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Why Should I Upgrade To a DANA 60...

uglytruk

uglytruk

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I almost bought some SPICER U Joints for my broken Dana 44 Blazer 6.2 front axle, but then thought I should really upgrade to a DANA 60. But boy, they're really dear!!!

I guess it'd be cheaper to buy a running parts TEERUK, like the SRW3500 I have in my barn, but it's soooooo rusty!!!

Thoughts??? You reading this 4x4HIGH???

Oh, then there's TELLICO... Moser Alloy axles... Or is a stock Dana 60 stronger?

http://www.tellico4x4.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=dana+44+axle+moser&x=32&y=14
 
a 44 will never be as storng as a 60 if you beef up the axles on the 44 the ring and pinion and spiders are the next week point. what size tires are u running and how hard you beat on it?
 
What kind of wheelin ya do and what size tire?How much stuff do you break?

With 37s and an ARB,I broke a lot of stock Dana 44 shafts before I upgraded to Warns.Three trips in a row I had Warn axle shaft explosions that also took out ball joints.Then I started Dana 60 shopping :D

Now I run a 60 with an ARB and 42s.I went almost 3 years before I broke a stock non neck down shaft :D

Its hard to justify aftermarket 44 shafts or a 60 if your not breaking alot of stock stuff.
 
I put my 1/2 **** through hell and only broke the rear spiders. Nothing in the front. Granted i never had HUGE power but i did not take it easy on it.

I say run the 44 til you can get up the money for a 60. can't hurt to go overkill later
 
IMHO you don't need a d60 unless you wheel HARD with anything under 35's. You can make them live if your not jumping and going crazy. I'd just buy some ujoints and save your money for the d60 if your gonna go hard... or did you already break a shaft?
 
Being close to 50, I'm like the old man I'm becoming when it comes to treating my equipment. + Who fixes it anyways?
I WAS NOT beating on it, but nevertheless snapped a new USA Joint and scrapped the outer axle. An original GM Spicer from my RUSTY parts TEERUK is beside it.
Here's the video, advance to minute 3:30 to get past my blabbering!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWqW-ZpzwXg&feature=channel_page

CIMG4739.JPG

CIMG4578 (Small).JPG
 
Don't know if this is your problem or not but if the sir clip is not installed on the end of the stub shaft just behind your locking hub the axle can move in and out enough to cause the axle to bind and snap u-joints just like that. It doesn't take much to break them if the axle binds up from not being in the proper position. This is of course when the front knuckle is not straight.
 
Breaking in that circumstance leads me to think the U-joint was a flawed POS already. Wheels were straight, tire in snow, with a 6.2 auto. I have regularly treated my frotn end a lot worse than that with larger tires and never had a break like that.

I say swap in a pair of Spicer forged joints and call it good. Make sure to double check the yokes to ensure they are not wollered out any...

Rene
 
Ah-ha!!! Somebody watched my VID!!!

Scott, the C Clip has to be left out when one uses the WARN hubs. I spoke to a tech at WARN and he confirmed theat their hubs are too deep to allow the C Clip just above the lock nut

CIMG4741.JPG

CIMG4742.JPG

CIMG4752 (Small).JPG
 
One more thing to consider is getting sealed U-joints rather than greasables. I prefer to have greasable, but you can see in the pic of the busted one how much meat is missing due to the passage for grease. This translates into weaker...

I watch most of your vids...you crack me up with your running chatter/commentary. :p:

There are a couple of tricks to making your U-joints live too. One is full circle clips, the other is to tack weld the caps to the yokes. For your application that shouldn't ever be necessary though.

Rene
 
uglytruk said:
Ah-ha!!! Somebody watched my VID!!!

Scott, the C Clip has to be left out when one uses the WARN hubs. I spoke to a tech at WARN and he confirmed theat their hubs are too deep to allow the C Clip just above the lock nut
Click to expand...

Someone at Warn doesn't know what they're talking about. I have Warn Premium hubs and i have the C clip installed with no issues. Without that C clip the axle can bind and IT WILL break a u-joint everytime.

This is on my D60, my old 10 bolt and my old D44 from my last rig.
 
I also have the c-clip on my d44 axle with Warns. Are these Warn Premium hubs? I don't see how you can run without the clip.

Edit: I guess the video indicated they weren't the warn premium but I have no idea if that would make any difference in whether the c-clip is needed.

Also, pretty entertaining videos, thanks!
 
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Are we talking about the C clip that goes just above the 2 nuts and wahser? I HAD to remove it to install the locking hub. The WARN hub is a bit deeper than the MM hub, and I tried for several minutes. The Tech at WARN confirmed that they make their hubs as deep as possible, for more contact area, and that means no clip!
Check the very beginning of this vid, there are all the parts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TnhKoC8nv8
 
Yes that is the C clip i'm talking about. Not only does that C clip keep the axle in the correct location so it doesn't bind but it is also what keeps tension on the spindle seal to keep water and dirt out of the spindle bearing. Now unless Warn has changed their design recently that C clip DOES FIT.
 
Another thing to check is if the small bearings inside the spindles that the shafts ride on are in good shape. Most of the old ones I have seen were completely toast and that can lead to the shafts binding up when turned and then the weak spot letting go (when the wheels are turned this is usually the u-joint).

But as also said, I don't trust any joints besides Spicers.

Regarding the comment about greasable vs. non-greasable, the amount of material (or "meat" as referred to) missing on the greasable one compared to the outer diameter where it broke is very, very, miniscule.
 
I went to a Corvair convention in Detroit, then flew to Seattle, then took the ferry to Victoria for my cousin's wedding. And there were the 32's!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQpD9m39TSA&feature=channel_page

I'll be going back in September, she's gonna; have a baby! That's the plan, maybe drive a Honda Passport back from California... Plan.... Hope...
 
Well if you want to get away from the touristy crap of vic, I live about 45 minutes west of Vic, in Sooke. If my schedule allows, I'd be happy to take you for some Island wheelin. PM me if your interested.
 
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