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The "other" Dana axle. SuperDuty Dana 50 - axle gurus?

DavidB

DavidB

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I'd like to have a hi-pinion axle for my Blazer, but Ford 60s are $$$. Came across an article in 4Wheel Drive and Sport Utility on the Dana 50. Tri County gear has 35 spline shafts and ARB lockers for 'em. I wonder if a 35 spline D60 spool could be modded to fit, for a cheaper and more reliable diff.

I wonder what the WMS-WMS is, and how hard it would be to change the bolt pattern. Pretty sure it's metric. Wonder if you could just swap on 8 on 6.5" balljoint 60 outers?

Anyone got any more ideas or things that might get in the way?
 
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chromos and good joints, you'd probably be good to go. parts availability will probably be an issue with the Dana 50.
 
Historically, yes...but it looks like it's developing some aftermarket support. The article I found was from Dec '04. Who knows what's come up since then?

Keynotes of article :

35 spline shafts now available

Same size U-joints, knuckles, balljoints as 60

Ring gear 1/2" Smaller than 60, 1/2" bigger than 44

44 Pinion 1.375"
50 Pinion 1.377"
60 Pinion 1.625"

Gear ratios 3.54 - 5.13

35 Spline ARB by changing side gears - could this be done with other lockers?

Thicker housing because of smaller ring gear/carrier = more can be shaved, less pinion walk.

Could a 60 spool be remachined to fit the 50?
 
50s are not that strong, i saw one break the pinion shaft in half on a gas sd with a 5.4 and 35" a/ts... if you're gonna sink some coin, hunt a 60...
 
K10A'sBROinSLO said:
Historically, yes...but it looks like it's developing some aftermarket support. The article I found was from Dec '04. Who knows what's come up since then?

Keynotes of article :

35 spline shafts now available

Same size U-joints, knuckles, balljoints as 60

Ring gear 1/2" Smaller than 60, 1/2" bigger than 44

44 Pinion 1.375"
50 Pinion 1.377"
60 Pinion 1.625"

Gear ratios 3.54 - 5.13

35 Spline ARB by changing side gears - could this be done with other lockers?

Thicker housing because of smaller ring gear/carrier = more can be shaved, less pinion walk.

Could a 60 spool be remachined to fit the 50?
Click to expand...

The pinion shaft in the D50 is a VERY small 1.375" . For comparison, the D44 and 12b have a 1.437" pinion shaft, and the 10b and D60 have a 1.625" pinion shaft. Such a small pinion shaft is going to be fragile under high load. I would wait and pony up for a real D60 if I were you...
 
for the money it would take to buy one beef it up and install it you could get a good d60 that will have a stronger ring and pinion plus more parts available.
 
Prolly close. Initial cost of the 50 is much less, and after that it's the same thing - gears and locker, except I'd hafta get shafts for the 50. I have a shop, I think I could take care of the bolt pattern myself one way or another.
 
K10A'sBROinSLO said:
Prolly close. Initial cost of the 50 is much less, and after that it's the same thing - gears and locker, except I'd hafta get shafts for the 50. I have a shop, I think I could take care of the bolt pattern myself one way or another.
Click to expand...

all the 50's i have seen have balljoints, this would be the week spot to me, jason.
 
jason m said:
all the 50's i have seen have balljoints, this would be the week spot to me, jason.
Click to expand...

I beat on a Cummins Xcab Longbed Dodge (heavy truck) with a balljoint 60 for years. No problems with them.

At this point, I probably won't do it, sounds like the pinion is too puny.
 
K10A'sBROinSLO said:
I beat on a Cummins Xcab Longbed Dodge (heavy truck) with a balljoint 60 for years. No problems with them.

At this point, I probably won't do it, sounds like the pinion is too puny.
Click to expand...
The "balljoint is weaker than a kingpin" is largely a myth as far as I can tell. On a D60, the balljoints used are comparable in size to the kingpins that were used on the older axle. I think this mostly came from comparing the D60 to the D44. In that case, it isn't really a ball joint vs kingpin issue, it is a size difference - D60 kingpins (and balljoints) are substantially larger than D44 balljoints. OTOH, it is easier to put a highsteer setup on a kingpin axle :wink1:.
 
True on the histeer. Balljoints seem to have less mystery regarding death wobble too.
 
Strength wise the ball joint vs kingpin may be the same but wear wise the ball joints need replacement way more often. My brother tows with a F250 SD PSD and has gone through 2 sets of ball joints in 4 yrs 60K miles. He runs 31" tires and a stock driveline height etc. He is known for hauling 20-24K to the scrap yard but I don't see how that would change the wear on the front end.
Oh yeah, stay away from the stock hub set up with the vacume crap. My other brother runs an excursion with the D50 and 6" lift with 37s. He has a ton of trouble with the hubs and stub shafts. Currently has a broken stub shaft and unit bearing right now. He has had it and is looking for a SD D60.
 
6.2puller said:
Strength wise the ball joint vs kingpin may be the same but wear wise the ball joints need replacement way more often. My brother tows with a F250 SD PSD and has gone through 2 sets of ball joints in 4 yrs 60K miles. He runs 31" tires and a stock driveline height etc. He is known for hauling 20-24K to the scrap yard but I don't see how that would change the wear on the front end.
Oh yeah, stay away from the stock hub set up with the vacume crap. My other brother runs an excursion with the D50 and 6" lift with 37s. He has a ton of trouble with the hubs and stub shafts. Currently has a broken stub shaft and unit bearing right now. He has had it and is looking for a SD D60.
Click to expand...

I agree with the wear problem, esp under a heavy diesel. Mine went throught front end parts like nothin'. Probably partly due to minimal maint and lots of dirt and water miles.
 
Many are...they can make nice frontends for go-fast and crawler combo trucks. I think Ramsey El Wardini is putting one under his Blazer. But Almost all F-250 Super Dutys have a straight Dana 50. F-350s have a Dana 60.
 
If you do decide to go this route I can head down to Juarez and check to see if that yard still has all those axles.

Dan
 
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