Manual Locking Hubs
 

So what does everyone thing about manual locking hubs for a dana 30? Im running a front automatic locker and 35's. It runs pretty smooth on the road but I'm just waiting for the day when I get unlucky and the locker doesn't want to dissengage when im going 65 on the highway:hang:. I found a mile marker manual hub conversion for 700 and I am really thinking about doing it but want some of your opinions first.

if you have the money I would do it
it will help with mileage also

Switch to CJ inner yokes and then build from the knuckles out however you want. Hope you can fab well. :w00t:


Can be cheaper if you source the right parts. You'll just need new rims and a redrilled back shaft.


Any of the aftermarket conversions are somewhat limited in strength. Esp for the money you pay. For example ... Warn's official rating is for 32 inch tires.



Joe

i would def do it running a front locker. i had a yj with the cad dana30 and the sleeve slipped over and enguaged my front axle while comeing down a curvy road. it ripped me off the road and i almost rolled......get it for saftey!!!

So i take it it would be a good idea to get them, that being said does anyone have any experience with the mile marker conversion.

maybe its just me but for $700 why dont you swap in a d44 that will already have locking hubs i dont think that you will save enough on gas or wear and tear to warrant $700 but thats just my opinion as for mile marker hubs they are pretty nice hubs i had a set on the d44 in my f150

I like the idea of swapping in a dana 44 but after all the parts i put into the dana 30 it would be more costly to purchase all those parts again for a dana 44 than to just buy the conversion. I have 4.56 yukon gears and an aussie locker in my dana 30. It would cost me over 600 bucks just for those parts in the dana 44 not to mention all the fab work and the actual purchase of the axle..at least 300 at a jy. :wallbash:
So I think it would be better to just get the conversion. I just don't want to get screwed with a junk hub that will break as soon as i hit the trail.

i can see were your coming from but you have to look at the d44 as along term investment because with a locker and 35s your just asking for trouble with the d30 even a stock d44 is better then the upgraded d30 but to each their own good luck either way and as i said before if you do get the hubs mile marker is a decent hub i had mine for about 3 years with 38s and only ever broke one

I'm going to say yes to the conversion. I don't have any experience with the conversion. I believe it uses the Ford Ranger hub and spindle. You might check on that and use some from a wrecking yard if you have the time and want to save some money. If that is the case, check out the stub shaft also. But bear in mind, that the Ranger set up doesn't like real tall tires over 35". I hear the hubs explode.

That shouldnt be too much of a problem them. As someone mentioned earlier I should look into the dana 44 as a longterm investment due to the weakness of the dana 30, I don't see a problem with it. I'm pretty easy on the skinny pedal and I haven't had a problem yet with the locker and 35's. I don't plan on going any bigger than 35's for quite some time. I think that as long as I don't hammer my way through the trails i should be just fine (knock on wood) as long as the hubs are a strong as a few of you have said. Has anyone actually used this conversion tho?

i have never used the hubs on a d30 just ad44 which is stronger in general im just speaking in general that they are a decent company as for the smaller d30s not sure but as said ive seen rangers blow out hubs with 33s and from what i understand thats basically what you are getting i would bet that if you did some searching you might be able get all the stuff you need from a jy or better yet check out ranger station.com those giuys practicaly give away their old junky i beams with the hubs you need

If I were to build an axle for anything under a 35" tire it would be a 30/44 hybrid using these:

http://www.reidracing.biz/DANA30.php

easy high steer
real wheel bearings
cheap locking hubs
better brakes

You could just convert one hub. Don't know how much cheaper it would be, but it only takes half as many parts.

I have always considered hubs as a built in breakaway point
easier to replace a hub than a axle shaft but thats just me

converting one hub would be pointless. It would work if i had an open differential but as I have a locker in my front dif if i only converted one the other tire would be locked in all the time and still getting power in 4 wheel.