With what Eddie said here I can understand it. (Just using your comment, not commenting you perse)
With the R&P being the only real difference between a D44 and a D30, I will take my chances with the D30. A quality set of axles and a quality R&P will help the D30. Additional strengthening can be added if the user wishes. Also, most of the breaks I have heard of on this subject have mostly been the 5:13 ratio.
Actually, I think I did say that "shafts" are also different and most of the D30 breaks I have seen have been at the shafts.
It has also been said that the Pinion is small and the Ring is thin compared to a 4:88 lets say.
Actually, a 5.13 is a "thick" gear, just small in diameter and with a pinion that is really small. There are only about 1 and half teeth that actually make good contact with the ring gear.
I firmly believe the way the vehicle is driven also has a major factor in breaking stuff. Eddie breaking a Dana 60 probably wasn't from him and his wife running to the mall real quick to get a new pair of shoes. He wheels his Jeep smartly (most the time), but he is also traversing some big stuff.... Certainly not everyone wheels as hard as the next Jeeper.
Like I said, everyone has their own idea of what "wheeling hard" or "often" really is. As far as wheeling "smartly" goes, I'd like to think that I always try to wheel smartly and sometimes, different conditions just require different methods.
Everything about this axle debate is completely subjective and can be approached from many different angles.
The only thing that is subjective is in what others consider to be "wheeling hard". :yup:
The D30 is also cheaper to fix. A PR44 is pretty expensive for the average person to just go out and buy, then factor gears, axle shafts, lockers...etc. I think the D30 gives your average user a very good platform to learn how to use the vehicle off road and if a break occurs, they can fix it relatively cheap. It also allows a said user the time to save up for something larger if they so choose.
I'm all for playing with what you got until you break it or can afford to upgrade - that just makes sense. As far as "cheaper" goes, it still makes no sense to me to build up a D30 when you could just as easily save up and get something that won't be breaking on you in the first place. Of course, I've never seen where having money in your pocket gets you fixed up and off the trail. :crazyeyes:
The Outer sleeves are made by a couple companies. The one I am going to go with is made by RSE (
www.rockslideengineering.com) Also you can run chromoly axles and a good ring and pinion. Stronger U-Joints for your axles will help as well. You can also run inner sleeves if you so desire. That prettye much cover what I can think of. I will actually be using everything I mentioned. I am going to be using the RSE outer sleeve kit, and the Artec armor kit from Northridge 4x4 on both axles. G2 R&P (4:88) & chromoly axle shafts. I will also be using an ARB in the D30 and most likely a Detroit out back in the D44. I will be RSE sleeving the rear D44 as well. it a lot I know, but it allows me to use what I have already and for a long time. I hope this helps a little bit.
Sorry for all of the misspellings too, yeesh. I am tired...lol
There are over 2 million JK's on the road today. I have personally seen 3 axle housing breaks and heard of only about a dozen others. Truth be told, axle housing breaks are very rare and are the exception, not the rule. Sleeves are totally unnecessary and outer sleeves even more so. But, that's just me.
just to add...the axle shafts in a D44 are also slightly larger and have a higher spline count, than a D30, which add strength. But running 35's and shorter gears I.E 4.88 or lower and you will obviously fair much better than the guys with 37's on 5.13's.
Thanks for the addition Chris. I was under the impression the axle shafts were the same as far as diameter. Good to know for when if I decide to jump up to the larger 37's and PR44.
What Chris said, the axle shafts on a D44 are bigger, have a higher spline count and have bigger u-joints. In a word, they are stronger than a D30 shaft.
