Questions about TTB to D60 conversion with 4" suspension lift already installed - Diesel Forum

crashmk92 · 09-12-2005, 02:49 PM

I'm getting closer to finally ditching the TTB on my F250 4x4 and doing it right. I want to swap up to the D60, however I have the following NAGGING questions.

1: I had a 4" Superlift suspension installed last year. Will the D60 be compatible with the lift. I've been told that the D60 will add 2" of lift by itself. Will that make my 4" lift into a 6" lift?

2: If it does add the additional 2" to my truck, what else will require replacement, (i.e., longer drop pitman arm?, etc...)

3: Where is the best place to find the axle, and what is the EXACT NOMENCLATURE that we need to look for when purchasing. I've seen them on ebay, but am not sure what is exactly compatible.

4: How big of a job is the swap? Does anybody have a step by step just as some guys have done for their lift kit installations? Pictures tell a thousand words.

That's about it. I'm almost home, and getting excited. Any help is ALWAYS appreciated.

Joe

radarman · 09-12-2005, 03:21 PM

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I'm getting closer to finally ditching the TTB on my F250 4x4 and doing it right. I want to swap up to the D60, however I have the following NAGGING questions.

1: I had a 4" Superlift suspension installed last year. Will the D60 be compatible with the lift. I've been told that the D60 will add 2" of lift by itself. Will that make my 4" lift into a 6" lift?

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Fully compatible, but yes, your lift will go from about 4 inches to over 5 inches (not sure of the exact number)... that is why have 6 inch lift listed in my sig.

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2: If it does add the additional 2" to my truck, what else will require replacement, (i.e., longer drop pitman arm?, etc...)

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I used the same pitman arm, works fine. You -will- need to get a droped trackbar bracket, or fab a drop for the stock bracket. The stock trackbar itself works fine. Do -not- put a longer track bar. That will cause suspension geometry problems due to the increased track bar angle.

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3: Where is the best place to find the axle, and what is the EXACT NOMENCLATURE that we need to look for when purchasing. I've seen them on ebay, but am not sure what is exactly compatible.

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You want a 1984 through 1997 F350 front D60. I think earlier years will work but you will have to widen the spring perches. The 84-97 are direct bolt-ins. The earlier D60's have the kingpin bushings instead of the ball joints and are considered stronger than the ball joint types, but both are fine.. More INFO HERE

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4: How big of a job is the swap? Does anybody have a step by step just as some guys have done for their lift kit installations? Pictures tell a thousand words.

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Job is really straight forward. I do not have a pictorial history, but you can see some in progress pics HERE. Hardest part is probably getting the old pivot brackets OFF.. the bolts are a bugger to get out because the pan is in the way, so I just cut the bolts off and fished them out.

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That's about it. I'm almost home, and getting excited. Any help is ALWAYS appreciated.Joe

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good luck and feel free to shoot me any questions you like!

If you are gunna do this swap, just a reminder to make sure you get the track bar, track bar drop bracket, steering linkages, and change all bearings and such while you are at it.

Garbage_Mechanic · 09-12-2005, 05:14 PM

I've done this conversion twice, both on my 91 and my 96. I agree with radarman's asessment completly. I didn't know about this site yet and did very through reseach before buying. One thing I'd add is that the best brakes are the 95 to 98 brakes. The earlier ones are prone to wear on the caliper slider rails and the 92- 94 ball joint caliper rails are part of the knuckle- not inexpensive to replace. On the 88-91 king pin units, the caliper rails are part of a replaceable bracket. Most people that are building a radical lifted truck look for the kingpin units. I converted one 92 axle to 95-97 brakes to solve the worn out caliper slider issue. I also converted from dually hubs to srw.
On finding parts- I used Car-Part.com to locate one axle assy on the east coast, and I located parts in Canada. It seems there are more parted F350's in western Canada than anywhere else. They are rusty, but usable. Persistance and plenty of time on the phone helped, the Canadian guys were great.
Another good thing to know is that the F250 hubs and rotors will swap on to the same year range D60, so that saves a bit of grief. Makes a DRW unit no big deal.
On the lift height- I had a Rancho 4" kit on the 91, after installing the D60, the front rode 2" higher. I ended up taking out a front leaf, now only 4 leafs. Rides better, no downside, but the front still sets 1" higher than the back. Back has Rancho 2" blocks plus stock 1.75 blocks. I need 6" no taper solid blocks to level it.
Is it worth it? No doubt for me. The only other option was Superlift Superrunner steering, but it was not even a close call. PM me if I can help. Good hunting!

Nit · 09-12-2005, 07:53 PM

Oh Thanks, give away my secret supply of D60's, Canada's good for somethign other than beer now, eh? We smash up more f350's up north than anywhere else in N. America, tree planters smoking too much dope,absolute truth.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

crashmk92 · 09-12-2005, 08:41 PM

Wow. I wish I would have known about the extra lift before I purchased my lift kit. I'm not really sure If i want 6 inches of lift on this truck. 4 is perfect to me. What did you guys pay for your D60s? What is the average, and, if I was to request the stock f350 leaf springs, trac bar, and pitman arm, but leave the 2 1/2" blocks in my rear, do you think I would end up about level? Basically pissing away my entire purchased lift kit with exception of my rear blocks.

Joe

Nit · 09-13-2005, 12:01 AM

it si not cheap, $1700 for the axle $600 for rebiuld parts $300 for RSK plus misc bolts & stuff, $1200 ARB, etc, you see teh idea but when it si in , WOW I like it.

Garbage_Mechanic · 09-19-2005, 12:27 PM

If you have a 4" lift on your F250, and convert to a D60, take out one leaf from the front spring pack and you end up with a lift that's 2.5 to 3 inches over a stock F350. I took measurements before and after, if you need I could look for em...........

RattlinFord · 09-19-2005, 04:22 PM

here is the track bar all mounted and ready to rock...

[image]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/593000-593999/593659_88_full.jpg[/image]

and here is the truck without an axle awaiting her "new" '97 D60

[image]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/593000-593999/593659_89_full.jpg[/image]

don't really have many pics...i hope maybe, somehow these help...

Josh

Mwheeler · 09-19-2005, 04:31 PM

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here is the track bar all mounted and ready to rock...

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Had the wrong tagging on them, so I fixed 'em for ya.

D60 Swap Pic 1
D60 Swap Pic 2

jna · 09-19-2005, 10:01 PM

Hey NIT....You ever get that steering figured out!!!!!!!!

if anyone needs a 60 and is near northwest indiana...i might have a lead...still never got the guy to part out the truck...but i might give it a few more months with out some extra cash...never know

jna · 09-19-2005, 10:03 PM

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Will the D60 be compatible with the lift?

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im picturing a drop down bracket with nothing bolted to it...but that might be common sense to take off.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

RattlinFord · 09-19-2005, 10:37 PM

thanks man...i tried to post them, couldn't get it right and THOUGHT i deleted the posting...guess not, but thanks!

Josh

Nit · 09-20-2005, 02:24 AM

nope , steering will not fit without major changes, which is hard to do properly without concerns, as it si steerign, sure looks pretty on teh shop wall

Gaskett · 09-20-2005, 04:58 PM

Nit..

If it's for a Kingpin style and you want to get rid of it... let me know.

Glenn

Nit · 09-20-2005, 08:01 PM

if you have a kingpin it will work just fine, you just need teh pass side over axle braket that bolts to teh top of the kingpin unit, very common peice. I really wanted to make thsi setup work, but playign with steering is like playing with brakes.