Another D60 thread! - 35 spline axles and stubs necessary?

[Highpsi]

I recently acquired a D60 axle and I've dismantled most of it in order to upgrade and service it properly.

I plan to buy a locker for it as well - probably a Grizzly or a Detroit. What I wonder is if I need to go ahead and upgrade to 35 spline axle shafts and stubs too. My existing stuff looks fine despite some really bad rust but that'll clean up (not on the splines). From what I gather, it looks like this is decision time prior to buying the locker since they're offered in 30 vs. 35 spline varieties.

I don't think my rig will ever really see any rock crawling, but I'm planning to beat on it pretty good in the mud and trail rides. So it isn't like mine will see the level of abuse that I'm betting most of you guys dish out to yours. I know this is subjective of course, but I'm just looking for any opinions you guys wanna share.

I'd hate to be this deep into all this work and go with a 30 spline locker if the 35 is a really sound decision but that's going to be quite a huge extra expense if I have to buy the stub upgrade kit with new locking hubs and even the axle shafts too. This will set me at $1000 more just for that stuff is my guess, as opposed to just $150 or so for new u-joints. The axle already had heavy duty Warn locking hubs on it so I hate to have to pitch them too.

Thoughts and opinions welcome!

 

[nvrenuf]

All king pin D60's have 35 spline inner axles so you already have the big inners, your stock outers are 30 spline.

What size tire will you be running?

 

[jt512]

All king pin D60's have 35 spline inner axles so you already have the big inners, your stock outers are 30 spline.

What size tire will you be running?

Yep, the 35 spline upgrade is only referring to stubs and hubs

X2 on tire size, I'm still running 30 spline stubs on my K30 w/ wide 38's a big block and a heavy foot. I carry spare stubs and a set of hubs and have yet to need them, once I break more then once I'll upgrade, for now the money goes elsewhere.

 

[sweetk30]

lots of guys have had great luck with lockright in the 60 front . why setup gears again for a detroit at there price and time in work ?

thay are best if you want best tho.

and 30 splines are good for 38-40" range with heavy pedal and hp motors. some get bigger tires and still work fine.

good joints and working parts will make it last.

 

[76zimmer]

I've heard good about D60 lockrights, and some bad about front detroits recently from frequent rock wheelers. Experienced wheelers have found stock outers to be liveable up to 42's with smart wheeling techniques, and without smart wheeling techniques you should probably be looking to upgrade at 38.5's and up.

 

[Highpsi]

All king pin D60's have 35 spline inner axles so you already have the big inners, your stock outers are 30 spline.

What size tire will you be running?

LOL... Crap, I never even counted the splines on the axleshafts! A kingpin D60 it is, so it sounds like I'm set.

My tires are 38's, and it sounds like from what I am hearing from you guys that I'll be just fine with what I have now if I am not too insane out there on the trails.

I haven't really looked at the lockrite lockers.. I guess everything I'd read so far sort of steered me away from a "lunchbox" type locker. But maybe in the end that's the best way for a newb to go for now with the pile of expenses I'm facing.. By the time I get done paying my ORD bill to buy the lift parts and steering I've got to put my money where it counts right away.

EDIT: I've just been reading posts about the lockrites and spartans. I think this is the route I will go. Probably the most sensible plan should be for me to get this rig off road and see how much of a night and day difference my new 38's with 14FF Detroit & D60 lockrite will be from the old 33's and 10 bolt opens!

 

[Bowtie85]

I blew my D60 lockright apart, it was warranted though. Not sure why it failed, everything checked right when I installed it.

Ive since put a Grizzly in, works great.

 

[howdiy]

Haven't heard anything bad about the spartan lockers, or lock rights

The problems with the detroits breaking are when people snap alloy axles, I guess the sudden shock is what breaks them.

 

[newoldscottsdale77]

im running a grizzly in the 60 with 30 spline outers and 40" rockers, ( im really hard on everything ) last weekend i bent the front driveshaft 1310 ubolts 90 degrees and tore the u joint caps in half and broke part of the front pinion yoke playing in some big rocks, i carry several spare joints and outer stubs but havent needed them!

 

[MNorby]

I wheeled a lockright in my front for 9 years before it finally gave up last spring. I replaced it with a Spartan locker this time. I don't wheel very hard though so ymmv. Also I was breaking stock 30 spline stuff with 35s too. IMO it will be cheaper in long run to upgrade to some good liters and sell your 30 spline stuff before its in pieces.

