I was wondering how much weaker a Dodge Dana 60 with external locking hubs is compared to a GM/Dodge with internal locking hubs?

Also are there any upgrades for the external locking hub axles or can you swap to internal locking hubs.

I have located one with external hubs and it has a desent price compared to all the other offers I have had but it is 6 hrs away and was wondering if it will hold up the 39s-42s it will be running.

Any information on this would be a big help. And sorry if this is too newbie for you guys, I just figured this was the best place to ask.

Thanks,
Rankin

i prefer external hubs, easier to work on bearings and easier to remove if you leave the snap ring off the and of the stub shaft. some say weaker but i dont belive so. i dont think there are external 35splines [if it matters to you] but not 100%

35 spline shafts cryoed u joints and ator external flanges. done. plenty strong. if u drine on the road pull the slugs and go

There are a few sources for 35 spline drive flanges for them now, but as far as I know not any hubs for 35 spline. As for stock to stock strength, I would say they are very close if not the same and external hubs are much easier to work on. One disadvantage is that they stick out farther than an internal hub and more likely to get damage from rocks or stumps.

In order to convert to internal style hubs you would have to swap both hub housings to the internal style, but everything else is the same.

I looked into converting to the 35 splines on my external hub D60 a couple of years ago. At that point, I could not find any hubs or any drive flanges, so I gave it up. I have been running mine welded for 7 years, busted a couple of hubs and only 2 u-joints running 38.5" TSLs, so I think this axle is plenty strong. Are there some places around now that are making the drive flanges for the external hubs?

As far as I know, short of having someone broach the stock ones or using 35 spline side gears, ATOR makes a set.

I recently bought a set and they look kind of nice however, I have a couple issues with ATOR:
1) UPS showed a week wait between recieving info and actually picking up the flanges.
2) VERY poorly packed. Their caps got scraped up.
3) They only have blue caps with their logo on it. I'm gonna see if my local machine shop can mill them down to get rid of the logo:shaking: Then flat black the whole SOB.

Thanks guys for the help! Well it sounds like I will be picking up my new D60 external style hub axle with in a few days from now. Let me know if there is anything else I need to kow about this axle.

Thanks again,
Rankin

Stock Dodge D70 external flanges are 35-spline and bolt on directly. I picked up a set in new condition from a guy on the board here, running them with 38.5 SXs on a heavy rig with Detroits; no issues in four years or so. On the road steering was a little quirky before I added the ram assist, but with that done it's not even noticeable.

What kind of axle shafts are you running?

Rankin

All stock Spicer stuff. Inners are what came with the axle, outers are Spicer 35-spliners that I got from Scott at Rockstomper (great to deal with). Joints were new cold-forged Spicer with grease zerks, from same source.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158860
Some part numbers and information on the fasteners here.

Thanks for all the information on this. I'll see what I will do when ever I get that axle and how much money I'll have left to spend.

Thanks again,
Rankin

I did 35 spline outers new hubs etc got everything in less than a week from www.WFOConcepts.com in Auburn Ca

and if flanges r what u want ator has black caps now. dont be in a hurry to get them anywhere from 1-2 weeks:shaking:

and if flanges r what u want ator has black caps now.

Last time I talked with them, no plans for black caps. Ah well, belt sander and a spray can will fix the blue with logo ;)

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158860
Some part numbers and information on the fasteners here.

That's interesting, so those 35 spline drive flanges are made for cone washers. My 30 spliners aren't.