Why are these axles not used much in Ford swaps? Downsides?

I know it is not HP.
I don't care that the short side is short.
I want driver's side drop.
They're cheaper... Is it the housing. What's the deal?

Marlon

You can get dodge 2500 front and rear axles (D60 and D70) complete for 800.00 total right now in the tire and wheels section and it got me wondering why.

Vacuumn disconect, no lockouts. 2 piece (weak) long side shaft where the disconnect is.

thats about $600 to much..

low pinion
no lockouts
unit bearings
32 spline stubs
30 spline inners
CAD longside shaft

better off with a 44.

30 Spline inners...huh... Okay

PLEASE let me know where i can get a pair of late model dodge axles for that $$. i need a rear (D70 or D80 with 3.55 gears) and i have a friend that needs a front (D60 with 3.55's). my truck is a 1995 3500 and his is a 1998 2500.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

thanks!
matt

On this board in the Axle Tires and wheels section. Page 1, 2 or 3...was just there.

do a search in the tires and wheels sction.

Only a moron would do that swap into a Ford.
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=140834&toggle=fullsize&f=.jpg

they also have unit bearings just one big bearing that tosts pretty easy. they are balled jointed. ANd they have tiny shafts! the shafts in my dodge are way smaller then the ones in my ford 60. with some work they can be made good but the cost is pretty high so most people dont do it.

Only a moron would do that swap into a Ford.



I almost did too.. but it was cheaper to do a 79 44..

however.. the dodge one DOES seem to have the diff offset more, like the 85.5+ ford 60's...
that would have made my swap go ALOT easier..

So if I can buy an entire truck with a 79 Ford front 60HP and rear 60 for a grand it is a good deal.... Just kidding I know it is a good deal. All I need to do is see the truck/condition. I'm meeting the seller at 10:30 today. And is has all new brakes with a new motor...heheheh

The people don't know what a ball joint is. Ahhhhh. It was a Dana 44 even though I asked them three times...are you sure...are you sure..."YES is is a 1 Ton front Axle."

Anyone interested in a HP44 and D60?

It seems that youre average joe thinks that 8 lugs = 1 ton. I don't know how many times I've seen a 3/4 ton advertised with "1 ton suspension" or "1 ton axles" when it was dead stock.

Okay...one more thing though. If you are replacing the diff and the shafts is the rest....the housing and outter stuff solid? I'm not to edjamacated...Explain the "Unit bearing" if you would. Single bearing???

I almost did too.. but it was cheaper to do a 79 44..

however.. the dodge one DOES seem to have the diff offset more, like the 85.5+ ford 60's...
that would have made my swap go ALOT easier..
I am that moron... doing that very exact swap into my 78 Bronco. It ain't easy but it sure is fun!

what's the feasability of swapping on regular ford (or chev for that matter) outers onto a dodge 60 and having some beefier axles made? I know that most of us would be putting some kind of locker and upgraded shafts in anyway. Anyone have any input on this?

I just bought a 98 dodge dana 60 off ebay for 223$$ its going into my 75 bronco so I have to narrow the long side in other words get rid of the cad and get new axle so while I am at it I will up grade to 35 spline inners and then see how the unitized brg and ball joints hold up it will be my winter project

Okay...one more thing though. If you are replacing the diff and the shafts is the rest....the housing and outter stuff solid? I'm not to edjamacated...Explain the "Unit bearing" if you would. Single bearing???
Yes, the unit bearing is a single bearing at the knuckle that is pressed into the hub. The stub shaft is splined into the hub and threaded at the end, with a nut holding it all together. I would describe it as a semi-floating front axle.

Yes, the unit bearing is a single bearing at the knuckle that is pressed into the hub. The stub shaft is splined into the hub and threaded at the end, with a nut holding it all together. I would describe it as a semi-floating front axle.

This is not quite an accurate description of a unit bearing....at least not in the Ford design. Best analogy I can make is this......take a 20lb sledge hammer and try to hold it in a horizontal plane, with both hands at the end of the handle.......sort of like holding a baseball bat. That is a unit bearing.
Then.........hold that same 20lb sledge with one hand at the end of the handle and the other hand next to the head...........much easier.
The Ford SuperDuty 60's I have have 2 bearings in the unit hub, but they are spaced only a 1/4" apart, with the spindle pressed though them, with the wheel mounting surface several inches out beyond that. The spindle is supported only at one end.
Older, non-unit bearing spindles/hubs have a 2 bearings also, but with one at each "end" of the spindle with the wheel mounting flange BETWEEN the bearings.....sort of like holding that sledge with 2 hands spread apart.
Does that make sense?
Now, here's the catch.........SuperDuty axles are used in F250, 350, 450 and 550 trucks........GVW ranging from 9700 to 17000 lbs. Do the unit bearings cause problems?.........yes. It's a poor design in my opinion. Would they cause problems in a rig weighing half or less what SuperDuty trucks weigh? I can't say, but I'm about to find out. I have 2 frt SD 60's, the rear already in, and the front to go yet. (72 Bronco with a 780 lb "wet" weight Cummins diesel)
I've got several other '03, new and unused D60's that I'd sell if you might be interested.

This is not quite an accurate description of a unit bearing....at least not in the Ford design.
Thanks for catching that mistake. What I described as a single bearing is actually a single bearing HOUSING that bolts to the knuckle, there are 2 bearings in it. The hub is pressed into them.