[Ben]

You'll often find more issues than expected on a used vehicle.
I'd bet your D30 last a while longer with new U joints.
If it's bent, top off the fluid, if not, do the seals.
No reason to buy a whole new axle, but I can't fault ECGS for offering to sell you one.

 

[biffgnar]

If you do consider a replacement axle, doesn't ECGS sell an HP30? With good shafts that would work fine for your use and seems a lot easier than them having to completely redo your front end and steering to put in a JK axle.

 

[greeninwyo]

Personally I'd just replace the seals and some new u joints for now. A TJ Dana 30 and 44 both run the same ujoints but the jk D44 runs a larger one. My failures on a D30 where the ears on the shafts (chromoly's) would break and not the u joint. I ended up going to RCVs and have had zero issues since and I'm running 4.88, arb locker, 35s with a 5 speed and atlas 5 to 1and I rock crawl with it

 

[BlueTJWrangler]

If you do consider a replacement axle, doesn't ECGS sell an HP30? With good shafts that would work fine for your use and seems a lot easier than them having to completely redo your front end and steering to put in a JK axle.

Thanks to everyone for the advice! After talking to ECGS we decided on going with a HP30, ARB air locker, and beefing it up with gussets and sleeves. Hopefully this will be the end of things for a while and I can get back to enjoying my jeep and tinkering with minor things. This has been a learning adventure for sure. ECGS have been very helpful and I have to say I highly recommend them if you are in the triangle area.

 

[biffgnar]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! After talking to ECGS we decided on going with a HP30, ARB air locker, and beefing it up with gussets and sleeves. Hopefully this will be the end of things for a while and I can get back to enjoying my jeep and tinkering with minor things. This has been a learning adventure for sure. ECGS have been very helpful and I have to say I highly recommend them if you are in the triangle area.

They are upselling you on the sleeves and gussets. Not necessary on that axle. If you want to spend the money put mini-skids on the lower control arm mounts and do the upper Johnny Joint conversion. Those are changes that make a difference and are much easier done when the axle is not under the jeep.

 

[toximus]

If you do consider a replacement axle, doesn't ECGS sell an HP30? With good shafts that would work fine for your use and seems a lot easier than them having to completely redo your front end and steering to put in a JK axle.

ECGS can do TJ Cs too.

 

[biffgnar]

ECGS can do TJ Cs too.

If I were going to do a front axle swap and stick to TJ outers it would not be on a JK 44. But as has been posted above the HP30 is a good option for him.