How difficult is it to make a dodge axle fit our chevys? (86)
They seem to be a bit cheaper $$$ wise
They seem to be a bit cheaper $$$ wise
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Dodge D60 ?
- Thread starter Big Ray
- Start date
73redblaze
1/2 ton status
very easy, just move the perches 1/2 or so. or just ratchet strap your spings together until she fits and tighten her down like eveyone else.
just ratchet strap the springs together I have put a couple in and we just pushed the spring in till they lined up no ratchet strap required
Watch out for external hub 60s and Dodge had a couple of weird ones out there too.
thanks fellas 
I've heard there are some offset bushings that will cure the problem without having to stress the bushings by "squeezing" the springs together.
thedrip
1/2 ton status
If you run 52" up front, they're 2.5" wide, so you can run a 1/2" spacer on one side of each leaf and no spacer on the other, instead of a 1/4" spacer on both sides. That makes up the 1/2" difference overall.
If ya do happen upon a Dana 61 and can get it dirt cheap it is easy to get lower gears for it. You just need to order the right Dana carrier for it which is WC-706400x, this the 4.10 carrier for the dana 61 and then ya just run a ring gear spacer for 4.56 and lower.
Im running a dana 61 in my truck I got for $200 dollars, the carrier was $170 shipped.
Im running a dana 61 in my truck I got for $200 dollars, the carrier was $170 shipped.
LT.
1/2 ton status
I was thinking that the Chevy 60 had the spring perches closer together than the Dodge 60 did. Would you not have to spread the Chevy springs apart to get the Dodge 60 to fit?
LT.
LT.
The short side on a dodge is about an inch shorter. And there are offset bushings for this.
I literally just finished putting an GM 8 lug D44 in the front of a dodge, I had to move the GM perch's out 1/2" on both sides to line up with the Dodge spring width. The Dodge spring perch's are 1" wider overall than the GM. And all measurements on both axles were taken from center. I spent weeks staring at it to figure out what to do with the right side perch because it is cast in the punkin.
Bowing the GM springs out 1/2", because the Dodge perch's are wider, will get it in there but it wont articulate like it should due to the added stress on the spring and you will go through bushings like crazy. I tried bowing my Dodge springs in to meet the GM width and it put the spring in such a bind by the time the u-bolt were torqued i could visibly see the distortion in the springs, shackles and bushings.
I searched like a mad man to find an offset something, anything to make it easier but there was nothing to put a GM into a Dodge, I do not know about going the other way, there might be something for that. My guess is the only thing for it will be an ample helping of elbow grease though.
Bowing the GM springs out 1/2", because the Dodge perch's are wider, will get it in there but it wont articulate like it should due to the added stress on the spring and you will go through bushings like crazy. I tried bowing my Dodge springs in to meet the GM width and it put the spring in such a bind by the time the u-bolt were torqued i could visibly see the distortion in the springs, shackles and bushings.
I searched like a mad man to find an offset something, anything to make it easier but there was nothing to put a GM into a Dodge, I do not know about going the other way, there might be something for that. My guess is the only thing for it will be an ample helping of elbow grease though.
Last edited:
