Dana Axles

I have a Civic I drive everyday to get to work, the truck is just a weekend toy. Way back before I had a daily driver, I had a solid axle Tacoma before I bought my current one and it wasn't fun wheeling like a ninny because I had to drive the truck home and to work the next day Either you wheel like a ninny or you don't work

 

Sounds like you weren't very confident in the reliability of your previous rig to me. I dont wheel like a ninny, and I often drive 500+ miles to go wheeling. Heck, I dont even own a trailer. I built it reliably and carry the proper spares to make it home no matter what.

 

I also carried spares but Murphy's law says you'll break what spares you don't have. I broke a steering box (standard IFS box most use for an axle swap) on the Rubicon once and luckily a friend had a spare but how can you plan for a steering box breaking? It gets to a point where you're carrying enough spares to build a completely new truck. Not to forget I was also on a VERY tight budget making $12 an hour here in the bay area (CA). I hope I mentioned it was my only vehicle at the time too. Things are much different now than they were 5 years ago, which is why I'm still up in the air about whether to SAS this truck or get a wheeler/trailer/tow rig.

 

Also, I see you drive an IFS truck. Do an axle swap on your truck and tell me you work on it LESS than you work on the IFS. I've been there, guy, don't try and tell me what you think I felt

 

What makes you think fluids are most important? Just curious. You have gear oil, ATF, motor oil, coolant. Either you're concerned about your Heep overheating, blowing up diff covers or punching a hole in your oil pan, which is it?

 

SA has nothing to do with it. More moving non-stock parts than a SA. I usuallywheel with all SA rigs, and wheel just as hard as they do. Besides the fact that you can get SA parts at almost any AutoParts to get home, try that with an LT kit.

I am not arguing the SA/IFS here either...this is a thread about obtaining a Dana Axle from the factory.

Bottom line is, if its built right, you wont have issues. Look up 01Tundra on Pirate and check out his rig. Jonathon and I used to wheel together all the time, all over the south/east region, he never had a trailer either and was SA. Or ask Wyatt how many issues he has had? There goes your argument.

A SA rig can be just as reliable as when it left the assembly line if done right.

99% of the problems the SA guys face are do to hack jobs or improper set-up when the SAC was done. Period. They used to make trucks SA factory, did they switch becasue IFS was more reliable, hardly. Ride quality was the reason, soccer moms get what they want, lol.

 

I trailer my tacoma to the trails since I have a tow rig/trailer.. But when I am at the trail I beat thy living fuck out of it when I can. Full lock/stuff full throttle, MEH. I have only broken a few things,; a steering u joint (bolt came loose, tightened bolt back down). Both front u joints (improper installation) - new ones are flawless. And a carrier bearing, but I still wheeled with it for over 10+ hours. Built SA rig is indestructible.

 

You'd probably sing a different story if your Tacoma was your only vehicle, just sayin' Funny you put so much trust into a vehicle someone else built too :flipoff2:

 

I have been able to get some pricing on what axles they have now. Everything out right now is all rear model axles ranging from Dana 44 with electric locker with ratios of 3.73 and 4.10 and Dana 60 with standard and trac lock with gear ratios from 3.73 to 4.56. I can sell these axles both 44 models and 60 to you guys for $2,500. They come without any brackets or brakes. The crate axle program is a much better axle than a junk yard or dana axle you can find now. They have redesigned these axles for the offroad world. The crate axles have thicker wall tubing, larger diameter 32 spline axle shafts, better differential gears with higher impact strength, larger differential bearings, and they are putting a stronger 1330 series yoke on these axles. The 60 axle now has larger axle shafts with 35 tooth spline. They have done a really good job in preparing these for the offroad world. Let me know if anyone has any questions. Email me at bjones@uspower.cc

 

Do they/you realize the primary market for these axles in the off-road world is for front axles???

 

Not really, I go to wheel. Who cares what happens, it's called life. Also, myself and the help of friends have re-done the entire truck except for a few things. And you're completely right, trusting others to build a rig is a terrible idea. I mean just look at the thousands of rigs out there. I didn't do them so they must be junk.

 

The front axles are in production now.

 

is just the housing or a full axle? im in the process of doing a sas and finding the right axle is my biggest problem right now. i was considering bulding it from trail fear products but if you can sell a complete axle im VERY interesteed. please pm me more info

 

Don't go with a TG axle..

How are you having a hard time finding an axle? There are millions for sale on craigslist. What axle are you looking for?

 

finding a driver side drop is pretty hard, passenger is real easy. ive been looking for a dana 44/60 or fj80, but im considering using this kit
http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/new/detaproduct.php?id=251
and this axle
http://shop.rp4wd.com/category/axles
its that set up or all trailgear and old pu parts. that seems to be the easiest route

 

well if you are going to look for a 60. Then don't bother with an fj80 or a 44. Get the 60. And be happy for life. People end up spending damn near equal amounts in the d44 just to NEVER EVER reach the strength of the d60 STOCK. Get a d60, they are easy to find.

 

So after reading a few pages of "debating" back and forth about toy vs dana axles, I feel like I need a fifth of liquor and a cheap slut. haha

So I'm wanting to SAS my 07'. I have an opportunity to get a set of dana's, which i believe to be 60's. The passenger side is stamped 256, and they are on a 2000 ford f250 super duty. My cost will be labor of removing and installing what he has sitting in the bed. Are these too big or too much for what I need for the taco???

 

Those are absolutely perfect. Driver drop, perfect width for a 2nd gen. You will love yourself more than anyone when you get it built.

 

Is my research correct, I have found what i believe to be information making me think that it is a "Dana Super 60" with a 10 inch ring gear?

And I will be getting the rear as well if he makes the swap.

 

That would be a good find, the super 60 is nice.