You know, this should be a no-brainer, yet I am having a small break-down over this. As some may know, I am in the process of building a choice Zuk Sidekick. The plan was strip and sell all the goodies off of my Scout, and start fresh on the Zuk. My plans included a simple coilover suspension, a 44 front, a Toy rear, a 4.3, Turbo 350 and dual Toy cases.
Here's the issue: I have spent the last two years chasin' it and gettin' it with a Dana 60. I don't even remember how to change out a 44 axle joint. Hell, I don't even recognize my tools for that matter! I can't imagine doing just that again in 40 degrees, raining at 3:00 in the morning (an adventure I had last summer). So I am sceptical about running a 44 after being spoiled by the 60. I know, I shouldn't break a 44 on a Zuk. But it will happen. The worst of it is, I have a locked up, 4.88 geared,proven 60 sitting in my front yard. I could slap on a set of adapted half ton brakes and rotors to make it more versatile, and run an inset wheel to narrow it up a bit. OR I could run some HD shafts and CTM joints in the 44 and embrace the crunch:nuke:
Anyone ever had problems with the CTM's? And I'm talking about the most extreme case of gettin it, "cuz I want it.

60 and never look back

60 good, 44 bad

aaron

go 44 youll love it you cant beat them! and when you run your 44 call me Ill buy that old dana 60 from you since it just sitting in your front yard, Or I tell you what how about you give me your address and Ill just take it off your law for free!:D :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

What a nice guy, offering to help me keep my yard clean and safe. I have a big old ugly 440 Chrysler there, too. You should take that too, cuz I keep trippin over the damn thing!:D

Originally posted by twistedscout

Anyone ever had problems with the CTM's? And I'm talking about the most extreme case of gettin it, "cuz I want it.

To date, no one has managed to break a set or even one. They have been in several competitors rigs and one pair I know of was taken out of one rig in 'Cruces and put in a different rig for the CalRocs event.

dana 44's ---- 35" tires or less
dana 60's ---- 35" +

A friend of mine has a chevy 350, sm420, dana20, and 44's out of a waggie... He drives smart (doesn't get wasted and do burn-outs up cliffs) and hasn't even broken a u-joint.

by the time you buy the d44 put chromolies, ctm jionts and regear and rebuild it you would have spent enuff to narrow your d60. or for even less leave it full width and run both the axles you have(whatever is in the rear of your rig that matches the d60). and buy custom wheels with a big backspace. cant understand why you would want to get rid of 1 tons for 1/2 tons. just my .02

Originally posted by WideJ
dana 44's ---- 35" tires or less
dana 60's ---- 35" +

A friend of mine has a chevy 350, sm420, dana20, and 44's out of a waggie... He drives smart (doesn't get wasted and do burn-outs up cliffs) and hasn't even broken a u-joint.


So what does your friend do,..when the only way up atough rock climb is a smokey burn out, with a little axle hop thrown in??? Does he just wait at the bottom, and hope the climb becomes easier with time, does he turn around, or does he just count on the good ole winch.
I get sick of hearing all of the "I have a freind who has a freind" stories, or even the, "I wheel mine extremely hard and never break em", well between myself and scores of fellow wheelers on the trail, I seem to find a way to go through about a case of them(297X joints) every year. We(the D44 abusers of america) just went through another 4 sets this weekened.
There is no magic way, or zen like driving strategy that will keep your joints from breaking, if you push them. The only way to avoid breaking them is to avoid pushing them on those types of demanding climbs.

Now about the CTMs, they are the real deal. I was the recipient of the set the came out of the Las cruces event rig, to run on my CalRocs rig. They made it through the event without any problems, and when my steering went south on my 2nd course, all I really had left to entertain the crowd was my throttle pedal. I have also been beatiung the crud out of them on a regular weekend basis, and that includes those burn outs, up rock faces.
For a small rig like a Zuke, I would think that a D44 with Warn axles, and CTM joints would be a very light and reliable set up, and would be under warranty. the down side is that with the axles and the joints, you are looking at about $1000.

Now about that D60, I wouldnt mind helping you clean up that nasty ole junk out of your yard. :D

I get sick of hearing all of the "I have a freind who has a freind" stories, or even the, "I wheel mine extremely hard and never break em", well between myself and scores of fellow wheelers on the trail, I seem to find a way to go through about a case of them(297X joints) every year. We(the D44 abusers of america) just went through another 4 sets this weekened.

It could be that you suck ??:flipoff2:

Originally posted by BillaVista


It could be that you suck ??:flipoff2:


Yeah, thats probably what it is.

OK, already. Now you guys are just being mean to each other! Don't make me turn this computer around!
I slept on it and in a Zen like dream, a man in a white robe walked up and slapped me and said, "Hey, Stupid. Dana 60. Dana 44." So I'm going to run the 60. Yeah, the whole weight thing and the width is a problem, but c'mon, I can't break it. That would be called NO STRESS WHEELING. But I still need to set up my wife's Scout 800, so I'll try the mollie shafts and CTM's in that. Thanks a lot, fellas. Now, can't we all just try and get along?
P.S.- Thanks for all the offers to help me clean up my yard! You guys are so sweet.