Dana 30 mysteries

[naturalbornmudder]

need some help troubleshooting the Dana 30. I tore into it today and found that the pinion nut backed off again. The question is, why?

I need a 1/2" or 3/4" torque wrench that goes to 300 ft pounds.

The next mystery is the ARB leaking in the 30. It leaks profusely to the point where it isnt even engaging. Then I pull the diff cover and drain the oil and all of the sudden the locker actuates and doesn't leak a bit.

Anyone have any insight into this?

[sevenslats]

You're doing it wrong.








sorry, that's all I got rightnow. My head is fried.

[boostlesstj]

maybe the oil might be causing a leak some how, hows all that stuff ran and hooked in?

[wayne_l]

justin had heck of an issue with this .. we ended up buying new orings and 1 other trick i forgot ill ask him tomarrow ..let u know he had a terrible time with his leaking .

[rpiereck]

I got the tq wrenches needed, I can come by tomorrow after work and help you out. If you want to do this, let me know, call me any time tomorrow. (562)618-4592, Ren.

On your torque backing up: did you use a new nut when you installed it? (Young's Gear has them new for $3). Reusing a lock nut you're bound to see it back off. Also, was the washer installed under then nut? You may also try installing it with a drop or two of blue Loctite (don't use the red stuff unless you don't want your pinion nut to come out again without much effort).

[naturalbornmudder]

I used a new pinion nut last time around and sealed it up with some blue lock tite as well.
I'll pick up a new locknut today and a new bottle of blue or red. depends on how mad I am by the time I get to youngs.

[The_Ronster]

I think I have some red here at the house you can have/use if you want it.

the leaking issue doesnt make a lick of sense. Oil cant cause a leak can it?

[sevenslats]

definately time to step up to red loctite.

Are you using a new crush sleeve as well?

I'd pull the copper line off the carrier and plug it. See if you have any leaks in that portion of the system.

[AKAMC]

Have you tried checking for leaks with a soapy water solution? I do that at work when pressure testing fittings. Even very small leaks will blow bubbles in the soapy water... They make a solution just for it called "Snoop" Comes in a small bottle with a small hose to put it right where you want it. Finds leaks you can't feel by hand...

[wayne_l]

justins was leaking at the copper line where it meets the locker and soldered in

[naturalbornmudder]

Last night was a blast! I hadn't laughed that hard in weeks!

Matt(boostlesstj), Matt(99YJ), Levi(blairyj), and Mel(AKHillbille) came over to help me set up the Dana 30 pinion and gearset and re-assemble my front axle.
We figured out that the crush sleeve definately needed to crush more and that the leaking from the ARB is most likely coming from the 2 gaskets that line the inside of the actuator.
We laughed at Ren's vehicle break-in ops, Matt L. and I bantered about whose rig was more the street queen these days, with Foradori calling the winner as me, with my freshly waxed rig. Mel is the most determined man I have met in a while to get on the trail, especially with his XJ down and looking towards his 03 Dodge Neon to take on trail duties.
Blair found some useful parts in my tornado of a garage that he could use for his YJ.

We ended up putting the carrier back in and settign the pattern as good as we could get it. Need to order the gaskets for the actuator and check the pattern in about 200 miles to see where it's at.

[boostlesstj]

yeah last night was a pretty fun time, someone posted up a good idea about the leak i don't know if you saw but where the copper plumbing goes into the actuator where it is brazed/soldered

[The_Ronster]

Not to drag up a old thread, but I had some thoughts about this last night (on the ARB side). What are the chances that the copper airline was making contact with the diff cover? If it was, there may have been enough pressure on the line to cant it off center in the bulkhead fitting causing it to leak. When you pulled the diff cover the pressure was taken off the line which then allowed it to hold air again.

I ask this for one reason. I had an intermittant problem with the ARB holding air a while back. I opened the diff cover and it held fine, put it back on and it leaked. Come to find out the airline wasnt up in the fitting far enough and was making contact with the diff cover where it crossed the ring gear. I took up about a quarter inch of slack and reattached the fitting and the problem went away. Funny how these things come back to you at the wierdist of times...

[The_Ronster]

Another possible solution that I found out today (not that you have your D30 anymore but still good info) is that sometimes junk like pipe tape, oil residue, and other stuff can get up into the actuator. You can actually take it apart down to the check valve and clean it out. Mine had a piece of pipe tape in it causing the D30 to "sometimes" cycle on and off. The tape was keeping the plunger from fully seating.