78/79 Dana 60
#1
01-24-2015, 06:33 PM
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78/79 Dana 60
I'm looking for a 78/79 Dana 60 as an upgrade for my 77 highboy. My Dana 44 has seen better days. These are pretty hard to come by down here in Texas. Any idea where I should look and what I can expect to pay?
I'm open to a bit of travel. Can anyone help? Preferably with the 4.10:1 gears
Thanks!
I'm open to a bit of travel. Can anyone help? Preferably with the 4.10:1 gears
Thanks!
#2
01-24-2015, 06:45 PM
More Turbo
I would say you could expect to pay $700-800 for one that has been sitting around for a while, $1000+ for one that someone put new breaks, bearings, u-joints, etc. At the end of the day you aren't gaining much over the D44. The outer shafts are the same size as the D44, just with a finer spline. You do get bigger u-joints, but the outer axle shaft is the weak link vs. the u-joint on the D44. Unless you plan on really abusing your 4wd, the D44 is plenty. I had luck finding one by stopping to ask an old farmer if a truck he had sitting in his field was for sale. I still say that is be best way to find one, but you have to take the whole truck.
#3
01-24-2015, 07:00 PM
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#4
01-25-2015, 04:40 AM
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I'll check with a guy that has tons of ford truck parts to see if he has a 78/79 Dana 60.. Be a shame to buy a snow fighter or 79 F350 4x4 just for the front axle unless it was a total wreck and beyond restoration....Question is do you really need the Dana 60??? Cant imagine you'll hang a snow plow on the front in Texas.. A $1000 would go a long way towards upgrading and rebuilding your D44. Chances are if you did buy a Dana 60 it will need seals and bearings or a total rebuild as well.. Just my 2 cents 
#5
01-25-2015, 09:14 AM
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The reason I'm considering a 60 is also weight capacity. I want to someday drop a diesel in the old 77 so I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone. If the 44 needs repairs anyways, why not upgrade to a stronger axle that will have zero ball joint issues in the future with a 1000 lb diesel.
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01-25-2015, 09:53 AM
#7
01-25-2015, 10:12 AM
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#8
01-25-2015, 10:14 AM
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#10
01-25-2015, 12:03 PM
#12
01-25-2015, 01:31 PM
Input from other FTE folks in the past:
D44-D60 But you will have a hard time finding a 60 with the 32.5" spring spacing, it'll have to be from a dentside. The '86+axles are spaced at 36", but are more common. Honestly the price you pay for one is way over rated. I happened to get one and put it in my truck, but it is just bragging rights to say "Yeah...I got a D60 front axle." They are over rated unless you continually are beating on it so hard you are tearing your D44 apart all the time.
The truths:
Yes it is heavier...doesn't do much but slow your truck down.
Yes it has a bigger ring gear...haven't broke yours, so why need to go bigger?
Yes it has bigger u-joint...good news is that likely won’t break on you.
The pitfall:
(The outer shafts are the same diameter as the outer shafts on a D44) POSSIBLY INCORRECT (just a different spline count). Instead of maybe breaking a u-joint you will likely break an outer shaft and good luck finding a cheap replacement.
The D44 held up for you for now, why change it? Also spare parts for the 44 are cheap. If you have 3:55 gears now and want to find 4.11s just find a D44 with 4.11s in already. I wouldn't pay more than $200 for a D44 front...they are very common. One questions for this would be what size tire are you running? For off road use the D44 is usually good 35" and under tires (yes there are many exceptions for this). If you rebuild the D44, do you plan on putting in after market (stronger) axle shafts and u-joints (or do you already have them).
Load rating tests show that a fully upgraded D44 axle with good aftermarket shafts (there are LOTS to choose from and some are far better than others) is about equal to a stock D60 with 35 spline outer stubs. Ok now you just upgraded your axle shafts... what does your current ring and pinion look like? If you are eating up teeth or snapping pinion shafts there is really no fix for this but to go to a D60... well there is one possible option and that’s a Dana 50 which is a kit to drop in D50 gears into a D44, bigger ring gear but same pinion shaft diameter.
If you are going to regear and going to keep the D44 this might be a good time to look at this option for increased strength. Last question is... with the plow on the front and any extra weight are you over the D44's load rating? If you are really working it hard do you know if your D44 is still strait and are you overloading the wheel bearings? Might be time to weigh the front half of your truck and see where you are at. An axle truss might help, but I'd say if you are past the 44's weight I'd move on to a 60.
