Upgrading Axles

[JTewell]

I just got a 2000 TJ (4.0L, manual). Several mods have been done, but I'm not sure about any details. It is lifted (again, not sure exactly how much) with 35" tires. It currently has the Dana 30/35 combo with 3.73 ratio. Trying to decide between swapping to a Dana 44 rear or doing the Super 35 upgrade. I live at the beach, so it will mostly be beach, swamp, and mud. Very little, if ever, rock crawling. Which would be the best option without breaking the bank?

Thanks!

 

[Peppergat]

I’m doing the super 35. I am confident it will be perfect for my needs.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It's real hard to beat the ease of upgrading that Dana 35 with a Super 35 kit from https://www.revolutiongear.com/prod..._tj_cherokee_xj_30_spline_upgrade_super35_kit

You do also need to select an appropriate 30 spline locker like the Eaton E-Locker, Detroit Locker, or ARB Air Locker. That Super 35 kit will make your Dana 35 more than strong enough to run 35's on exceedingly tough trails without worry.

 

[JTewell]

It's real hard to beat the ease of upgrading that Dana 35 with a Super 35 kit from https://www.revolutiongear.com/prod..._tj_cherokee_xj_30_spline_upgrade_super35_kit

You do also need to select an appropriate 30 spline locker like the Eaton E-Locker, Detroit Locker, or ARB Air Locker. That Super 35 kit will make your Dana 35 more than strong enough to run 35's on exceedingly tough trails without worry.

That's what I was leaning towards. Which locker do you think would be the best for my application? A lot of my friends have the ARB air lockers. But I have no experience with the Eaton or Detroit lockers.

Also, will I need to beef up the front Dana 30 axle? Will I need to put a locker in it?

Thanks for all the help!!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

That's what I was leaning towards. Which locker do you think would be the best for my application? A lot of my friends have the ARB air lockers. But I have no experience with the Eaton or Detroit lockers.

Also, will I need to beef up the front Dana 30 axle? Will I need to put a locker in it?

Thanks for all the help!!

Does your part of North Carolina get cold enough so you get snow or ice on the roads? If so do you drive your TJ in those conditions? And does anyone else like your wife or kids drive it beside you?

 

[JTewell]

Does your part of North Carolina get cold enough so you get snow or ice on the roads? If so do you drive your TJ in those conditions? And does anyone else like your wife or kids drive it beside you?

We very rarely ever get any snow or ice accumulation on the roads. We may get a bit of ice on a windshield or bridge, but that's really about it. The Jeep is mine (the wife).....I rarely let my husband drive it, and we don't have any kids driving yet.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

We very rarely ever get any snow or ice accumulation on the roads. We may get a bit of ice on a windshield or bridge, but that's really about it. The Jeep is mine (the wife).....I rarely let my husband drive it, and we don't have any kids driving yet.

Based on that even minimal amount of ice that might form on your bridges I'd go for a selectable locker like the Eaton E-Locker or the ARB Air Locker which is more expensive due to its requirement for an air compressor. The E-Locker uses a simple on-off switch to control the locker.

 

[JTewell]

Based on that even minimal amount of ice that might form on your bridges I'd go for a selectable locker like the Eaton E-Locker or the ARB Air Locker which is more expensive due to its requirement for an air compressor. The E-Locker uses a simple on-off switch to control the locker.

Ok. Thanks for the input!!

 

[steelhd]

It's real hard to beat the ease of upgrading that Dana 35 with a Super 35 kit from https://www.revolutiongear.com/prod..._tj_cherokee_xj_30_spline_upgrade_super35_kit

You do also need to select an appropriate 30 spline locker like the Eaton E-Locker, Detroit Locker, or ARB Air Locker. That Super 35 kit will make your Dana 35 more than strong enough to run 35's on exceedingly tough trails without worry.

Since he is on 35 what would you do with the Dana 30 in the front? Run it until things break and, if it does, then?

 

[Blackjack]

I just got a 2000 TJ (4.0L, manual). Several mods have been done, but I'm not sure about any details. It is lifted (again, not sure exactly how much) with 35" tires. It currently has the Dana 30/35 combo with 3.73 ratio. Trying to decide between swapping to a Dana 44 rear or doing the Super 35 upgrade. I live at the beach, so it will mostly be beach, swamp, and mud. Very little, if ever, rock crawling. Which would be the best option without breaking the bank?

Thanks!

Unless you do a lot of towing or hauling heavy loads Super 35 works just fine.

Since he is on 35 what would you do with the Dana 30 in the front? Run it until things break and, if it does, then?

Pretty much. You could upgrade shafts and use quality Ujoints but really I would only change things as they need changed.

 

[Murf926]

I upgraded my Dana 35 with Revolution 30 spline shafts and an e-locker a couple years ago. I went from 33s to 35s this season and have been very happy with the combo. I plan on upgrading my stock Dana 30 this winter with chomoly shafts and an e-locker, but haven't figured out if I should go with 30 spline or 27 spline up front yet.

I live in Colorado where the roads are nice and clear most of the year, but we do get occasional snow and ice, so a selectable locker works much better.

You will probably my want to factor in the cost of a regear too. I went from 3.07:1 to 4.56:1. Huge change and perfect for my then 33s. Having since moved to 35's, 4.88s would be a bit better, but the 4.56s are still a very good fit.

 

[TexasTJ2004]

I upgraded my Dana 35 with Revolution 30 spline shafts and an e-locker a couple years ago. I went from 33s to 35s this season and have been very happy with the combo. I plan on upgrading my stock Dana 30 this winter with chomoly shafts and an e-locker, but haven't figured out if I should go with 30 spline or 27 spline up front yet.

I live in Colorado where the roads are nice and clear most of the year, but we do get occasional snow and ice, so a selectable locker works much better.

You will probably my want to factor in the cost of a regear too. I went from 3.07:1 to 4.56:1. Huge change and perfect for my then 33s. Having since moved to 35's, 4.88s would be a bit better, but the 4.56s are still a very good fit.

Which transmission do you have? 3,4,5 or 6 speed?

 

[Murf926]

Which transmission do you have? 3,4,5 or 6 speed?

NV3550 5 speed manual.

 

[Shwiftypickle]

Since he is on 35 what would you do with the Dana 30 in the front? Run it until things break and, if it does, then?

Ive been running 35s on a dana 30 with locked 4.56 gears for 3 years, wheeled the rubicon, fordyce and a few other trails with no issues. Probrably put in chromo shafts when mine finally go and pass on the weak link to the ring gear.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Since he is on 35 what would you do with the Dana 30 in the front? Run it until things break and, if it does, then?

The front Dana 30 is normally good with 35's until a locker is installed into it. Or until you are in 4Lo with the steering wheel turned all the way to one side and give it a little too much gas which is what busted mine in concert with there also being a locker present. For most running 35's on a Dana 30 they don't have trouble though, few push their rigs offroad that hard.

 

[Hokahay]

We very rarely ever get any snow or ice accumulation on the roads. We may get a bit of ice on a windshield or bridge, but that's really about it. The Jeep is mine (the wife).....I rarely let my husband drive it, and we don't have any kids driving yet.

"The Jeep is mine (the wife).....I rarely let my husband drive it,"

I got a little beer in my nose when I read that!

Good for you! I'm impressed!