To weld or not to weld?
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,592
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From: oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho 99 intake ps pump 1" tb spacer 62mm bored tb eletric fans and more
I am wheeling with stock joints locked. Some guys can break an anvil. Some don't. Same trail.
Guy wanted to know if he could weld a stock 30 for a trail jeep? Not what the very best would be. Because that would be to throw out the Dana 30.
I just know too many guys running welded spiders to say no.
Where we wheel you hold it to the limiter hoping for that lucky bounce to get you to the top.
And that is because crawling just isn't enough.
From a couple weeks ago
lefty Heiney farms - YouTube
Guy wanted to know if he could weld a stock 30 for a trail jeep? Not what the very best would be. Because that would be to throw out the Dana 30.
I just know too many guys running welded spiders to say no.
Where we wheel you hold it to the limiter hoping for that lucky bounce to get you to the top.
And that is because crawling just isn't enough.
From a couple weeks ago
lefty Heiney farms - YouTube
OP. you can weld it, it might last for a bit but remember not to rod hard with the tires turned or binded. if the front tires come off the ground let off the gas before the tires hit the ground or chances are your going to kill the axle. remember itll get you by but its not going to last long. My guess you put the 8.8 in the back for a reason. maybe to replace a dana35?
and BTW the dana HP44 going in my rig will be welded but it has locking hubs.
actually he asked do you think the 30 will hold up long to being welded on 35s and trail use only. and I understand all to well about pinning my ears back and going for it, four 8.25 rears and now two dana 30 fronts later Im going to bigger axle. but ive also learned there is more skill in picking the correct line and knowing how hard you could push it.
OP. you can weld it, it might last for a bit but remember not to rod hard with the tires turned or binded. if the front tires come off the ground let off the gas before the tires hit the ground or chances are your going to kill the axle. remember itll get you by but its not going to last long. My guess you put the 8.8 in the back for a reason. maybe to replace a dana35?
and BTW the dana HP44 going in my rig will be welded but it has locking hubs.
OP. you can weld it, it might last for a bit but remember not to rod hard with the tires turned or binded. if the front tires come off the ground let off the gas before the tires hit the ground or chances are your going to kill the axle. remember itll get you by but its not going to last long. My guess you put the 8.8 in the back for a reason. maybe to replace a dana35?
and BTW the dana HP44 going in my rig will be welded but it has locking hubs.
Wow I am impressed, 4 8.25’s!
That's not being afraid of the skinny pedal. LOL
I am slow and methodical. I probably could wheel 38’s on a Dana 30. But I do have to replace the axle joints constantly. And that gets old.
I think that welding has too many variables for any argument to be 100 percent correct. One guy that it worked for may have been using a different shielding gas mixture than the other,a different type if wire, quite thickness, speed and voltage settings. Skill is different as well. There is no constant like there is with one locker type or a spool even. If it's what you want to do with your rug and your confident in your abilities, get after it. If not. Do more research before you decide. Ave at least if you do it and it breaks or you don't like it, that's what wheeling is about, trial and error for the best set up.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 800
Likes: 3
From: The Dirty 530
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Renix I6
Weld up a D30 carrier? sure you could.
But consider this; you have now made some other component a guaranteed
fusible link. The carrier and gears (spider) are taken out of the equation of weak components,
(this is assuming that the welding was done right) and R&P are next in line. (just my theory)
U-joints, Shafts, and R&P are all taking a beating from the resistances that those 35's are dishing out.....and....its just a matter of time.
But hey if D30's are cheap & plenty where you are, just throw caution to the wind.
Personally I love my Aussie locker. When not in 4wd I don't even feel it there.
But I'm on 32's and not crazy about the skinny pedal unless I really need it.
That 8.8 your running however will be fine locked on 35's
But you know that........
But consider this; you have now made some other component a guaranteed
fusible link. The carrier and gears (spider) are taken out of the equation of weak components,
(this is assuming that the welding was done right) and R&P are next in line. (just my theory)
U-joints, Shafts, and R&P are all taking a beating from the resistances that those 35's are dishing out.....and....its just a matter of time.
But hey if D30's are cheap & plenty where you are, just throw caution to the wind.
Personally I love my Aussie locker. When not in 4wd I don't even feel it there.
But I'm on 32's and not crazy about the skinny pedal unless I really need it.
That 8.8 your running however will be fine locked on 35's
But you know that........
Last edited by fallenknight308; Sep 14, 2013 at 02:02 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 100
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
why don't you all just pull out yer diks and get this pissing match over with.
the reason you don't weld a front axle on our jeeps is simply because without the locking hubs, you just won't be able to steer while in 4wd.
good luck getting up over the rut and around the tree.
sure you could use the vac disco axle, but those have the small, weak 260 u-joints, which you will break many in just one tough run.
get a non disco axle with 297/760 joints, throw in an auto locker like lock-rite and stfu already.
the reason you don't weld a front axle on our jeeps is simply because without the locking hubs, you just won't be able to steer while in 4wd.
good luck getting up over the rut and around the tree.
sure you could use the vac disco axle, but those have the small, weak 260 u-joints, which you will break many in just one tough run.
get a non disco axle with 297/760 joints, throw in an auto locker like lock-rite and stfu already.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
why don't you all just pull out yer diks and get this pissing match over with.
the reason you don't weld a front axle on our jeeps is simply because without the locking hubs, you just won't be able to steer while in 4wd.
good luck getting up over the rut and around the tree.
sure you could use the vac disco axle, but those have the small, weak 260 u-joints, which you will break many in just one tough run.
get a non disco axle with 297/760 joints, throw in an auto locker like lock-rite and stfu already.
the reason you don't weld a front axle on our jeeps is simply because without the locking hubs, you just won't be able to steer while in 4wd.
good luck getting up over the rut and around the tree.
sure you could use the vac disco axle, but those have the small, weak 260 u-joints, which you will break many in just one tough run.
get a non disco axle with 297/760 joints, throw in an auto locker like lock-rite and stfu already.

if you have locking hubs guess what. YOU WONT BE ABLE TO STEER IN 4WD EITHER. because the hubs are locked
this thread has been dead for 3 days until you brought it back up. but yeah sure. we'll hurry up and get this pissing match over
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 100
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
that was my first time on this site in a week, so it was in my new posts fugger.
my post was intended to be tongue-in-cheek adding a little bit of humour into this boring forum. lol
and as for the locking hubs, have you ever heard of locking only one side so you have the ability to turn.
geez you guys are amateurs. lol.
but don't listen to us, weld it up and let the shrapnel fly!!!
my post was intended to be tongue-in-cheek adding a little bit of humour into this boring forum. lol
and as for the locking hubs, have you ever heard of locking only one side so you have the ability to turn.
geez you guys are amateurs. lol.
but don't listen to us, weld it up and let the shrapnel fly!!!
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 0
From: oregon
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho 99 intake ps pump 1" tb spacer 62mm bored tb eletric fans and more
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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