Dana 60 Front Axle Truss

[jalampi]

Anybody have thier front D-60 trussed? I need some ideas to do mine.

[CumminsBronco]

What are you wanting to truss it for, strength for landing after getting air, or to be able to link it?
The one I've done so far isn;t in the front, but it is a front 60 that I've put in the rear for rear steer. I've trussed it to have something to hook my upper link to. You can see pics of it at www.diesel-central.com If you go there you'll have to click on the "photo gallery" section and then type in cumminsbronco in the photo search area.
Louis
PS.....sorry 'bout this, but I need to let out a hooooyaaaaaaaaaa!!!! I've graduated from newbie to wheeler. Jimbo Wheeler .......the back tire squeeler.

[CumminsBronco]

....ah oh......I was so excited about being inducted into the "wheeler" status that I sent you the link to my pics and I don;t even have a pic of the trussed axle there yet. The pics of the housing are before I trussed it. I'll have 'em there in a day or two.

[jalampi]

I tweeked the long tube (all 4 wheels 6 feet in the air will do that)and had to straiten it. Now I need to make it stronger. Need some good ideas.

[CumminsBronco]

Hmmm, until I get the pics posted of how I trussed mine here are some ideas to think about. The pics that I do have posted, one has the original tubes in it. It is the pic of the smooth tubes, although the drivers side has been lengthened, and the pass side shortened to put the pinion in the center. After rolling that one under the Bronco I ran into some problems with my links and decided to pull the tubes again and put in the tubes that you see in the pic with the fluted tubes. That axle is back to full width with pinion centered up. The smooth tubed axle was 59 inches wide.
OK...to the point, the fluted tubes are 7/8 inch wall. The original tubes were 3/8 thick. (SuperDuty D60's) Putting heavier wall tubes in would prevent you from bending them, but I guess you could break the center section if you hit hard enough on your return to earth.
Until I get pics up for you to see.....my truss is 3/8 inch plate that spans the axle tubes, and follows the contour of the center section. It ties (bolts) into the rock guard (guard that similer to the ones sold by Poison Spyder) If you do a search here for Axle Bridge, look at the pics of the tube bridges, and imagine that same bridge made out of plate, but solid between the perimeter and the housing itself.
Louis