Dana 30?......
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From: Dallas
Dana 30?......
Currently rebuilding a '70 bronc from frame up... will not be used off road much.. mostly street driving. I have a toms bronco parts 5.5" lift, plan on mounting 35's. Can the dana 30 axle hold up to the 35's if it is just norm street driving?
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Columbia, Illinois
Dana 30?......
In my opinion, the Dana 30 should be fine. It uses the same wheel bearings as the Dana 44, so I don't think you would have any problems for street driving. Don't undersell the 30. I know everyone today wants at minimum of a Dana 44 , Dana 60 or whatever. 90% of people would probably never break a Dana 30 with street driving and some mild off roading. Most people don't need "extreme" parts. I just recently swapped my 66 Dana 30 to a Dana 44, but only because I had it available as well as a matching Big bearing 9" rear. I just did a 5.0 SEFI swap in my 66 and didn't really want to run 4.11's with the v-8. But I would have if I hadn't gotten the new ones. My 30 was in excellent condition, only needing king pins and axle u-joints after 35 years of service. (Completely stock Bronco, though)
Mike
66 Bronco 5.0 SEFI
00 F150 Supercab 4.2
Mike
66 Bronco 5.0 SEFI
00 F150 Supercab 4.2
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Southern Oregon USA
Dana 30?......
If it will see nothing but street duty, then the 30 will do fine. Like Mike said, it uses the same bearings and spindle sizes as the 44 does.
But, if you plan on even mild use in 4wd, the Dana 30 will not hold up for long with 35's. There is so much strength gained by going to the 44 over the 30. The ring gear is larger, the axle shafts are a larger diameter and have more splines. Even the housings are a lot stronger. And they are upgradeable to 3/4 ton sized u joints very easily. The Bronco 44 uses the same size u joints as the 30.
You can find good used Bronco 44's (drum brake) for around the $300- 350 mark if you are willing to look around and wait for the right deal.
For now, you can do what I did and keep the Dana 30 until it breaks and have the 44 ready to swap when it does.
With new ujoints, my 30 lasted one trip with 33" Swampers. I broke both axles, and split the carrier in half which also tore up the ring and pinion. And I have a pretty gentle driving style, so it wasn't a matter of too much skinny pedal.
Jason
But, if you plan on even mild use in 4wd, the Dana 30 will not hold up for long with 35's. There is so much strength gained by going to the 44 over the 30. The ring gear is larger, the axle shafts are a larger diameter and have more splines. Even the housings are a lot stronger. And they are upgradeable to 3/4 ton sized u joints very easily. The Bronco 44 uses the same size u joints as the 30.
You can find good used Bronco 44's (drum brake) for around the $300- 350 mark if you are willing to look around and wait for the right deal.
For now, you can do what I did and keep the Dana 30 until it breaks and have the 44 ready to swap when it does.
With new ujoints, my 30 lasted one trip with 33" Swampers. I broke both axles, and split the carrier in half which also tore up the ring and pinion. And I have a pretty gentle driving style, so it wasn't a matter of too much skinny pedal.
Jason
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From: Dallas
Dana 30?......
thanks you guys....... guess will keep the 30.. untill it breaks anyways - - - any ideas on how to clean 30 years of grease and grime off of the axle before i paint them? tried superclean and power washing... out comes the crowbar hehe.. anyone have any tips?
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 164
Likes: 3
From: Columbia, Illinois
Dana 30?......
you need to find a hot water high pressure washer. Try some local rental yards. I mean something like 2500 or 3000 psi. I work at a John Deere dealer and we have a LP fired 3000 psi pressure washer, and let me tell you, Grease and dirt don't have a chance.
Mike
66 Bronco 5.0 SEFI
00 F150 Supercab 4.2
Mike
66 Bronco 5.0 SEFI
00 F150 Supercab 4.2
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