D30 Nt W/ Disks From An '81

-- mods: if this belongs more appropriately in the intermediate category, please move --

Here's a few pix from a D30 I picked up locally for what I felt was a good price (likely less than what it'd have cost me to pick n pull the disk brake parts alone).

The dust covers on the back have seen some abuse, and honestly, I think I didn't help them out any, but meh, they may just be rock and pebble catchers, either way, thin metal I can assist back into place with a kinetic straightening device.
-- edit -- tossed a tape across the rotors, about 49 inches. About another 1.75 inches to the mounting surface... so about 52 to 53 inches wms to wms... (not sure if that's the right spec for NT haven't read much yet).

I've been working on de-greasing it a couple times now, first at the car wash, and then at the house with a brush, the hose and high pressure, and the 'dollar store awesome' spray that looks like pee in a bottle (it is a great degreaser, and also takes bacon stains out of shirts without ruining the fancy fabrics, DAMHIK, other greases as well because #sloppyeater).

I'm looking for a NOS, or good matching OEM used 4.88 R&P and carrier. If someone's got a powr-lok or trac-loc lying around for this that's on a shelf, not getting used, let me know, I'd like to talk about lightening your jeep stash. I can't recall but I also think I heard volvos used the powr-lock in the rears? Considering the new eaton truetrac. Not sure I need all on or all off selectables... need. holes in head grow.

I don't recall seeing these type of hubs, but anyone out there? One of the aluminum stickers is gone. Reminds me of some warn manual conversion hubs I put on my ford ranger back in about '91 when the auto-hubs decided they weren't gonna work on a steep descent jeep trail in the middle of a switch back, good thing the seats didn't have buttons on the upholstery then ...

Will probably upgrade these hubs to Warn Premiums as I've had really good luck with those.

As always, thoughts, musings and advice are appreciated.

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quick trip down interwebs and I found this reference, seems reasonable.

https://www.jeeptech.com/axle/d30.html

Will have to look at finding the 6 bolt hub later on to go with my warn premium wish. (right now it's wishing in one hand and well, many know which hand is filling faster).

 

I was going to say you would likely want to swap those wheel hubs out. Makes one wonder how many dollars AMC actually saved going to that arrangement. Nice find!

 

The only real issue with the 5 bolt bearing hubs was the plastic locking hubs that Jeep used. If "real" locking hubs are installed there is no operational difference unless this is going to be a hard-core wheeling rig that might have issues with bolts coming loose. The smaller brakes and bearing hubs actually work better and have less rolling resistance. It is internet lore that there is anything better about having "bigger" 76 to 78 brakes.

 

Just wondering, how much wider is an '81 dana 30 compared to an intermediate dana 30?

 

I’ve passed on 2 or 3 of the D30 fronts only because of the 5-bolt hubs. There are very few lockouts that fit these, and I have broken the factory 5-bolt ones back in the day. I prefer old-school Warn lockouts. The bearing hubs can be swapped to the 6-bolt variety, and I think the rotors will still work. There are two disc brake styles/sizes, as well as 11” drums on NT D30s.
There are PowrLoks for the D30, but I think they only came in Broncos and aftermarket. I have yet to find any on Volvos after checking likely over 40 cars (in the right years/models) in the U-pulls. I’m almost to the point of calling them “mythical” under the rear of a Volvo. I have brought home an Eaton G-Locker from a Volvo wagon, but never tried to install it yet. I believe it was from a 3:73 diff, so it may work with your desired 4:88 gears. There are some modifications for these on the internet. I do have a Bronco D30 PowrLok for my D30, purchased from a member on this forum, so they do come up if you beat the bushes in the classified section. Someone here was offering one that I passed on a year or two ago.
Finally, I expect you will end up with an aftermarket 4:88 gear set. I finally gave up searching and bought a foreign-made (India) Dana branded set for mine.
Both the U-Pull D30 (disc) axles I have were from a few years ago (around $85 out-the-door) before they jacked the prices during Covid. They’re over $200 these days.
-Donny