Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

LOL yeah it's a JEEP thing I would never put a 44 under a Tacoma. maybe a reg cab 1st gen but that's about it. You guys are way too heavy for a Dana 44.

 

Is that a fat joke?

 

I've got just this with a 4 banger. If I had a heavier vehicle I'd wand to put bigger axles under my rig.


I'm secretly still looking for D60s f+r to link sometime down the road with a crawl box .

 

Ben has seen my truck in action with the D44

 

I would say the 44 looked plenty capable for you in Moab. However, you're a regular cab with a 2.7. I'm not exactly sure of the actual amount, but I'd say your a tad lighter than most of us.

My buddy was admiring your setup while you were crossing golden crack. If he could do it again, he'd build a setup very similar to yours and ditch his 4runner.

 

All good info! I was under the impression that 4 door JK's are about the same weight as a DCSB 2nd gen. Figured if the Rubicons can run a D44 up front, why not the 2nd gen?

RockJock 60's would be really nice

 

Yes and they bend the axle tubes stock if they hit a pothole hard enough

 

The problem with the 44 is that you may "be okay" wheeling, but no matter what rig you have with the d44, you always have that conscious thinking "Man.. I need to stop, I might break something".. I've seen a few guys give up, because they know when they are done, because shit will break. I do it all the time and people are always like YOU ARE SO CLOSE!! Yes, I may be close to the hill climb but back in my head I know something is going to fucking snap...

Now if I had the D60... Well let me tell you... I don't give a fuck how many times I floor it, how many fucking feet I bounce in the air.. I won't break it (hopefully)

But I would never be worried about it, I would just wheel it like I stole it.

Another thing over looked on the D44 is the maintenance... At any given moment your tiny stupid ball joints could just shear right off!! Now the same could happen on the D60 but that would be impossible because kingpin FTW (screw the BJ axles )

It is just not worth it. I researched for 8 months on pirate and TTORA. When it got close to buying parts I spent 3 weeks or more 5 hours a day reading about the stuff... Everyone is like yea man go D60!! D60 is what you will all end up having one day because no one can stand to have tiny axles and tires.

I was like yes D60!! WELL I FUCKED THAT ADVICE UP... And I regret it. My D44 hasn't given me any problems yet... But I feel like I built it right and I know it's limits. It's only a matter of time before it gives up and leaves me SOL for 4 days on an important wheeling trip

Take my advice since I have not listened ever, to anyone. And now that I have started listening I have been happier!

Ooo links

 

A 39.5? A Dana 60 isn't that large, you shouldn't have any issues running a 36-37 on 60s clearance wise if you do you need to pick your lines a little better. Plus you can shave a 60 just as easily as a 14 bolt and be very close to D44 clearance. Even better with a kit if I remember correctly.

I know strength wise the 14 bolt will win but I'd bad the 14 bolt or Dana 60 question on what easy to find at the time. You can usually pick 60's up really cheap, IMO the 30 spline factor is null do to the simplicity of boring spindles and going to 35 spline.

 

Anybody have opinions on the Tera44?

http://www.teraflex.biz/jk-tera44-heavy-duty-front-replacement-axle-housing.html

 

If you're hell bent on putting a Dana 30 or Dana 44 in your truck, go for it. No one is stopping you. We're just trying to inform you before you make the mistakes we once did

 

Not at all hell bent

I'm trying to educate myself, it doesn't mean I just hung up the phone with Teraflex. I have a few months before the conversion, so I'm just looking at all options, seeing why some are better than others, and taking your advice as well.

I don't see myself coughing up the dough for a brand new RockJock D60 within a few months...it puts my plans further out, but it seems it's the only way to go so my plans may need to wait. I'm a big fan of the saying, "do it once, do it right".

 

Reality is, you can build a Dana 44 to be strong but you'll spend a lot of money doing so. A stock junkyard D60 will be stronger and cheaper. You work at a Jeep shop, does anyone actually spend $2000 on a Teraflex axle housing? I'll find you a stock complete Dana 60 for $1200.

 

That housing is nothing more than a shiny paint job on an older ford 8 lug D44... Don't waste the money. Besides, are the JK's even wide enough? Either way... Don't both with that.

Also do not bother with a rock jock 60. Only rich people can afford them... I mean really they are some serious bling bling...

You can find a D60 that you need for $600-1200. It's all depending on who and where, king pin or BJ. You can build it for fairy cheap.

Seals and bearings $150
BJ rebuild - $200 Kingpins are cheaper at $100
Gears $265
Locker $450-850
Shave kit $300
Yukon hubs $270

That is all you need. You don't need chromo shafts until you break the stock shafts... It's better to upgrade right away, but it costs money right away

 

Oh I'm sure many people do, you gotta remember, they are jeeps haha

 

You guys would be outraged at how perfect these guys do their Jeeps...Tera44's and Rock Jock 60's and 70's are a common occurrence here.

So looks like I'm in the market for a used D60 with Kingpins. Building it isn't a problem for me, I can get parts for fairly cheap at work.

Cool deal. Thanks for the info! I'm gonna keep my eyes open for a front D60.

Now how durable is the stock rear on 37's? I'll be adding an ARB locker and doing a custom spring pack from Deaver along with longer shocks through the bed.

 

The stock housing is pretty weak, I would not waste money on gears/ lockers for it. Dana 60 rears and 14 bolt rears are really cheap and can be built fairly cheap as well. It will look ridiculous with a 1/4 ton axle and a 1 ton axle haha. Kingpin axles are best (IMO) but sometimes they are rare and more expensive. The new superduty BJ axles I've heard are pretty good to use as well.

I really hope you do go through with this build, the 2nd gens are cool to build

 

I actually googled JK axle widths and apparently they are about 65", almost 66" WMS. So width wise, it's in the ball park, kinda surprising In any case, it's still a D44!

Stock Dana 60: 35 spline inner shafts, 30 spline outer. Stock Dana 44: 30 spline inner, 19 spline outer. Honestly, when I held Dana 60 axles in my hands for the first time, I was blown away at how much burlier it is than a 44. I was used to rebuilding my 44 constantly so that's all I knew

Traveler, you will not regret your decision!!! Kingpin or ball joint doesn't matter, whichever you find the cheapest

 

soooo guys keep your eyes open for clean yota rigs!!! I need them A streetable B 15 years or older C prefer rust free and body in tact(will look at flat deck trucks) D can be stock or SAS'd

 

http://chico.craigslist.org/cto/3967145453.html