How long until my DANA 30 goes out wuth 345HP

[drmn99]

I have spent the last six years without winning the lottery and managed to build my 69 from the ground up. At first like most took it down to frame thinking overnight success. As it sits now I have 4-1/2" lift disc brakes around, Jegs 302 345HP motor C-4 tranner built for motor and a dana 20 tranfer case with dana 30 front end. We decided to go with 4.56 gears. Next week will be the maydin voyage and from what I have read I do not think the dana 30 is going to last long.

 

[70_Steve]

from what I have read I do not think the dana 30 is going to last long.

I think it's all in how you drive it. I went out a couple months ago with a guy in a J@@p Cherokee. Had a Dana 30 up front, and a Dana 44 in the rear. This guy could go just about anyplace, and has been doing it for years.

 

[broncnaz]

Ditto
depends on how you drive and what type of 4x4 wheeling your doing if your on the rocks then it might not last long when you mash the gas pedal. especailly if running over 33in tires.

 

[Broncoloupy]

The jeep Dana 30 is much stronger than our earlier counterpart. It is up to you for how long it lasts. Leave it open diff and dont bounce uder throttle and it may live a little while but it will not last for regular wheeling. I am guessing 35" tars,dems pretty big for a d30;D Hell 31s are big for a 30;D

 

[40cent]

how long is your driveway?

 

[kntr]

Our dana 30 lasted till we found a dana 44...... it was still on the trailer that we brought it home on. Find a dana 44. They are not that hard to find and can be found fairly cheap.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Most of my front end drivetrain breakage has involved pressing multiple pedals at the same time. The one exception was backing up at full lock pivoting on the rear bumper on hard rock.

If it sees mostly pavment the D30 will last a good long time.
Mud, generally will be good.
Landing on something with good traction while the wheels are spinning, stuff will go boom.

My D30 lasted behind my built 351/NP435 until I was high centered on a rock. Applying gas and brake at the same time to try and lock up the posi kinda worked. The spider gear blew, locked up the diff into a spool and got me off. Then a trip to the cinders finished it off stripping nearly every tooth behind the front cover.

 

[broncomaster]

One 4 wheel smoke show attempt. Really, they will last along time unless your heading for the rocks.

 

[orange69]

I wheeled mine for several years. 33's for awhile then went to 35's. My other bronco friends were alway amazed how long that axle lived. Then all of a sudden one day out wheeling in the snow and Pow! so long spiders and carrier. It blew when I didn't think there was any stress on it. I mean snow is generally easier on drivetrain than mud or rocks. Like every else said run it till it breaks.

Good Luck!

 

[jbbies]

I have a dana 30 in my bronco...I have done some thinking...no doubt the 44 is the better option but for me it has been hard to find one, when i do someone wants a fortune for it...I was reading an article in one of my 4wheel drive magazines and they are beefing up the dana 30. I really think it could last longer than some give it credit for. Now if your serious then go with the 44 but if you going to do a lot of highway driving and some light to mild off roading then I bet our dana 30s will do fine...hey if they break people pretty much give them away so finding parts or a new one may be the cheaper way

 

[gjrock]

They are weak.I have seen many break on pretty basic hills.

 

[Scrapper_MV]

Stay off the skinny pedal when the steering wheel is turned and you should be good for a little while.

 

[racebronco]

I busted my first D30 open diff in the sand dunes. blew some parts out of the top & found my carrier broke in half. found another D30 & busted it a week later in the desert, busted a side gear. had 31's, 4.10's, about 300hp, nv4500 & D20. both broke @ the open diff itself, if you go with a truetrack powerlock (these two carriers are much stronger than the stock open or tracklock & not as hard on axles as a detroit) , you might be ok for a while.

 

[Apogee]

...Now if your serious then go with the 44 but if you going to do a lot of highway driving and some light to mild off roading then I bet our dana 30s will do fine...hey if they break people pretty much give them away so finding parts or a new one may be the cheaper way

If you're really serious, go with a Dana 60 (or Rockwell, Mog, etc)...otherwise Dana 44's are better than a Dana 30, but they're far from being the do-all, end-all solution up front. Sinking money into a 30 is like putting lipstick on a pig IMHO.