Ok so my question is what's ur guys opinion on a Dana 30 holding up to 35" while locked. Now keep in mind I have stock gearing currently, so I'm not applying a lot of torque or anything.

 

What kind of locker are you asking about since there are options.

 

I'm running a lunch box, it's a lockright. I have the large u joint shafts as well.

 

i wouldn't trust it to last long on 35s. the stock carrier is a weak point and that, combined with the flex from the housing will snap break your ring gear if you shafts don't break first. it might work for a little bit but in the long run i wouldn't trust it.

 

Mine is still alive. Lunch box and all.

 

I see a lot of the naxja guys running 35's geared, full case locker, and chromos
but I'm under the impression that knowing when to let off the gas is what saves you from breakage
check out this thread http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/fr...h-35s-1055286/
or better yet try to find some pirate4x4 guys arguing about it

also what rear axle are you running? I'd be more worried about breaking that

 

Just dont be a throttle jockey, and know when to let off and you should be fine. But i know some people with the same setup as you that had ring and pinions and carriers go without warning.

 

Ok thx guys. And to answer some questions. I have built a truss for the housing, it has c gussets. And as for the rear axle it's open, and the 8.25. Nothen special about it except a custom dif guard and disk breaks. I have had this set up for maybe a month now and it has held up great to my 33"

 

O and it is a hp30.

 

Your right foot and driving style is the deciding factor of how long anything will last.

 

I ran 35" km2's on a locked hp d30 for a while without any major problems and all i have is gears and a locker. No chromo's or truss. But i was smart with the throttle.

 

Don't forget that tires that big will wear out dana 30 hub assemblies and front end parts quicker than normal, and that you're braking power will suffer. Its not a huge deal but if you're going to put a lot of miles on it like that I would consider upgrading to a d44 or something similar built to withstand higher stress, while giving you a little extra braking power as well. If you're just concerned with the u-joints and shafts breaking, note that a truss and/or stronger shafts and joints will help slightly but it comes down to the situations you put yourself in that will decide if the d30 will hold up or not, like others have stated.

 

would a WJ knuckle/brake swap be enough to remedy this?
I'm hell bent on owning a huge waste of money as a front axle

 

exactly. Mine held up fine. Broken shaft here and there when you werent so easy on the throttle. No other problems. I would break shafts well before anything else. I started to break the pinion, the tops of the teeth were chipping, but that was also on 37's, and at least one shaft every other outing.
The biggest probem I would have it stock gears. After trying to drive up a log with stock gears and 35's (while I waited for my gears to come in) I decided i wouldnt even wheel it like that. Figured Id burn up the tranny before anything else.

 

I have a D30 front and D35 rear with a detroit locker in the rear and I can bash mine everywhere haven't broken a single shaft yet. Being I do have CV front shafts.

I don't let it roll back and slam the gas though... that's just not smart while wheeling.