildly unpredictable for the last couple years.
 
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I wanted Revolution USA shafts for my Dana 44 front. After waiting a year, I gave up and went with RCVs (that was about two years ago, and I haven't seen any of those available since then, either). They were considerably more expensive. I think the Revolution were about $1000 and the RCVs were about $1350 or so. The RCV shafts aren't perfect, but they seemed to be the best option, especially since I wanted to give my business to a domestic supplier. The Revolution Discovery (non-USA) shafts are respected by this forum's user base, from what I've seen, though. They seem to be a good option (and they are usually available) if you don't care about country of origin.
 
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In talking with RGA (Brook Hilton their GM), their Discovery shafts are built to the exact specifications their USA made shafts are and he said, in his opinion, they're the equal in all regards The only way they can justify the higher cost of the USA made shafts is with a lifetime warranty vs ten years for the Discovery shafts.
 
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MrTeak said:
Currently looking for chromoly axle shafts for the Dana 30, I know Revolution axle are highly recommended but seem to be out of stock everywhere. Are they discontinued or just have to wait on stock? What other options are recommended? I plan on running 35s which will be going on soon after the Super 35 and locker which is scheduled for installation this week.
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What does your budget look like?
 
I bought a set of USA standard gears when I rebuilt my dana 30, but that was more out of necessity. Given the time I'd have bought from someone else, but to their credit they've held up. About $500 if I remember right. I've considered RCV's and don't think I'll get them, my plan is to hop on some revolutions when they come in stock and do a manual hub kit at the same time
 
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Even if I wasn't planning on manual hubs I still wouldn't do RCVs, simply because I know I can replace a u-joint if I break one on a trail and I keep spares with me. I don't know enough about RCVs to know what I could or couldn't do with them. I've also heard people say I'll never break an RCV, something has to be the weakest item in the assembly, I'd prefer to choose something cheap and easy to fix instead of discovering that it's the pinion or whatever.
 
Foxhound67 said:
Even if I wasn't planning on manual hubs I still wouldn't do RCVs, simply because I know I can replace a u-joint if I break one on a trail and I keep spares with me. I don't know enough about RCVs to know what I could or couldn't do with them. I've also heard people say I'll never break an RCV, something has to be the weakest item in the assembly, I'd prefer to choose something cheap and easy to fix instead of discovering that it's the pinion or whatever.
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Personally I wouldn't run RCVs if they were free. Their "claim to fame" is they claim u-joints bind and don't transfer power smoothly and have more friction but to me that's bullshit where a TJ is concerned. They're a fix in search of a problem that isn't there. Their downside is, besides their higher cost, is they have a significantly larger diameter which can cause clearance issues in some situations like with some aftermarket ball joints.
 
Also, unless you get U.S.A. made shafts, aren’t almost all the brands made in the same factory overseas anyways?
 
starkey480 said:
Also, unless you get U.S.A. made shafts, aren’t almost all the brands made in the same factory overseas anyways?
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That wouldn't be surprising. The question would then be are they made to different specs.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Personally I wouldn't run RCVs if they were free. Their "claim to fame" is they claim u-joints bind and don't transfer power smoothly and have more friction but to me that's bullshit where a TJ is concerned. They're a fix in search of a problem that isn't there. Their downside is, besides their higher cost, is they have a significantly larger diameter which can cause clearance issues in some situations like with some aftermarket ball joints.
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I’ve run both u-joints and RCV’s in my 60s, hard. I do prefer the RCV’s. And I actually like when I’m at full turn, clawing for traction, and the front wheels turn at a constant speed. That is a thing compared to U-Joints. Now whether or not it makes actual difference in getting up an obstacle, I don’t know - but I still prefer it.

I’ve also never broken an RCV, so I like ‘em.
 
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