AMC Eagle Den Forum

The Shop => Axle / Differential => Topic started by: Nightpath on September 08, 2014, 04:40:18 PM

Title: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 08, 2014, 04:40:18 PM
I will be swapping my current D30 (2.73) out for one from a SX/4 (3.54) to match the D35 going into my Eagle.

Questions :

Pinion seal : Will a pinion seal from a newer Jeep fit the bill for the driveshaft, or do I have to hunt for one for my Eagle (Hard to find around here and over priced)

Since the diff came off an SX/4, and it's going onto a 1986 Wagon, will it fit without a problem?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 10, 2014, 12:37:33 PM
Get the hanger from the passenger's side of the motor if the new axle is non-vacuum. There is an @ 2" difference in length because the early axles weren't vacuum. When they made vacuum ones, the housing got larger, so the hanger was made shorter. Later non-vacuum ones were made to take the shorter hanger.

Right (passenger's side) front axle seal is (Napa Oil Seal) NOS 12386;
 Left axle seal is NOS 13810
and front pinion seal is NOS 15788

Rear pinion seal is NOS 18444

Front pinion seal is the same as we got for my son's '96 Grand Cherokee low pinion D30 front this past weekend. $20 at Crappy tire (their own number was different but same number on the seal in the box)
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 10, 2014, 02:23:48 PM
The was no motor in the car when I pulled the front differential out. Any easy tells so I can see the difference?

I think the SX4 was from 1982
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 11, 2014, 02:13:42 AM
Look at the axle where it hangs on the pass side and compare it to your current one. Early one is much smaller diameter.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Draekon on September 11, 2014, 02:17:20 AM
If both are '82 or newer, they should be the same.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 11, 2014, 07:04:56 AM
Sx4 is an 81, my wagon is a 86.

Guess I'll have to look at finding a proper part if it doesn't match. As far as I know neither is vacuum so I guess that's a good thing.

Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 11, 2014, 07:18:47 PM
Ok I went out and measured the best I could. They appear to be the same size.

Is there a particular place I should measure to make sure?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 12, 2014, 01:16:17 AM
(http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q599/jimsclads/Eagle%20parts/a4d80b23.jpg)

You can see where the passenger's side axle attaches on the left side of this pic. This is an '80/81 axle that needs the longer bracket because of how small it is.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 12, 2014, 08:06:38 AM
So the part I'm looking at is the 2 holes on the top, or the 2 that go down the side?

The ones on the side of my spare diff look the same as the ones on the car now. Can't see the ones on the top but I suppose ramming a camera in there might help.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 12, 2014, 08:34:13 PM
WOuld you have a pic of the newer axle for comparison?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: captspillane on September 13, 2014, 09:05:41 AM
He's talking about the chunk of metal a few inches from the flange on the passenger side. The passenger side engine mount sticks down with two flaps that go on either side of that chunk. A bolt goes through both flaps and through the center of the hole, horizontal to the ground and from front to rear.

When they added the vacuum disconnect that chunk was on top of a cast housing, so it was higher up. They shortened the flaps coming down from the engine mount. Later when the disconnect went away in 1986 they made the chunks much higher and taller, which let the flaps stay short.

You should be able to just look at that picture and at your axle and see the difference. The chunk is much taller and rectangle instead of short and square.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 13, 2014, 11:16:44 AM
I can take a fresh pic with that in focus. The front diff is in my shed, awaiting time for me to re-bearing it.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 13, 2014, 09:33:42 PM
Here's my axle. Looks the same as the one you linked :

http://(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/nightpath/1986%20AMC%20Eagle/20140913_205911_zpsoruzlenk.jpg) (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/nightpath/media/1986%20AMC%20Eagle/20140913_205911_zpsoruzlenk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 14, 2014, 10:55:23 PM
It's the other end (off screen) that is different.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 15, 2014, 06:40:37 AM
Now I have no idea what we are talking about. Maybe I r be retarded
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 15, 2014, 06:44:24 AM
I was thinking the differential not axle....doh

What piece is it I need? Any pics?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: captspillane on September 15, 2014, 06:47:16 AM
He's talking about the chunk of metal a few inches from the flange on the passenger side. The passenger side engine mount sticks down with two flaps that go on either side of that chunk. A bolt goes through both flaps and through the center of the hole, horizontal to the ground and from front to rear.

That quote of mine from a few days ago should help.

The picture you just took is of the main casting. That hangs on the Driver Side and they are all identical. The only potential difference is below your Passenger side engine mount. The passenger side engine mount gets swapped if you go from the early nondisconnect ('80 and '81 only) with the short hole to a newer axle. It doesn't matter if the newer axle is disconnect ('82-'86) or nondisconnect ('87-'88).
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 15, 2014, 07:02:28 AM
Ahhh crap I see now...Going to have to see if I can find one.

If not I'm pure SoL unless someone has one to get rid of.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on September 15, 2014, 12:56:18 PM
Which are you putting in? The larger or smaller diameter housing?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 15, 2014, 01:37:16 PM
I'm putting the axle from the 81 into my 86.

