re: another dana 60?... - Diesel Forum

DABOSS · 02-01-2010, 11:05 PM

Aloha Folks,
thanks for all the imput. Now am considering the Dana 60 and trying to figure out how to reasonably do it funds wise. But also the options as to if I go the reverse shackle route or not. My truck is a work truck so I cannot have it so high since I need to load my bed from time to time and understand that just by doing the SAS swap my truck will get lifted a little. But if I do the reverse shackle it might even go higher. So, looking forward to pro's and cons for both and if you did not do the rs shackle what did you do in regard to springs and such?
Mahalo

Nit · 02-02-2010, 10:50 AM

it will not ride better, adn it will be higher adn you can do nothing about that, I have had both front end adn done lots of work on TTB's, you are better off to replace all the bushings including the axle mount ones and then get a really good alignment done. The front end relies more on teh spring twisting for suspension movement than spring compression as a d60 would. In your current truck a softer sidewall tire or less air pressure would make it ride better. Also good shocks are very important.

**caryt** · 02-02-2010, 07:14 PM

Yes a correctly setup D60-RS-SD swap will ride better than any Ford stock SD, done it hundreds of times..As to height it has to be raised to get suspension travel..required to have a good ride quality. The truck will set level with your factory 4"+- rear blocks.
Changing the rear springs to B codes will also improve the ride.

Just get any D60 KP or Ball joint from 85-97. Your not rock crawling ball joints are fine for the street.

easyest swap will be from a donner 96-97, grab the case yoke and front DS.

Getting in and out..bring a plactic folding step..thats what I do for my inlaws.

If you need help PM me.

Cary

Nit · 02-02-2010, 09:32 PM

you're right Cary, as long as you swap all the springs out to SD ones it rides great, but with the current 4 leaves he has it would ride very poorly. He also had a height concern that can not work the way he was thinking. Mainly because the TTB uses a negative arch spring and a D60 must use a positive arched one is the main reason the d60 sits that much higher.
I really appreciate all the suspension work you've done is the last few year, its really too bad that an easy coil spring kit can't be made. Thanks Cary

DABOSS · 02-03-2010, 03:05 AM

Aloha Nit & Cary-
Want to thank you both for the great advice. Cary I did PM you. Gosh, so much to think about!
mahalo

DABOSS · 02-07-2010, 02:20 PM

Aloha Caryt & Nit-

I have met someone with a Dana60. It came from a 96 dually. I assume it will work. He said it comes with the leaf springs for the front as well but no DS. Curious as to the weight of these things as I would have to load it up in the back of my truck (which has a camper shell on it). Thinking I could put a piece of plywood down in my bed and pull it in. Probably could also take the leaf springs off to make it easier and lighter too.

Look forward to hearing from you if there are any concerns that it came from dually or not.
Mahalo

DABOSS · 02-07-2010, 05:14 PM

Aloha Folks,
forgot to ask, I know the RS shackle kit is a nice addition and the ride is better. Like to hear from those who did not do this but their ride is better than the ttb setup and what did you do? I ask this because my truck is also used as a work truck and It would not be practical to have a truck sitting up so high especially since I have to load plywood and sheet rock in my bed. I heard doing the RS lifts the truck even more then just swapping the axles. So curious what is a good way to go if you do not do the RS kit? And if the lift over is not much then would like to know about that too.
Mahalo

Nit · 02-07-2010, 10:38 PM

you can see for yourself how it would look exactly, see the pictures of my red truck before and after the D60 adn RS kit with 35" tires. Plus look at JCart's pics of the same truck( sold mine to him) adn he put in SD springs adn it dropped a bit. That should help you allot adn you could PM him for measurements.

DABOSS · 02-07-2010, 11:29 PM

Aloha Nit-
thank you so much for your help during this process. I have had to think about keeping the ttb or doing the swap and since my vehicle is in the lower 200k's in term of miles and I want to keep this truck for a while it might be a better investment with the dana 60. Just that it is also a work truck and I do transport folks from time to time but am sure I can work around this all.

By the way, is the Reverse Shackle the only way to go? And I noticed 2 shocks on each side of your setup. If one goes with the RS shackle do you need to do the 2 shocks? I am just curious as this is all new to me. Mahalo again!

Nit · 02-08-2010, 10:55 AM

nope jsut added dual shocks cause it looked cool, John has probably taken one off by now, him redid the suspension for hiway travel, used the SD springs and such.

DABOSS · 02-08-2010, 03:27 PM

Aloha Nit-
thanks for that info. Will you ever do another powerstroke again? I see you have a dodge and I understand they are nice and maybe easier to manufacture power than our OBS ones. Take care now and will keep you up to date as to how this goes!
Mahalo

DABOSS · 02-08-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nit

nope jsut added dual shocks cause it looked cool, John has probably taken one off by now, him redid the suspension for hiway travel, used the SD springs and such.

Aloha Nit-
Forgot to ask one thing and this will seem green on my part. When everyone hear says SD springs are we just talking about the stock springs from 1996 to 1997 on the F350's?

I am asking because the dana 60 I am looking at comes from a 1996 dually and includes the springs. I have learned that I just need to remove the spacer on this dually dana 60 and move a few parts over from my ttb setup to make this into a single wheel axle (hope that is the correct terminology). Look forward to hearing from you about the SD springs.
Mahalo

**caryt** · 02-08-2010, 05:28 PM

SD springs...........99-04

DABOSS · 02-14-2010, 01:03 PM

Aloha again,
some other questions as I prep this axle:
what parts from my ttb will come over to this Dana 60? I was not sure if I could use the hub, spline, stub shaft etc from the d60. My disk brakes are fairly new as they say. Can I use the calipers off of the d60 or should I use the ones on my ttb?

I was also told it is not a bad idea to redo the axle joint and seal. I am assuming this is the area by the knuckle and where the stub shaft meets up with the axle. Is it best to get these parts from Ford, Napa or another source? How difficult is it to do this on ones own or should a shop do it?

Thank you all again for the help.
Mahalo

rusty1161 · 02-14-2010, 02:18 PM

You will need to use the hub from your truck on the DRW Dana 60, that is what I did with mine. The brakes should swap right over, so the rotor attached to your hubs and the calipers will work. I just did a similar swap, but my Dana 60 came out of a 1989 F350 DRW. I rebuilt it from the inner axle seals to the brakes. The only things that swapped over were the SRW hubs, but I needed new rotors, calipers and pads. With the axle out it is easier to replace the seals and u-joints now, that later when the truck is needed for something. CaryT can get you everything you need, and all quality parts to boot. Shaka brah!!!