Dana 30 U-joints?

Hi everybody. I just joined 15 minutes ago and this is my 1st thread. Im building a dana 30 front axle for my 98 xj. The front axle is from a 94 and has the smaller u joints with 1 and 1/16 caps. I plan on re-gearing to 4.56's and a detroit locker. I also plan to use the axles with larger (1 and 3/16) caps from my 98's front end. My 2 questions are... are the axles with larger u-joints from my 98 a direct swap? And whats a good strong u joint to run in them for daily driving and occasional hard wheeling. Im not looking for a CTM or a super joint. A friend told me NAPA super duty's are good but from their part number I think it might be a napa-pakaged "Precision" u-joint made by Federal-Mogul. Also I heard debates that Dana spicer 5-760x is a forged replacement for the stock 5-297x. I guess I have a 3rd question too. Greasable or non-greasable. I tend to favor greasable. But only through the cap as in the cross weakens it. I guess im just looking for opinions. Thanks

direct swap, pulll older/smaller insert newer/bigger.

for joints, I just get whatever I can at NAPA. I don't have chromo shafts, so don't see a need for super strong joints (when one goes the others toast so why $$ on one but not the other IMO)

I don't DD my XJ anymore, but I normally went with non greasable when I did DD it.

someone with better info should chime in, but I feel that unless your spending big $$ on shafts, the joints don't need to be top $$ either. find some your happy with and then have a spare... shaft and joint that is.

Non greasable, 5-760x, grind shafts for full circle clips

goodburbon said:

Non greasable, 5-760x, grind shafts for full circle clips

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x2. Held up great on 35s.

What size tires do you plan on running? You might want to ask around to see how a detroit in the front handles on the road, unless you are putting in un-locking hubs.
Also, depending on how much you plan on building it or spending I have a fully built, locked, high steer Dana 30 that i am debating on selling that would save you lots of time and money. If your interested let me know.

sik4wheeler said:

What size tires do you plan on running? You might want to ask around to see how a detroit in the front handles on the road, unless you are putting in un-locking hubs.
Also, depending on how much you plan on building it or spending I have a fully built, locked, high steer Dana 30 that i am debating on selling that would save you lots of time and money. If your interested let me know.

Click to expand...

I use a detroit in the front and do not know it's there on the road.

I plan on running 33's. I currently have 6.5 inches of lift. I need tires soon and have my stock height 235 75 15's. It looks really silly up there with small tires. Im building axles in my spare time so i can just swap them in and not worry about having my daily driver laid up and hustling to re-gear etc. Im think im going to go with the dana 5-760x and carry spare axles when I beat on it. Im not worried about the locker in front because it won't "act up" when not in 4wd. My other car is a 69 dodge dart swinger with a 340 /4spd. and 3.91's w/ detroit locker rear and it was my daily driver for a while.

Thanks ... im so happy to find you. Not many 4 wheel fans in SF.

I figure if I have 3 lockers in 2 vehicles i can sleep a happy man.

Also thanks for the offer sik4wheeler but im building axles as an exercise and a labor of love. Ive built a few diffs and installed a few lockers and feel rusty. Plus ive got money / parts in axles currently. I cant wait to run lockers on the road too so I can mount some stupid stuff with my jeep in down town san francisco. Heres a pic