Dana 60 or Dana 44 Front

[holley2346]

I am stuck yet again, but the truck is so close to how I want it... I recently purchased a 1 ton FF 14 bolt with 4.88 gears (which is doing great btw). It also came with a chevy 10 bolt front end, which I don't want under my truck. So I was just going to regear my front d44 and have 6 lug front 8 lug back (too much money to convert front to 8 lug without any gains). While I was regearing I decided I might as well throw a spool in since I'll be going over my carrier break and a spool is cheaper than a new carrier/spiders.

But I am second guessing myself because I just would feel so much better if I had a 1 ton front.....

The total for getting the D44 where it needs to be is roughly $765.00

The total for getting the D60 installed / crossover steering / spooled / new gears is $1579.90

The thing is, if I break any front D44 shafts I will replace them all with chromo which would change the final price to $1400.00.

So I am here asking YOU. What should I do? Am I going to break axle shafts or hubs in the D44? Which will break first? The driveshaft will be rated at 1 ton so I'm not worried about it....

If I do go with the D60 my jeep will be sitting still or with 2wd for up to 2 months..... which is why I'm not too happy about the d60 route.


Thanks for all replies. :)

[j20brett]

With 38's, you will break something. I vote 60

[jeeping1974]

$1,400 for shaft and joints? :eek: Where are you buying them from? You can get 4340 shafts and CTM joints for ~$850 total.

Since you are running 38x15 boggers, I vote the 60 as well. Passenger side drop D60 runs about $450-$600 around here, then spool, gears, thick diff cover, cross over arm.... you're looking at about $1,300 (at least around the north east). I'm sure that you can find a D60 with 4.88s already in it for cheaper.

[blazer3664]

I'm kinda in the same spot. I can't find a 60 in good enough shape to convince myself it is worth the prices people want around here. The ones for sale are all in need of a complete tear down and rebuild, wheel to wheel. On the other hand I can find rebuilt 44s for 3-400 bucks.

You dont mention what kind of lift ( spring over, maybe more I am guessin) or tires (with 4.88 gears..... what 38-40"s?)

So I am here asking YOU. What should I do? Am I going to break axle shafts or hubs in the D44? Which will break first? The driveshaft will be rated at 1 ton so I'm not worried about it....
Same thing I wonder. If I am guessing right about your plans, you are building it pretty close to where I want to be.

Honestly, for most the wheelin I will do around home, a 44 would probably live ok with regular up-keep. On the other hand, when I go far from home I dont want to break first day and spend the rest of my vacation WISHIN I went for the 60. When I do take it "out" I plan on going to try a bit of rock crawling. Double low and large tire with locked diffs will be pretty hard for a 44 to survive with a noob crawler driving.

Another way to look at it, its cheaper to go 60 right off, than go 44 and change it to a 60 later. If you skip to a 60 you only have to buy and go thru one axle, not two. (Thats the line I keep using on my wife.:thumbsup:)

If you guessed I'd vote 60, you are right.
Sooner or later the 44 will break, so is it realy worth the time and money to even mess with?
Only you know YOU'R answer to that.

Sorry, not much help am I.:o

Jim

[blazer3664]

WOW, Jeepin I wish I could get a 60 for $450-600 around here.
Everybody wants $1000 or more for one in need of major rebuild in my neck of the woods.

Jim

[j20brett]

$1,400 for shaft and joints? :eek: Where are you buying them from? You can get 4340 shafts and CTM joints for ~$850 total.

Prertty sure he meant total price with new shafts included.

[holley2346]

1400 is the final price with a spool new gears crossover steering and chromo inners and outers. Would a spooled d44 front with chromos be as strong as a d60?

[holley2346]

Furthermore this truck has about 13 inches of suspension lift and a 3" body. Just to answer the previous posters question. Soa 6" lift spring 1" shackle front shackle flip 4 inch block 3"aal rear.

[blazer3664]

Yea I saw you'r sig...... AFTER I posted earlier.

Sorry:o.

I still say 60 though:D

Jim

[jeeping1974]

Would a spooled d44 front with chromos be as strong as a d60?

No, a D44 is 30 spline (1.31") and a D60 front is 35 spline (1.5"). Not to mention your ball joints are going to hate you.

[holley2346]

What's the best way to ship something like this? I'd have to drive 24 hours one way to get this perfect newly rebuilt 60 not to mention ill have to return all the parts I've purchased for the d44.:(

[j20brett]

Depends on how much you have to spend... Get the seller to crate it up and put in a box truck, or find someone to pick it up for you.

[Etcetera]

Depends on how you drive, but 38's would be pushing your luck for sure with a dana 44 even with a light foot.

In my case I went 44 in front, but I'm running 4.10's and 35's and the 44 came with 4.10's so it's a really cheap axle that nearly bolts in. Some day the budget will allow a 60 and I won't be out much. I'm really conservative off road, so I feel pretty confident I'll be fine, just carry a couple spare parts. If I was going to have to regear the 44 I wouldn't have bothered, would have kept looking for a 60.

[jsc7002]

I would want the D60 if I had the money, you would really be pushing the D44 with 38" although I probably would do it if I couldnt afford a D60 but then adding a spool will add a lot more stress to the 44.

Go for the D60, youll be happier in the long run.

[JeepsAndGuns]

Check into forward air for shipping. I had a NV4500 shipped from TX to here a few years ago for a pretty decent price.

Also, I went through the same thing. I started to settle for a 44, because I couldnt find a 60. But I figured no matter what, I was never gonna be happy unless I got the 60. So I held out and actually found a 60.
Go 1 ton all the way. Just get the 60.

[Casey]

60

[Hard Knocks]

60 and you wont look back

[holley2346]

Cancelled my spool / ring and pinion order for the 44. Luckily I hadn't ordered the cross over steering yet... I'll send the new 6 lug wheels back to summit tomorrow....

My budget allows for the new axle.... the only problem is now I will have to wait even longer to get a high angle driveline front driveshaft. :( Guess it will be 2wd for another month or so.

Thanks everyone for your input, obviously your opinion does mean a lot in the direction that I go.

I thank everyone for their input. :thumbsup:

Now to find a good priced d60 within a few hundred miles of me. :rolleyes:

[shimniok]

I have no personal experience to go on, except to say... if you're already spending that kind of money, and you have more anyway, do it right the first time and don't mess around.

Michael

[holley2346]

What is a good price to pay for a d60 front that has been off the road for 2 years but supposedly has all new seals / bearings / ring and pinion.

I will have to regear / spool it and do the crossover steering conversion.

Would $700 be a good price?

[ClovisMan]

What is a good price to pay for a d60 front that has been off the road for 2 years but supposedly has all new seals / bearings / ring and pinion.

I will have to regear / spool it and do the crossover steering conversion.

Would $700 be a good price?That is an average price for a Chevy D60 in my parts. If it had a Detroit, 4.56 gears, and high steer arms or hydraulic steering, that would be a great price.

[Etcetera]

Are you sure you want to spool the front? I think I'd rather have open or some auto locker than a spool up front, I can't stand a full time locked front. Save your pennies for a while longer and get an ARB.