Nt Dana 30 Parts?

I am moving from a Dana 27 to a NT Dana 30 for by build. The question I am trying to find the answer for is will the Dana 27 spindle and hub interchange with Dana 30?

I have a Dana 27 with leaking inner seals that I would need someone to fix for me. Not much more to have the Dana 30 set up (with me doing all the work but setting up the gears).

I will be posting the Dana 27 whole or parted out in the future.

Thanks

RVSwisher

 

D27 and D30 spindles do not interchange.
But the hubs, the wheel bearings and cups can be interchanged.

 

Great news, I will move the hubs as I put new cups and bearings in them.

Rebuilding a Jeep is always a adventure, but making some good progress this summer.

 

If possible, pick up a D-30 NT complete that has disc brakes. the '77 1/2 - '78 offers the larger rotors. If you already have a 30 and need spindles, get spindles for disc brakes. They are a little stronger.

 

Really?
I have used combinations of d25/27/30 spindles and hubs in my jeeps. The only real difference is the disk 30 vs everything else. Even the early d25 stuff has worked with the right bearings on d30 stuff..

Am I wrong? Seemed work work for me..

 

as far as i know the only reason to get the early disks is that they work with the GM calipers, that's why I used them.

 

NO, the early d30 did not use GM calipers. They did in '79?? and up. Early 30's had the large rotors with calipers that look similar to the Ford style of the era. A much easier system.
Regardless.....the disc brake spindle is a upgrade.

 

Concerning spindle progression 1941-1985.
Pre Dana 30 spindles are all basically the same excepting a few relatively minor details like early thrust bushings and various ID’s that were used.
MB / GPW and CJ2A used a bronze thrust washer while later spindles used a combo sleeve and thrust washer.
The M38 and A1 had a smaller ID bore to beef up the strength.
Otherwise spindles (not bearings ) were fully interchangeable from 41-71.
D30 spindle ID is machined different in order to accept s caged roller and special seals to support the open axle shaft.
The D30 disk brake spindle uses same outer bearing / cup as previous D30 axle assemblies.

 

What Oldtime said. The open knuckle Dana 30 spindles are far different in the axle bearing and seal area and while they bolt up really are not right to use.
No Jeep CJ Dana 30 used GM calipers. This is a conversion that with the right parts works well. The “thick rotor” disc brakes used late ‘77-‘79 were basically Ford/IH Scout calipers. I’ve used them interchangeably between the 3.

 

I never said the d30 came with GM calipers, just that I used them with the thick rotors.

I did the conversion using the GM calipers and backer plates with the thick jeep rotors. At the time is was cheaper than any other option. From a practical standpoint the d30 drum spindles use the same bearings and seals as the earlier d25/27. There is a difference as Old-time stated with the bushing vs bearing in the d30. The d30 disk uses the same cups for the bearings and the same outer cone while using a thinner bearing cone and seal inboard to accommodate the larger OD of the spindle. You can even get the d25 2a spindles to work with any drum bearing setup. Its not perfect, but works when you don't have the specific wheel bearing for the early.

I have a pile of random spindles I have bored out for FF and just spares. They all measure the same. The hubs are a bit different over the years, with the disk hubs being the ones you want for disk brakes.. I believe they are the only ones that can be sourced new now anyway. I did buy a couple omix/crown d30 disk hubs and they work just fine.

 

I just put a D30 in my Jeep. If the 30 has the 6 bolt caliper mount you can use the GM parts. The kits they sell for a D27 will work. Was told the Ford disc do not release and one side does all the work. When I tore down my D30, a pad was wore out on one side the other side was not wore that much. All the bearings stay the same

 

yes, with the right combination of WHEEL BEARING cups and cones any of the hubs and spindles can work. It’s common to machine the back of the bearing hub to fit a rotor.
What I said is the AXLE BEARING and seal are markedly different between the closed knuckle and open knuckle spindles. Some refer to these as the inner spindle bearing. This is the bearing and seal that the outer axle ride on inside the spindle. Closed knuckle spindles have no provision to keep debris out on the back side when used in an open knuckle application. I’ve done all these various conversions including the internal hub using Ford hub and rotors. Been doing them for around 26-27 years. At one job I sold kits to do these conversions along with 11” drum brake conversions among other things.
I also have the GM caliper and bracket using the thick rotors on my personal CJ-5 because parts are readily available and inexpensive.

 

Thanks for all the information. I have an early 30 with drum brakes. I am going to stay with drums for now as i have a full set that was completely rebuilt for the dana 27. Looking at the axle shields (which can be a problem for drum brake 30’s) they look good and useable.

I will look for a disk brake 30 around and swap outer axels and knuckles when I get a chance, though low on the list of jeep tasks right now.

 

As another option, you may want to read through the following thread. The data I added was from when I upgraded my Dana 30.

Front Disc Brake Tutorial

 

Thank you. I will look it over.

 

Interesting enough, I found a Dana 30 with the large (1-1/8”) disk brakes within a few hours of me for $50. I am torn, as I could grab this axle and not have to deal with the parts issues (outer shield on the knuckle) that seem to be a problem for the drum brake dana 30s. I have a set of 11” brakes ready built on the dana 27 (which I am sure I could sell and get most of my money back).

Thoughts??? Either way, I have to do a gear change to 4.88. Do I just go with the large disk brakes and be done with it???

 

For that price it seems like you should just go with the disk brake 30 and sell the rest of the stuff.

 

This. Or use the front 11” drums on the rear if you don’t already have them.

 

Another D30 parts question? From what I have read on this post and others, I think I have this correctly:

1. All Dana 30 housing are the same
2. All Dana 30 inner axels are the same
3. Dana 30 drum brake knuckles are different than Dana 30 disk knuckles
   1. This is to hold the disk calipers instead of the drum backing plates
4. All Dana 30 spindles fit into any Dana 30 knuckle
5. Dana 30 drum spindles are different from disk spindles
   1. The axel bearing and seals are different between the two (inside bearing to carry the axel).
   2. The bearing surface for the hub bearing are different
   3. The axel seals are different
   4. The outer axels have a different diameter between the drum and disk axles (this is why the inside bearing is different).

So here is my question. Can I build my current Dana 30 housing (which is in great shape) and use the drum knuckles but use the disk axels and spindles? (I already have the 11” Brakes built to go around the truck and keep the disk knuckles for an latter upgrade)? I know I would need to change the inner hub cup and bearing to match the disk spindle.

Does this sound doable? This would allow me to keep my investment in the drum brakes (and not duplicate having to build disk set at this time) but give me the stronger spindles and better seals.

I hope my question makes sense.

 

This may give you some insight Best narrow track Dana 30 iteration questions