Any thoughts on the longevity of a 30 spline rear Dana 60 with a set of 42" TSL's on it?

Mild V8, Auto tranny, 4:1 Dana 300, 6.17 gears and a spool. Do I need to go hunting for a Dana 70 to minimize breakage?

Thanks in advance.

Ed

Well IMO I think depending on the driving style it would be ok...sure there will be the ocassional break but not all the time and spares are easy to find and cheap...also with the auto tranny you get some forgiveness there...the thing that will be the hardest on the shafts will be the spool:D

Or Spend $300 and buy a set of 35 spline axles, bore the spindles out so they fit and get a 35 spline spool instead of the 30. Then it will be the just about the same strength as a 70...

youl be fine

I have seen some of the weekest axels (10 bot) take alot of HP with 35s with out :nuke: :confused: dont know why but I was ready for the snap

one good bounce could bend those axle tubes, Ive seen it happen. Dana 60 + 42+hard bounce-:nuke:

Originally posted by Jeepmangled87
one good bounce could bend those axle tubes, Ive seen it happen. Dana 60 + 42+hard bounce-:nuke:

How thin was the metal rusted?? I had a 73 Dodge with a D60 that I carried 2 one ton hay bales on bounced it hard enough to blow a tire(lost the rear bail when it landed) but never bent the axle..I am sure that puts more stress on it then just running 42's..

Originally posted by Rock Taxi
6.17 gears


I am willing to guess that tiny 6.17 pinion head is gonna go before the 30 spline shaft does....

Originally posted by DRM



I am willing to guess that tiny 6.17 pinion head is gonna go before the 30 spline shaft does....

I disagree. Tracy Jordan and Don Robbins both run 40+ tires in Arizona cutting the hardest trails in the country and both are running 7.17's in thier D60's.

I think you will be fine Ed with your driving style. You are not crazy with the stupid pedal at all.

Aren't you running a FF rear? If so that is a simple fix....

30 spline and 42" bad idea

Im gonna have to say no. I would bore the spindles and get a set of 35spline shafts for it, then a spool. But what the hell do I know, im gonna run 44"TSLs on a shaved 14 bolt with 5.13's, and a detroit :p . BTW, since when does someone make a D60 30spl spool? I wouldnt worry about gear selection, as Nolen stated. I know that you'll probably never abuse your stuff like those guys do. Those 30 spl shafts are very small, I wouldnt want them under my junk. JMHO

Just go get a 70 or 14 bolt.

I have a 70 with 39" TSL's and have 12" of clearance at the diff, 35 spline axles and gear parts that are not going to break.

Got my 70 at PNP for $130

ed... i got 35 spliners at a JYD for 75$,

other thoughts...

Shafts - 75$
boring the spindles - ? mine waslready set up for 1.5"'s (D61)
new spool - 190$
install -150$

if the axles already there and set up I'd say run it, if you run into lots of breakage you're not out much but the trouble. if you are planning to set this up and have to buy the gears and spool still I would go for the bigger axle now to save you wasting money on parts you might get rid of later.
I still think boring the spindles is a bad idea. go to 14-bolt or dana70 spindles.

Well, a good friend of mine is running a FF rear 60 with 5.87 gears with detroit, Np-435, Dana 300, with a mild 258 on 42's. So far he's wromp'd the shit out of it with no problems, if it's all about driving style then just hitting the skinny must not be enough to bust those little shafts cause i've seen my buddy fly up Helicopter Pad at Tellico on just the rear tires. :eek: but nothing is unbreakable. if you got it, run it. And where the hell are you getting a 30 spline spool?!

Ok, fine, I made it all up.

There is no 30 spline Dana 60 spool. I am a cheap bastard and don't like Detroits anyway, so I welded the spiders, so shoot me.

Hey thanks for the great responses by the way.

I will start shopping for 70 and run this 60 'till she blows.

Hope it sounds cool when it does.

Ed

Here is a couple of pics that show the difference between a 30 spline Dana 60 and a 30 Spline 14 Bolt.

http://www.alaskaoffroad.com/images/Tech/14vs60Raxle.jpg

http://www.alaskaoffroad.com/images/Tech/14vs60Raxle_2.jpg

edit: the choice is clear to me :eek:

Hey B Green,

Do you by any chance know Randy and Ruth Claire there in Soldotna?

They are cousins of mine.

Ed Westerbeck

oh yeah 14 bolt is the way to go if price is a concern, except for the low gear problem.
hmm 14bolt ends on a 60 housing + weld in the 14 bolt side gears to the 60 carrier? anyone?

Originally posted by Rock Taxi
Hey B Green,

Do you by any chance know Randy and Ruth Claire there in Soldotna?

Ed Westerbeck


Sorry, dont know them. :(

Some pics of a 23 spline d70 dwarfing a 30 spline D60. A 35 spline D70 would be so much the better !!

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/billaVista/D70/Dcp_4154.jpg

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/billaVista/D70/Dcp_4168.jpg

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/billaVista/D70/Dcp_4177.jpg

Also, don;t know why boring the spindles is a bad idea...my D60 and d70 spindles share the same outside diameter, but the 70 spindles are thinner wall to accomodate the larger shafts.

pics and dimensions at:

http://www.rightcoastcrawler.com/billaVista/D70/D70.htm

Well.....

The 60 did not hold up to the 38.5's. I now have an axle shaft the shattered horizontally into 3 parts.

Time to go to a 70. I will start digging through junkyards in the next few weeks.

Guess I am heavier footed than I thought.

Thanks for he feedback and your best guesses though. I kinda thought it would hold, but I guess not.

Ed

i have rear 70 with 35 splines and 42. its sweet, i dont ever see myself killing one. jiMMy

Originally posted by Rock Taxi
Well.....

The 60 did not hold up to the 38.5's. I now have an axle shaft the shattered horizontally into 3 parts.

Time to go to a 70. I will start digging through junkyards in the next few weeks.

Guess I am heavier footed than I thought.

Thanks for he feedback and your best guesses though. I kinda thought it would hold, but I guess not.

Ed


Eh, I still think you broke it on purpose. :smokin:

just food for thought..I broke a 35 spline dana 70 rear shaft about an inch past the carrier...but, I am running cut 44 inch boggers combined with plenty o/power and foot to go with it..But,the 70 will be much stronger than the 60 shaft..Good lUck:D