Who has had the Dana 30 in their JK fail?

[Happy Joe]

While I have relatively little experience with the modern (post 1995) Dana 30s; I continue to run the old school (forward cut small u-joint) weaker version with 35s quite successfully on difficult to very difficult trails with moderate traction 35x12.50 BFG mud tires.
Since the u-joints on OEM axles were upgraded to the larger/stronger joints around 1995 (thus eliminating the weakest part of the D30) I would have few concerns running most near normal 35 inch tires on newer axles... some high traction tires could cause issues and almost certainly some high traction 37/38s could result in breakage if abused.
I suspect that going to a better ball joint will solve the ball joint issues (we didn't experience any problems above normal wear with 38s on the old school D44s (we did have to significantly rework the fronts (turn the Cs) to get acceptable driveshaft, u-joint, and caster angles; due more to the lift needed to clear the tires than the actual tire size).

If I break the last set of antique D30 axle shafts I will simply drop in an (antique/weaker than the modern ones) D44 front...
You guys with the JK series have got relatively tough/strong parts, be happy!
Enjoy!

 

[kojackJKU]

People on the internet talk as if the D30 is made of paper, it gets wet and its done. Maybe its all the Toyota cruiser owners spreading most of the negativity. ha ha.

 

[BCobe]

I've seen a WJ wheeled fequently on 37s with a D30 and the stock aluminum 44a for a few months before the guy swapped in bigger axles. Never broke a shaft or anything. The D30 isn't indestructible, but if you're not getting air time and you're reasonable about how you treat it, it's not going to just explode as soon as you hit dirt.

I wheeled a WJ with the 4.7 on 15 inch steelies , 35 inch KM2's and all time four wheel and never had a problem. I was more concerned about the rear axle being an issue than the front.

I cannot comment on the JK's 30 but if it held up like my old WJ's, I wouldn't be super concerned.