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wetoolowdingbangow

wetoolowdingbangow

1/2 ton status
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Well apparently you cant swap a dana 60 on 4 inch lift springs in the front of a k5 without shortening the driveshaft. I really wish I knew that before I started. im about a quarter inch from being in the yoke but the drive shaft would be maxed out which means it would be laying on the road if I hit a speed bump. I need to get back to mid stroke. I guess ill be taking this **** back apart again and adding 52s and an ez inch. Im so pissed I cant see straight. Ive read about many d60 chevy swaps and never saw this coming. Bolts right in they say.
 
hmmmm

I'm super confused.
Something about swapping in a D60 with 4" springs......then 52s and ez inch....shortening the driveshaft.....1/4" from the yoke sounds like the shaft is too short.....

Sorry, I'm befuddled. The D60 is a drop in swap with the exception of the driveshaft length. Most get away with it during a lift and arranging other things at the same time. The U-joints are even the same 1310. Only other problem might be the banjo bolts size on the calipers, or not having enough master cylinder to feed the massive calipers. :dunno:
 
It depends on what length your driveshaft was before. Was it lengthened for the lift? Is it original? Is it the same shaft GM used on most everyone else's truck?

All rhetorical questions, but my point is that there are a bunch of details and even though it seems like these trucks are all pretty much the same, details like these often aren't.

Many people are able to use the stock driveshaft because the stock shaft is technically too short after they lift it, then the D60 is longer and counteracts that so everything is ok. But not always.
 
Yep the pinion is longer on a 60 so if your driveshaft was close before it will need to be shortened.
 
38377k5 said:
It depends on what length your driveshaft was before. Was it lengthened for the lift? Is it original? Is it the same shaft GM used on most everyone else's truck?

All rhetorical questions, but my point is that there are a bunch of details and even though it seems like these trucks are all pretty much the same, details like these often aren't.

Many people are able to use the stock driveshaft because the stock shaft is technically too short after they lift it, then the D60 is longer and counteracts that so everything is ok. But not always.
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Thanks thats what I was looking for. I should have seen this before hand but its my first time swapping a front end. Unfortunately I got the truck from someone who was mechanically inept so I dont know a large part of its history.

If I had to guess based on what I see under the truck the driveshaft is stock. I know the rear was beefed up and swapped to 1350.

So lets say the driveshaft is stock, I swap to 52s with an ez inch. That should put me back in the working range of the drive shaft right?
 
Tough to say. If it was me, i would get a junkyard driveline to work for the moment, or shorten yours at home. And then swap in the 52's and get a new driveline.
 
FYI long travel front springs can possibly need more slip than a stock shaft can take, if you use all the available travel.

Honestly, in my experience (and I had 52's on the front of my Blazer for a few years), the 52's in the front will create several more problems and still probably won't fix the one you're trying to fix. You might fix the length at static height, but once the suspension moves to bump/droop, that stock shaft probably doesn't have enough slip to work.
 
I know with 52s youll need new shackles, front hangers and maybe something else but what are the other associated issues with them?

I want as much flex as leaf springs can offer being that I mostly will be on rocks. So is it worth while to lengthen the moving section of the driveshaft and do the other supporting mods for 52s or should I seek some other direction?

If im going to cut the driveshaft id like to do it for a more permanent plan than temporary.
 
You are gonna need a longer slip for 52s 99/100 times w/o limit straps. Hell my truck pulled the front shaft apart before I even got 52s on it just when I had longer shackles...
 
I just swapped to a 52" spring, I would not recommend it if you plan to drive this daily. If you do, you need to add a few more springs to that stack. Its extremely soft.
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
I know with 52s youll need new shackles, front hangers and maybe something else but what are the other associated issues with them?
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Caster issues that will cause death wobble. Springs that aren't designed to take a side load that stuff like turning will create. Might as well add hydro assist and cross over, since the axle will be 2" forward. Even with a zero rate, they be a minimum of .5" forward.

Is this truck driven on the road a lot? I had 52's on the front of mine for a while, but it was uncomfortable to drive on the street and when I made a turn it felt like the front axle was shifting from left to right.

I know a lot of people here will say they drive with them all the time and they are fine, but I was uncomfortable with them, so I put lift springs back on.
 
