Re: Disconnects okay?
SARgroundpounder said:
First, let me just say wow! -- Ed Stevens. It was good to see your name. I was on the old XJ-List in '97-'99 and you were burning up the board then too.
Now for my question:
I'm in the hunt for an HP D30 w/out disconnect and with the bigger u-joints too. They've been really hard to find and pretty expensive when I do.
I'm now thinking about converting my disconnect d30 to that Superior offering with the special ARB.
Am I wasting money converting a disconnect D30?
-Kevin
'89 XJ
San Jose, CA
Good to see old names, too.
Any 96 to 99 XJ D30 should be hi-pinion, non-disconnect, with the larger u-joints.
The Superior and Warn axles and stubs are worth the expense, if you run hard trails and 33's or taller tires. The addition of heavy duty bushing style u-joints make these axles very reliable with 35's (unless you are bent on distruction).
The stock Spicer axles seem to be fine for most people with 33's, as long as the larger factory 297X u-joints are retained with full circle 1 1/8-inch snap rings (requires minor cutting or grinding of the axle yoke ears). I read very few reports of u-joint failures, and resulting axle failures, after modifying the cap retention with snap rings (this is the preferred method with the Superior and Warn axle shafts).
I am also surprised how many XJ owners report good axle shaft reliability running 33's with the smaller 260X u-joints, after doing the same retention exercise with 1-inch snap rings (successful enough to motivate me snap ring my spare 260X axles and stubs).
I would not consider converting a disconnect housing a waste, unless you plan an upgrade in the near future, or find a great deal on a later axle. The disconnect passenger side UCA mount is cast, and stronger than the non-disconnect mount.
Be aware, if you do an axle swap, a later (91-02) axle will sport different knuckles and brakes (compared to the 84-90) so your spares will not fit (even as the axle shafts will).