Keep the D60 rear or not...

[Lifelong Jeeper]

So I'm having a delema. I have a D60 FF rear axel that is full width (around 65") and an 8 lug. I used to want to run full widths on my TJ but the more I think about it the more I want to keep it totally street-able. I haven't done anything to the axel yet which means 30 spline shafts, 3.55 gears (approx), open carrier, drum brakes and leaf spring perches. I figure by the time I build this axel I will be spending as much or more than I would spend for a junk yard TJ D44 especially since I have to buy new 8 lug wheels too. I don't want to buy new wheels unless I replace my front axel as well so that I have matching axel width and lug patterns. That obviously is becoming very expensive. I 4wheel with a really light foot as it is and think that the 44 would hold up to 37's if I don't get crazy on the skinny pedal. Plus, if necessary, I could do a super 44 kit w/ 33 spline shafts and would for sure be good at that point.

So give me you thoughts on if I should sell the 60 for a 44 or not and why.

Also, my brother has a machine shop and I was wondering how to get the tubes out so that I could narrow them to 60ish inches? I know they are pressed into the center section, but are they welded too? If that isn't too bad I may consider keeping it...but then again if I narrow it I have to buy custom shafts and that is just more money. But I wouldn't have to buy new wheels....See my frustration? Building a fully trail worthy Jeep is expensive and I have the desire but not the funds.

Thanks everyone.

 

[waynehartwig]

You could always narrow it up and make it into a SF axle... Do it with some 9" housing ends and then you can run any 9" disc brake config you want.

Custom axles aren't that big of deal. I can sell you blanks and then Summit Machine can cut them.

But honestly, I would at least go with 5 on 5.5 when you do. 37's on a 4.5 bolt pattern is kind of pushing it....

TJ D44 with 33 spline alloy's will run 37's, but even with a light foot I wouldn't go any larger...

 

[1993yj]

I don't think you have to pull the tubes out to narrow them

 

[mbryson]

So you're going to run 37" tires on a D30 front? To me that's your weak point. I'd address the front first and decide what to do with the rear at that point.

If it were mine, I'd probably back off to 35" tires and stick with the D30/D44 thing. Be prepared for the occasional axle and/or joint breakage in the front.


Just my opinion. It's worth what you paid me for it

 

[waynehartwig]

I don't think you have to pull the tubes out to narrow them

Oh, good call... I didn't see that part

Yeah, no pulling of the tubes. Just toss it in the chop saw and go.

 

[waynehartwig]

So you're going to run 37" tires on a D30 front? To me that's your weak point. I'd address the front first and decide what to do with the rear at that point.

If it were mine, I'd probably back off to 35" tires and stick with the D30/D44 thing. Be prepared for the occasional axle and/or joint breakage in the front.


Just my opinion. It's worth what you paid me for it

I like this idea the best.... 37's on a D60 will have less clearance than 35's on a D44.... But 37's will chew up that D30 pretty quickly... Ball joints and unit bearings won't last...

 

[Jay5.9L]

Stick with 35"s on your D30/44 combo if you want to make it street legal. 37"s may be the new default size but only give you a little more clearance than the 35"s and will be that much more stressful on the smaller axles

 

[Milner]

Dammit, I hate agreeing with Wayne

Keep the 60, chop the spindles off, weld on some bearing pockets, get some weld on caliper brackets and gm/caddy calipers, and call it good (boy that sounds easy) But go 35 spline when you do!!!! and 5 on 5.5. Get some wide flares and bump the width up a little just to be barely legal.

 

[leorn]

I agree that if you keep a 30 front there is no reason to have a 60 rear. However if you were to change the front as well it starts to make sense.

Another alternative to narrowing is cheap stock wheels with lots of backspacing. I have seen full width axles (60 rear/44front) tuck under an XJ with cheap stock wheels with lots of backspacing. *If you acquire a matching front.

 

[fire4j15]

dana 60

So I'm having a delema. I have a D60 FF rear axel that is full width (around 65") and an 8 lug. I used to want to run full widths on my TJ but the more I think about it the more I want to keep it totally street-able. I haven't done anything to the axel yet which means 30 spline shafts, 3.55 gears (approx), open carrier, drum brakes and leaf spring perches. I figure by the time I build this axel I will be spending as much or more than I would spend for a junk yard TJ D44 especially since I have to buy new 8 lug wheels too. I don't want to buy new wheels unless I replace my front axel as well so that I have matching axel width and lug patterns. That obviously is becoming very expensive. I 4wheel with a really light foot as it is and think that the 44 would hold up to 37's if I don't get crazy on the skinny pedal. Plus, if necessary, I could do a super 44 kit w/ 33 spline shafts and would for sure be good at that point.