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Twiztedmods said:
I just swapped to a 52" spring, I would not recommend it if you plan to drive this daily. If you do, you need to add a few more springs to that stack. Its extremely soft.
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Good to know. This truck isnt a daily, its going to be a trail truck that's driven to the trail until i get a trailer. I dont mind some evil handling traits as long as it isnt death wobble.
 
85 Jimmy said:
Camber issues that will cause death wobble. Springs that aren't designed to take a side load that stuff like turning will create. Might as well add hydro assist and cross over, since the axle will be 2" forward. Even with a zero rate, they be a minimum of .5" forward.

Is this truck driven on the road a lot? I had 52's on the front of mine for a while, but it was uncomfortable to drive on the street and when I made a turn it felt like the front axle was shifting from left to right.

I know a lot of people here will say they drive with them all the time and they are fine, but I was uncomfortable with them, so I put lift springs back on.
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Thanks for the input! Ill drive the truck to and from work maybe twice a month which is maybe 20 miles each way so not much road use. I do intend on driving the truck to the trail until i get a trailer but that may be a few years down the road.

I hear a lot of people saying it drives just fine but i too am skeptical.
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
Good to know. This truck isnt a daily, its going to be a trail truck that's driven to the trail until i get a trailer. I dont mind some evil handling traits as long as it isnt death wobble.
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Death wobble usually has to do with sloppy king pins or incorrect castor angle. Usually hydro assist or a steering dampner will mask the problem. I've never had it although I shimmed my front driveshaft and my kingpins were redone and are now springless.

As others have already mentioned you'll need a long slip front driveshaft if you run 52's. I'm dealing with this right now :doah:

The cheaper and easier option is to shorten your current shaft and drive the rig. You can always open up the 52" can of worms down the road. You'll be on 40's so I doubt cornering is much of a concern :D
 
skunked said:
Death wobble usually has to do with sloppy king pins or incorrect castor angle. Usually hydro assist or a steering dampner will mask the problem. I've never had it although I shimmed my front driveshaft and my kingpins were redone and are now springless.

As others have already mentioned you'll need a long slip front driveshaft if you run 52's. I'm dealing with this right now :doah:

The cheaper and easier option is to shorten your current shaft and drive the rig. You can always open up the 52" can of worms down the road. You'll be on 40's so I doubt cornering is much of a concern :D
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Thanks for weighing in! Yeah im thinking it needs to be longer than 5" of slip? Are you taking your driveshaft to a shop? Im trying to find someone reasonable.

Now im starting to wonder if the 40's will fit without pushing the axle forward. If i need to go forward with the axle i may as well get 52s. Im definitely going to run a ram with those big tires but i might as well take the front shaft out and test drive tonight. At least it will tell me if i have death wobble or not. Everything looked brand new inside the kingpin and the axle just came off a running truck so hopefully ill be wobble free.
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
Thanks for weighing in! Yeah im thinking it needs to be longer than 5" of slip? Are you taking your driveshaft to a shop? Im trying to find someone reasonable.

Now im starting to wonder if the 40's will fit without pushing the axle forward. If i need to go forward with the axle i may as well get 52s. Im definitely going to run a ram with those big tires but i might as well take the front shaft out and test drive tonight. At least it will tell me if i have death wobble or not. Everything looked brand new inside the kingpin and the axle just came off a running truck so hopefully ill be wobble free.
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I'm going back over to Sacramento Driveline to see what they can do. I'll be upgrading to a 1350 yoke as well. I need to go flex it out again and do some final measuring. I've heard good things about South Bay Driveline in the bay area.

5" should be ok until you go 52", then you'll need more (usually).

I would get the 40's on, figure out your clearance needed (move the axle if needed) and then worry about the driveshaft.
 
Would a square tube front shaft offer more slip travel ability,and solve both problems at once?..
 
skunked said:
I'm going back over to Sacramento Driveline to see what they can do. I'll be upgrading to a 1350 yoke as well. I need to go flex it out again and do some final measuring. I've heard good things about South Bay Driveline in the bay area.

5" should be ok until you go 52", then you'll need more (usually).

I would get the 40's on, figure out your clearance needed (move the axle if needed) and then worry about the driveshaft.
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A buddy just told me about a place in concord as well. Hopefully there somewhat reasonable. Is 7 inches of slip better? Not sure if theres a magic number or just try to get as much as possible?

Ok i like that plan. i guess ill be 2wd until i get my 40s. That may take me a few weeks to get them so im hesitating on not doing something to fix this problem.
 
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