I see that the axle I have in the pic has a shorter hanger block than the one installed on my Eagle. I'm heading over to the graveyard tonight to see if there are any that will work.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: captspillane on September 15, 2014, 02:43:02 PM
All you need to do is swap engine mounts along with the axle. The engine mounts are otherwise identical and there isn't anything else keeping you from putting an older axle into a newer Eagle.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on September 15, 2014, 04:51:11 PM
I'm putting an XJ engine into it.

I found a nice passenger side hanger from an 81. Was able to pull it with minimal issues so I should be good to go.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on November 01, 2015, 09:22:21 AM
Posting an update to this.

I have the axle from the 81 SX4, a non disconnect with 3.54 inside. The differential pinion is shot (boo). My current Eagle is an 86 with 2.7x inside the non-disconnect axle, which doesn't match the 8.25 gearing that I installed in the rear so I have to re-gear the front to 3.55.

Now, I do have the guts from the Dana 30 that was on the XJ. Will these fit in either of the pumpkins? The differentials look identical when I put them beside eachother iirc, so I'm hoping all I have to do is buy a new pinion and some seals and put it back together with the XJ guts inside my current Eagle diff.

Has anyone done this?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on November 01, 2015, 11:58:41 AM
XJ's (except the last couple years of production in the 2000's), MJ's used high pinion. Eagles, ZJ's, YJ's and later TJ's used low pinion D30 fronts. (not sure on the pinion length though as there were 2 different low pinion ones)

3.54 is the most common ratio for ZJ automatics but some are 3.08 (rare 5 speeds) and some are 3.73 (Heavy Duty tow or sport package)
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: eaglefreek on November 01, 2015, 03:56:58 PM
You would need a low, long pinion set.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on November 02, 2015, 10:10:22 AM
OK, here's what I have. Since I'm a simpleton today (a lot going on), let me know what I need.

Rear is a 8.25 with 3.55 gearing. Running it with a AW4 transmission with has identical ratios as the stock Eagle transmission, except Overdrive, which is 0.75.

SX/4 (1981) non-disconnect front axle with 3.54 (pinion wobbles bad, probably needs all new seals). Also has the longer hangar which I have
Eagle Wagon (1986) non-disconnect front axle with 2.73 - excellent front differential but doesn't match the rear. Uses the shorter hangar which I have
XJ (1994) front axle guts with 3.55 and the ring + pinion


OK, with this in hand what combo of gears and parts would you use? What is needed?
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on November 02, 2015, 02:30:15 PM
If you have a Renix years AW4, it's 21 spline and .70 O/D. HO got the .75 O/D and 23 spline output.

I'm not sure which D30s got the long, low pinion.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Nightpath on November 02, 2015, 06:10:36 PM
It's a 1994 OBD1 drivetrain, HO all the way ahhhhhhh yeah
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: eaglefreek on November 03, 2015, 12:10:42 AM
Found this on the net. Eagle should have been included in this list.
 
std cut dana 30 Pinion length 8 9/16":
Aviator: 2003 - 2005 (Front)
Bronco: 1966 - 1971 (Front)
Jeep C101 67-74 (Most 86 and older D30's)
CJ5: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ6: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ7: 1976 - 1986 (Front)
CJ8: 1981 - 1986 (Front)
Comanche: 1986 - 1992 (Front)
Commando: 1972 - 1973 (Front)
Liberty: 2002 - 2005 (Front)
Scout II: 1972 - 1980 (Front)
Wagoneer: 1971 - 1973 (Front)
ZJ (Grand Cherokee): 1992 1/2 - 1996 (Front)
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on November 05, 2015, 01:14:30 AM
Found this on the net. Eagle should have been included in this list.
 
std cut dana 30 Pinion length 8 9/16":
Aviator: 2003 - 2005 (Front)
Bronco: 1966 - 1971 (Front)
Jeep C101 67-74 (Most 86 and older D30's)
CJ5: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ6: 1971 - 1983 (Front)
CJ7: 1976 - 1986 (Front)
CJ8: 1981 - 1986 (Front)
Comanche: 1986 - 1992 (Front)
Commando: 1972 - 1973 (Front)
Liberty: 2002 - 2005 (Front)
Scout II: 1972 - 1980 (Front)
Wagoneer: 1971 - 1973 (Front)
ZJ (Grand Cherokee): 1992 1/2 - 1996 (Front)

Comanche is high pinion D30 front if stock 4x4 because it's the same as an XJ Cherokee '84+
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: Billman on November 05, 2015, 07:50:13 PM
the mount that is away from the differential, passenger side. There are different brackets that go to the engine.
Title: Re: D30 questions
Post by: carnuck on November 07, 2015, 12:44:40 AM
the mount that is away from the differential, passenger side. There are different brackets that go to the engine.
.

Different lengths. '80 to '82ish with NP119 have a longer hanger than later ones (because later ones have a bulge for the vacuum shift, then kept making the axle bulge without a shift mechanism.