 

[jt512]

I wheeled a lockright in my front for 9 years before it finally gave up last spring. I replaced it with a Spartan locker this time. I don't wheel very hard though so ymmv. Also I was breaking stock 30 spline stuff with 35s too. IMO it will be cheaper in long run to upgrade to some good liters and sell your 30 spline stuff before its in pieces.

So are you happy with the Spartan ? Just wondering as I have one sitting on my bench for my 60.

 

[MNorby]

Yes.

 

[Highpsi]

Man, quite a few mixed replies here. I guess the saying "results may vary" is really true here! I think a good fit for me will be the Spartan. I just love the sheetmetal too much on my K10 and there's a lot of sentimental value in my truck. I just don't think I'll ever really truly end up beating on it to the level that I'd justify the Detroit or an ARB or something really pricy.

So are you happy with the Spartan ? Just wondering as I have one sitting on my bench for my 60.

Hmm... Interested in entertaining any offers??


Thanks for all the feedback fellas. This website is a priceless resource for newbs like me to building a rig right.

 

[sweetk30]

get some real locking hubs. skip the warn stuff and do the new yukon locking hubs much better as there made like the old spicer hubs.

if warn hub fails = open wheel / unlocked.

if spicer or yukon fail = locked / power to wheel.

 

[jt512]

Hmm... Interested in entertaining any offers??

Not unless you're offering to come and install it for me (I bought it 3 months ago and have yet to get a chance to put it in )


Thanks for all the feedback fellas. This website is a priceless resource for newbs like me to building a rig right.

Yes, welcome to CK5.......your truck and wallet will never be the same

 

[6.2Blazer]

Here are my opinions:

- inner shafts (all are 35-spline) - earlier versions have necked down shafts, if you have these get non-necked down shafts

- stubs - I grenaded 2 30 splines and found a 3rd very twisted before swapping to 35-spline. This was with a stock low power 6.2 diesel, automatic (less shock), and 13/38 tires (closer to a 36x12.50)...and I don't consider my driving style abusive by any means.

- locker - great luck with my Lock-right

 

[Highpsi]

Here are my opinions:

- inner shafts (all are 35-spline) - earlier versions have necked down shafts, if you have these get non-necked down shafts

- stubs - I grenaded 2 30 splines and found a 3rd very twisted before swapping to 35-spline. This was with a stock low power 6.2 diesel, automatic (less shock), and 13/38 tires (closer to a 36x12.50)...and I don't consider my driving style abusive by any means.

Mine are necked down, but I'm gonna run em. Gonna keep the stubs too and order some new Spicer triple seal u-joints. Put the spartan locker in, some new seals, kingpin kit and brake pads and call it ready! The guts of the axle & hubs look like the PO had replaced a bunch of stuff recently (or few miles ago at least) so I lucked out.

I figure I've got to stop somewhere with the hemorrhaging of my wallet! I just need to get it ready for trail use and go see how enjoyable / reliable it is.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Mine are necked down, but I'm gonna run em. Gonna keep the stubs too and order some new Spicer triple seal u-joints. Put the spartan locker in, some new seals, kingpin kit and brake pads and call it ready! The guts of the axle & hubs look like the PO had replaced a bunch of stuff recently (or few miles ago at least) so I lucked out.

I figure I've got to stop somewhere with the hemorrhaging of my wallet! I just need to get it ready for trail use and go see how enjoyable / reliable it is.

I did the same basic thing. Should have also mentioned I broke a necked down inner before replacing them with new Spicers. So a total of 3 breaks using OEM stuff. The breaks all happened on out of state trips and put a big damper on them. The inner was midway through the last day and I didn't have a spare anyway so just cruised the easy trails and watched everybody have fun. I had spares for both stubs but still wasted a couple hours each time fixing them while others were wheeling (a complete spare shaft assembly would have been much quicker as half the time was spent popping the broken stub of the u-joint and replacing it). My point being is that it sucked losing time on an out of state trip doing repairs, and fixing stuff in the field sucks just as bad.

 

[Highpsi]

Well, I am really confused here about if doing axle replacements is overkill but I suppose if I am to err, it should be on the side of caution. I won't ever regret spending another grand on the axles while I am flogging this thing off road eventually is my guess.

I'm also having a harder time as I go justifying using axles looking like this, even though those u-joints would be replaced ---

 

[royjones]

Knock them off with a wire brush. check the joints . run them that's what i would do.