thatjeepkid

Hello I have a 1989 Cherokee with a dana 30 upfront and a 8.8 (welded) in the rear . My question is do you think the 30 will hold up long to being welded or just leave it open . It doesn't see street only trails anymore and it's on 35s thanks guys

holycaveman

The dana 30 has a weak carrier and axle joints. If you weld it right and weld the spiders to the carrier, then the carrier will actually be better.

I say go for it if its trail only. Should be fine. And if its not, its just another dana 30.

thatjeepkid

Alright thanks for the input it's getting welded

Atmos

hell no don't weld that! don't listen to caveman!

gdavenport0701

Weld it. I run 33's with 4:88 gears and I drive it like a jeep should be drove. Ill attach a link of my jeep. The black xj pulling the blazer out is one of my jeeps the other is the green xj. You tell me... I have had no problems with it holding up. The Green grand cherokee also is welder front and rear and the blue xj in the 2nd vid is also welded front and rear and he is on 32'' Tractor tires



chech out other vids on youtube chrisholmz

ohio95xj

Normally I don't agree with caveman.but why not weld I. I don't see it being a problem as long as it get's trailered everywhere. I wheel with quite a few trailer queens who are welded front and rear. To the OP, you WILL have an absolutely terrible turning radius. And if you are on 35's be sure you have chromoly shafts with 760 u joints. Or a shi#-ton of of spare front shafts.

gdavenport0701

I carry spare shafts with me and very seldom do I ever break a u joint. Take the fitting out of the power steering pump that your high pressure hose hooks into. Drill the fitting out about 1/4 inch larger then what it is. Be careful not to go to large or you will blow the seals out of your gear box. With me being welded front and rear with 33'' and the drilled fitting I can steer with one hand without a problem. All of the cherokees that you seen in my vids have all done the same thing. If anyone is unsure what to drill let me now I can post pics. By the way not only are my spider gears welded I welded the spiders to the carrier as well.

ohio95xj

There I also a significant difference in 33's and 35's he will break u joints more....in theory

thatjeepkid

Are you guys saying ill break a considerable amount less on 33s?

Atmos

cute. those are the dirt back roads before the actual trail right?



dont weld a dana 30 unless you do it with a posi lock cable/ vacuum disconnect. this is probably an option for the OP (even though it still sounds sketchy. do you really need a locker that bad that you need to weld it but cant afford a $200 lokka or something?). if were talking dana 60 I'd say go for it. but this is an itty bitty D30. when you nuke your outters I'll be laughing

OneArmRedneck

My cousins have welded their 30's up and we trail a lot; never had a problem and they've been locked up since last summer.

Edit: Weld SLOW, DON'T overheat! The most important thing you can do when welding inside a diff is to take your time and don't overheat your gears or they'll get brittle on you.

holycaveman

Sometimes I think Atmos wheels by himself mostly. LOL

Xj88

THIS.

I failed to see where an open stock xj couldn't make it up..

Atmos

very small groups. I have no patience and hate wating for people. I know break downs are part of wheeling but I really try to avoid people who are high risk or slow wheelers




also. who the *** wants to trailer a practically stock XJ just so they can have a welded front end?


CherokeeForum be like - "sway bars and lift height and long arms oh my!"
but then be like - "welded Dana 30?? dude thats a great idea you should totally weld a stock axle."

freegdr

Tire with tread make a big difference also