Clickbait aside, I recently bought a TJ with a stock Dana 30/ regeared Dana 35. Had a shop take a look through the rear and they said one of the half shafts has begun showing signs of wear. I did what any sane man would rationally do, I loaded up the truck and drove it 2200 miles home where I could swap the half shafts myself.
In comes my friend who wheels his TJ telling me the Dana 35 isn't worth investing in and that after I replace the shafts the spider gear will go and I and the truck will burst into flames and roll into Valhalla. I keep telling him that my idea of "offroading" is climbing up to a remote camping spot or country roads and that the 33x10 is the only tire I'll ever put on the TJ. He persists.
Now the options are fairly simple.
-I can find a used Dana 44 for around 750 in my area and then save up to regear back to 4.10. (How big of a difference is 4.10 vs 3.73?).
-Alloy half shafts for the Dana 35.
-A shop the paranoid friend swears by has a rough estimate of over a grand for an 8.8 swap. Geared to my choice.
Obviously money is money and I'd like to keep enjoying having some so which route would you guys direct me towards?
In comes my friend who wheels his TJ telling me the Dana 35 isn't worth investing in and that after I replace the shafts the spider gear will go and I and the truck will burst into flames and roll into Valhalla. I keep telling him that my idea of "offroading" is climbing up to a remote camping spot or country roads and that the 33x10 is the only tire I'll ever put on the TJ. He persists.
Now the options are fairly simple.
-I can find a used Dana 44 for around 750 in my area and then save up to regear back to 4.10. (How big of a difference is 4.10 vs 3.73?).
-Alloy half shafts for the Dana 35.
-A shop the paranoid friend swears by has a rough estimate of over a grand for an 8.8 swap. Geared to my choice.
Obviously money is money and I'd like to keep enjoying having some so which route would you guys direct me towards?