2007 Jeep Wrangler JK Build-Up 2007 Jeep Wrangler goes from Mild to Wild

JK Wrangler Locker Info

So you’re shopping for a JK and see that it has a factory Dana 30 hi-pinion front and Dana 44 rear. Sweet, that’s a respectable combination, with plenty of aftermarket support…..Right?

The truth is that Jeep pulled another one on us. These axles share few parts in common with the older Dana 30’s and Dana 44’s that we are all friends with. The new ones use different bearings, pinion shafts, ring gears and carriers. None of the old Dana 30 or Dana 44 gears, lockers, carriers, yokes, etc. will work with this new set up.

The Rubicon is another exception. It uses 32 spline Dana 44 chromoly axles front and rear. That should be a great set up. But again, there is a lacking of any aftermarket gears for them.

Within a couple months we expect to see some of the first aftermarket gears for various JK applications. Lockers on the other hand are usually slower to be released, so who knows. I would look to ARB for the first releases (they are usually the fastest to release new apps).

Jeep JK Wrangler Axles:

• Front (X and Sahara)
• High Pinion 27 Spline Dana 30
• Rear (X and Sahara)
• Standard Cut 30 Spline Dana 44
• Standard Cut 27 Spline Dana 35 (2 Door without towing package)
• Front (Rubicon)
• High Pinion 32 Spline Dana 44
• Electric locker (open when switched off)
• Rear (Rubicon)
• Low Pinion 32 Spline Dana 44
• Electic locker (open when switched off)

New Features: Brakes

The 2007 Wranglers include ESP and electronic roll mitigation. The new systems allow the Jeep to sense when there are dangerous driving conditions and to correct for oversteer, understeer or conditions where the Jeep might roll. The Jeep does this by applying brakes to individual wheels to improve handling.

If you’re like me, this doesn’t matter a whole lot. I never had a problem with older Jeeps (that were made within the last 20 years). The one thing that does make a difference to people like me are the changes in brake hardware.

The rear uses individual brake hoses that come from the frame to the calipers on each side. In fact, these hoses are the same front to rear. The bad news is that when you buy extended brake hoses it will cost a little more. The good news is that one hose will cover the front or rear if you want to carry a trail spare.

Also, you can see in this picture that the bump stop has been moved outside of the coil spring.