HPD30 questions

[Turtle]

Okay... I am in the process of rebuilding the TJ. For the front axle my roommate is giving me a HPD30 out of his 88 XJ. The only problem is that it is a vac. disco axle. AND... it has no shafts.

At first I thought I could use my stock TJ shafts, upon looking though, it appears I can not... is this correct?

The vac. disco mechanism from the axle is also missing... could I just make a custom plate and cover the hole??

Hmmmm.......

What does everyone think??? Should I try to make this work or just search for a D44 or standard HP D30 front??

Turtle!

[jeepin_in_az]

Not 100% sure on the HP, but I thought you could plate the hole and run TJ shafts.

I know Tom Jacobson did this on his YJ.

[jeepsonly]

Bill Hooven did it too :D

Others on the group will have more info on this than me (like Randy Siade, who did my install) but it seems like there are two ways to go for running TJ shafts in the HP D30 (mine is a YJ):

1) Use a special seal - Tom went this route I think. It seems like maybe it's the easiest to install but I think Tom had a hard time tracking down a new axle seal when his started leaking. Tom?

2) Grind a groove on the pinion side tube (the long inner shaft side) so you can install the same seal that's on the short inner shaft side. Those seals are easy to find. Basically you end up with a setup like on the TJ D30 but high pinion.

Both require you either plate or simply remove the fork from the disconnect.

The problem is that the seal on the long side of the YJ D30 is at the disconnect and won't make a tight seal around the TJ shaft.

[rvisokey]

Might help...

http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/yjd30convert/yjconvert-1.htm

[tyota]

the shafts are interchangeable. I've got that kit that includes the seals and plate, I was going to convert my front axle on my yj. but the Gino needed the axles so I sold them to him and never got around to getting it done now, gimme a call, I'll save the kit for ya

[Tom Jacobson]

It can be done. I've got the seal p/n around here somewhere, and a fellow VJC'er found them at a shop in Tempe. If you need this info, let me know. You may also need to install a new seal at the vac disco area. Neither seal is very easy to get in straight, which leads to leaks. Have patience...or have someone do it for you!

Tom