Ok. I want to do a gear change along with a dana 60 rear swap to dump the 9".

Is it possible to remove the carrier out of the front without removing the tie rods? 2nd Since the dana 60 will be 8 lugs, what all is needed to swap the front to 8 lugs? Just change the hubs?

Also last question, if i go junkin' what wheels will fit the 8lub pattern for the dana 60?

 

I did EXACTLY that. It is possible to remove the front carrier and not the tie rods. You just have to remove the hubs, spindles and pull the axles out. Then to change over to 8 lug just find hp44 8 lug spindles hubs and brake parts.

 

on my stock steering setup, I don't think you could pull the carrier off the 44 without removing the tie rod, it runs right in front of the cover. I've never tried it though. As the above guy said though swapping to 8 lug is easy, just pull all the outer stuff off a junkyard truck and youre good to go. Its worth noting that jbg lists the outer axles at different so probably a good idea to swap them too. where do you live? there is an 8 lug, hp d44 F250 at the u pull it yard here thats got the complete outer setup. I think they charge like $30 per side for the spindles and stuff. depends on what kinda mood the guy is in. I have a set of calipers I pulled off a good running truck you can have for cheap if youre close, they may end up getting scrapped, I got no use for em and doubt I will.

 

Off topic, but I've always been curious as to what the appeal is to go from a 9" to 60 is??? 9" has more aftermarket support, you're not gaining much if any strength. Is it the perception that 60's came under 250's and 1 tons, so they must be stronger??? you're going from a 9" ring gear to a 9.75". Seems like an awful lot of work for minimal if any advantage.

 

Brain fart...the tie rod does have to come off. For some reason i was thinking in third member terms lol. My reason for the 8 lug/60 swap was bigger brakes. 35's eat brakes like no other. Also your question about wheels. Wheels with 8x6 1/2 bolt pattern will fit.

 

So far in 5 sled hooks the 9" has broken ring gear teeth, then that resulted in the broken tooth coming around and going between the ring and pinion and blowing the whole pinion out of the side of the 3rd member and the driveshaft going rolling on the track lol. Just this sunday, It snapped the cross pin.
Most everyone pulling fords in this class and the one class up is running a D60. And i have yet to see one have any problems. The one guy who i am friends with is running a D60 and is actually twisting the splines on the driveshaft, and has yet to have a problem with the D60.

I can get one for free, so i figured i'll give it a try instead of throwing more money into the 9. Plus that will allow me to run 16" wheels and i can run the extra set of 285/75's i have sitting around instead of the 31x10.50's

2 breaks out of 5 hooks isn't good


bria grantsville broken - YouTube



Thanks for the help, i'll have to call around to the junk yards

 

the 60 is full floating too, which is a big advantage if you take your truck hunting or camping way out in the boonies alone and break an axle. The downside is that its a lot heavier than the 9". You can beef a 9" up forever (basically limited to your bank account), as they are found in 500 hp desert race trucks, 3500 hp funny cars, and everything in between. But you can get a d60 rear for under $100 just about anywhere in the country, and thats less than a nodular case for a 9.

Having said that, a stock 60 isn't a huge ton stronger than a 9. Stronger, but not like a different world.