So give me you thoughts on if I should sell the 60 for a 44 or not and why.

Also, my brother has a machine shop and I was wondering how to get the tubes out so that I could narrow them to 60ish inches? I know they are pressed into the center section, but are they welded too? If that isn't too bad I may consider keeping it...but then again if I narrow it I have to buy custom shafts and that is just more money. But I wouldn't have to buy new wheels....See my frustration? Building a fully trail worthy Jeep is expensive and I have the desire but not the funds.

Thanks everyone.

How about you just sell that axle to me? I could use it. I have a 06 rubicon dana 44 with locker 4.88 gears and superior chromoly shafts I need to sell for a dana 60

 

[Lifelong Jeeper]

How about you just sell that axle to me? I could use it. I have a 06 rubicon dana 44 with locker 4.88 gears and superior chromoly shafts I need to sell for a dana 60

pm sent

 

[Lifelong Jeeper]

I know that you are all right about the front. I've been searching for a front 44 or 60 but they are more money that I can dump into my Jeep. I just don't want to face the music sometimes when it says that a 30/44 set up w/ 35's is just fine and actually quite respectable when what I really want is a 60/60 on 37's set up. Most importantly I just have to get rid of the d35 that I've been sporting for years now and the route that makes most sense financially is a rear 44. I fully appreciate your input. One day it will be done the way I want it (until I get it that way and then want something else...I hate loving wheelin so much).

Thanks again guys!

 

[waynehartwig]

Dammit, I hate agreeing with Wayne

Keep the 60, chop the spindles off, weld on some bearing pockets, get some weld on caliper brackets and gm/caddy calipers, and call it good (boy that sounds easy) But go 35 spline when you do!!!! and 5 on 5.5. Get some wide flares and bump the width up a little just to be barely legal.

lol

I hear ya... Get rid of the 35 is priority one. You can ALWAYS just upgrade the rear now and run some 5 on 4.5 adapters to keep what you have. Then later upgrade the front and even run more spacers until you upgrade the wheels and tires. But you have lots of options, you just have to pull the trigger and choose one.

But if your ultimate goal is 37's, don't waste your time now on a D44 in the rear...You already have the D60, use it. With a D44, you will be maxed out at 37", but if you do the D60, then you can run larger in teh future if you wanted too...

 

[greenjeep]

PM sent.

 

[Lifelong Jeeper]

Dammit, I hate agreeing with Wayne

Keep the 60, chop the spindles off, weld on some bearing pockets, get some weld on caliper brackets and gm/caddy calipers, and call it good (boy that sounds easy) But go 35 spline when you do!!!! and 5 on 5.5. Get some wide flares and bump the width up a little just to be barely legal.

Okay I'm keeping the 60. It's what I've wanted and for the right reasons. I will just have to be more patient when building it. I don't want to throw more money towards something I really don't want anyway.

Where do I get some bearing pockets?

Anybody want some full float spindles? How about some big a$$ drum brakes? 30 spline FF shafts? 3.55's w/ an open carrier? Anybody?

 

[waynehartwig]

Okay I'm keeping the 60. It's what I've wanted and for the right reasons. I will just have to be more patient when building it. I don't want to throw more money towards something I really don't want anyway.

Where do I get some bearing pockets?

Anybody want some full float spindles? How about some big a$$ drum brakes? 30 spline FF shafts? 3.55's w/ an open carrier? Anybody?

I might be interested in the spindles and hubs, depending on what they came from....PM me and we'll talk.

 

[Lifelong Jeeper]

the axel is out of an 80's f250 and is the rear so no hubs for you to have. I don't know what year exactly being that it was out of a junk yard truck and didn't get the specifics of it.

 

[waynehartwig]

the axel is out of an 80's f250 and is the rear so no hubs for you to have. I don't know what year exactly being that it was out of a junk yard truck and didn't get the specifics of it.

If it's full float, then it has hubs. I'm not talking about the manual lock out hubs or whatever you want to call them. I'm talking about the slugs under the drums that hold the wheel on. Those are hubs and then the spindle thingies that you refferenced.

 

[Lifelong Jeeper]

Gotcha. I've never fully torn into a FF. Thanks for the education. Would you be interested in these then?

 

[waynehartwig]

Gotcha. I've never fully torn into a FF. Thanks for the education. Would you be interested in these then?

Depending on what you want for them, but yes, I'd be interested in them for the right price. I have no use for them right now, but maybe down the road I could use them somewhere and that's what I would want them for.

I'll trade you for some brand new in the box Ford 9" Big Bearing housing ends... Then you'd just need to weld 'em on and get some custom axles made and you're ready to go!

...Just make sure when you cut the spindles off, you don't hit the spindles!