high pinion dana 30 swap - very long with pictures - Page 3

douger69 · 03-31-2008, 10:49 PM

Great write up... I just put my d30 into a wall so I figured I start looking for the common sense swap. Sure enough another forum member comes through again. If your ever in Michigan I'll buy you a case of those bud's...

Doug

Diablosjeep · 04-01-2008, 12:24 AM

Great write up! It was like being there, but I was drinking Busch Light instead of the Bud. I guess my beer budget is tighter!! Great work.

camper49 · 04-01-2008, 07:30 AM

I'm happy that some of you can make use of my story and pictures...thanks for the replies.

A few posts back, someone mentioned it isn't that difficult to swap the front axle out. I agree....that's why I was able to do it myself. But the axle wasn't already cleaned up and overhauled when I bought it. I took it apart to inspect it earlier on. I took a chance with the unknown history of the junkyard purchase, and was prepared to pull it back out and have it rebuilt if necessary. I discussed some of that thinking in my first chapter. I did later swap out the ball joints, but I don't think it was needed yet. Below are links to the whole story if anyone wants to read it.

The stuff I put together has a ton of pictures and will be a problem for slow internet connections.

essay 1 - my axles for swap

essay 2 - my belly up skid

essay 3 - my rear axle goes in

essay 4 - my front high pinion dana 30 goes in

essay 5 - final details and test drive

So far, I've been able to do all my stuff myself out of my tool box, and everything has worked well. I've installed a few more parts. I'm still reading up about my next purchases. I need some rocker bars and other armor.

bradman16 · 07-30-2010, 10:45 PM

hey, that's cool, well done - the work and the write-up. Thanks for sharing, it's guys like you that keep the internet and hobbies in general fun. Cheers

dest · 01-25-2011, 08:41 AM

As someone planning on swapping out a D30 for another, this is exactly what I wanted to read. Thanks.

**Fropleyqk** · 01-25-2011, 08:55 AM

Great job and thanks for taking the time to document so in depth. Man that axle is purdy.

**outlawsix** · 01-06-2012, 09:30 AM

Since it has been a while...did you have any issues at all with using the factory front drive shaft with the HP30? Im awaiting my rear drive shaft and SYE now. Thank you again for the write up, i have referenced it a few times while doing my lift and axle swap.

AJeep · 01-06-2012, 12:13 PM

Im getting ready to install my HPD30. I am gona use this write up as refernce. Thanks

RaggedOleMan · 01-06-2012, 01:08 PM

Outstanding write-up! Gave you a well deserved "thumbs-up", too.

Regarding the differences in the unit bearings...again, great job!

Regarding the centering ball; I recently swapped mine out. This was the first time I did it by myself. Several years ago when this issue (screaming/angry squirrels) first came up I ended up buying a new drive shaft from the dealer upon their urging...never again! Worth noting also is that the tabs on that yolk, aren't bullet proof. Don't ask...

RckyMtnTJ · 05-14-2012, 12:03 AM

Quote:

These are the adjustment bolts for the front lower control arms to set the caster angle. By rotating the bolt head, the shank will move along the elongated hole in the frame mount. Since the control arm bushing is a round hole, the axle has to rotate when you dial the bolt head. My rubicon express suspension lift kit will have adjustable arms, so I won't need these for the reinstall.

...more below....

Did your XJ axle not have the elongated holes, or did you use some other method to keep the axle from moving within the elongated holes? I'm swapping in some Savvy arms with my Dana 30. Can I buy some solid washers in order to use the Savvy greasable bolts?

**99_TJ_Wyoming** · 05-14-2012, 12:33 AM

Yes, a fairly thick washer on each side seated within the horse shoe shaped guide will keep the bolts centered.

**mrblaine** · 05-14-2012, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RckyMtnTJ

Did your XJ axle not have the elongated holes, or did you use some other method to keep the axle from moving within the elongated holes? I'm swapping in some Savvy arms with my Dana 30. Can I buy some solid washers in order to use the Savvy greasable bolts?

No XJ's with the exception of the 2000 and 2001 have elongated holes in the lower control arm front mounts. And only then because they are low pinions from the TJ.

If you have the Savvy arms, they are supposed to have a large fender washer for the front lowers that go under the regular heavy washers to center the arm bolts in the horseshoes.

RckyMtnTJ · 05-15-2012, 12:29 AM

I am swapping in another low pinion TJ axle so I still have the horse shoes. I was looking at the bolts today. Each set of lower arms comes with 4 bolts, 8 thick washers, and two bigger but thinner washers. The bigger ones still are shy of filling the full horseshoe. I measure 1 5/8" washer needed and these were about 1/4" smaller. Also I only have 1/ arm. I would expect
to put be 2 per arm.

MarkNog · 09-11-2012, 11:23 AM

Bumping an old thread so people see this amazing amount of detailed pictures/information that you cannot find anywhere else.

You did an amazing job man, I hope to do the same... hp30, ford 8.8, 3.5 inch springs, ironman arms.s

mglenn6801 · 12-16-2012, 10:11 PM

X2!