Jeepster Rear end Questions

Well,
After a pop, a grinding noise, and then some poping noises I ended up with some broken teeth on the pinion gear of the rear end of my jeepster, and of all things we were actually heading home from church.

I didn't have a lot of time last night to look things over but on the right side of the housing there are the numbers C-3298(or0)3 and on right side there is a 30 cast into the housing. Is it that simple is this a Dana 30? The tag is gone off of the rear end, but still on the front and it has 3.73 gears.

What are your suggestions:

1) I really don't want to swap rear ends, so what are the rebuild options.
2) Does anyone make an air locker for this set-up?
3) It is really just a toy, snow and mud machine, not anything real serious.
4) It is not currently a sure-grip or posi-trak, but I would kind of like to make it one.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Terry

 

Not sure where you are located, but there was a Commando frame and axles in the Classified section to give away just a little while ago. It had a Dana 30.

 

You do have a Dana 30, the 30 cast into the housing confirms that.
Find a 44 from another Jeepster/commando. The 30 is weak when used in the rear, even on the street, and you will end up with the same issue when used off road. There's a reason Jeep went from the 30 rear to a 44.
That being said, There are ARB's, Ox-lockers, Powerlock limited slips, and a host of other options for the 30. You might do a search here as the pro's and cons of each has been covered extensively in the past.

 

JMO - it would probably be easier to find a 72-75 CJ rear end with a Trac-Lock than the Commando axle Nick recommended. You could put new clutches in the Trac-Lock and it would be fine for what you want.

The CJ rear end has the right width, but a different spring placement than the Commando. You could have a shop weld new spring pads in the right location - not a big job. The 3.73 ratio and Trac-Lock is very common for that year range.

Also my opinion - don't spend any money on the 30.

Where are you located?

 

I'm located in South Central Nebraska. (Blue Hill)

 

Another option is the rear from a mid seventies DJ-5 (mail jeep). Dana 44, right width, right perches.... plus it might have 11" brakes already.

 

Most of the DJ's had narrower axles so the sliding side doors would clear the rear tires. If you found one from a DJ that did not have sliding doors then that would be a possibility. Nickmil