D44-D60 But you will have a hard time finding a 60 with the 32.5" spring spacing, it'll have to be from a dentside. The '86+axles are spaced at 36", but are more common. Honestly the price you pay for one is way over rated. I happened to get one and put it in my truck, but it is just bragging rights to say "Yeah...I got a D60 front axle." They are over rated unless you continually are beating on it so hard you are tearing your D44 apart all the time.
The truths:
Yes it is heavier...doesn't do much but slow your truck down.
Yes it has a bigger ring gear...haven't broke yours, so why need to go bigger?
Yes it has bigger u-joint...good news is that likely won’t break on you.
The pitfall:
(The outer shafts are the same diameter as the outer shafts on a D44) POSSIBLY INCORRECT (just a different spline count). Instead of maybe breaking a u-joint you will likely break an outer shaft and good luck finding a cheap replacement.
The D44 held up for you for now, why change it? Also spare parts for the 44 are cheap. If you have 3:55 gears now and want to find 4.11s just find a D44 with 4.11s in already. I wouldn't pay more than $200 for a D44 front...they are very common. One questions for this would be what size tire are you running? For off road use the D44 is usually good 35" and under tires (yes there are many exceptions for this). If you rebuild the D44, do you plan on putting in after market (stronger) axle shafts and u-joints (or do you already have them).
Load rating tests show that a fully upgraded D44 axle with good aftermarket shafts (there are LOTS to choose from and some are far better than others) is about equal to a stock D60 with 35 spline outer stubs. Ok now you just upgraded your axle shafts... what does your current ring and pinion look like? If you are eating up teeth or snapping pinion shafts there is really no fix for this but to go to a D60... well there is one possible option and that’s a Dana 50 which is a kit to drop in D50 gears into a D44, bigger ring gear but same pinion shaft diameter.
If you are going to regear and going to keep the D44 this might be a good time to look at this option for increased strength. Last question is... with the plow on the front and any extra weight are you over the D44's load rating? If you are really working it hard do you know if your D44 is still strait and are you overloading the wheel bearings? Might be time to weigh the front half of your truck and see where you are at. An axle truss might help, but I'd say if you are past the 44's weight I'd move on to a 60.
#13
01-25-2015, 02:19 PM
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I have 4.10 in the rear and it has proven to be a decent all around ratio for my truck so no regearing will be needed. That's why I'm looking for a front 60 with that ratio.
Tire size is currently 285/75/16 but I will likely step up To 35" when those need replacing.
I don't plow with my truck but I do some hauling from time to time. The gas engine 351M is also getting worn out in addition to the front 44.
My thinking is this, the 351M will one day be replaced with a diesel (probably a 6bt). I've never seen a cummins come in a factory truck with a front 44. I believe this is due to the weight rating of the axle being insufficient.
The diesel weighs approx 500 lbs MORE than the 351. If the 44 needs repairs why wouldn't I put that money towards an axle that will handle the weight of the future diesel?
I don't want to spend $ on upgrading the 44 axles/ring gear, etc...when that won't get me any additional weight carrying capacity.
Tire size is currently 285/75/16 but I will likely step up To 35" when those need replacing.
I don't plow with my truck but I do some hauling from time to time. The gas engine 351M is also getting worn out in addition to the front 44.
My thinking is this, the 351M will one day be replaced with a diesel (probably a 6bt). I've never seen a cummins come in a factory truck with a front 44. I believe this is due to the weight rating of the axle being insufficient.
The diesel weighs approx 500 lbs MORE than the 351. If the 44 needs repairs why wouldn't I put that money towards an axle that will handle the weight of the future diesel?
I don't want to spend $ on upgrading the 44 axles/ring gear, etc...when that won't get me any additional weight carrying capacity.
#14
01-25-2015, 02:42 PM
Logistics Pro
Input from other FTE folks in the past:
D44-D60 But you will have a hard time finding a 60 with the 32.5" spring spacing, it'll have to be from a dentside. The '86+axles are spaced at 36", but are more common. Honestly the price you pay for one is way over rated. I happened to get one and put it in my truck, but it is just bragging rights to say "Yeah...I got a D60 front axle." They are over rated unless you continually are beating on it so hard you are tearing your D44 apart all the time.
The truths:
Yes it is heavier...doesn't do much but slow your truck down.
Yes it has a bigger ring gear...haven't broke yours, so why need to go bigger?
Yes it has bigger u-joint...good news is that likely won’t break on you.
The pitfall:
(The outer shafts are the same diameter as the outer shafts on a D44) POSSIBLY INCORRECT (just a different spline count). Instead of maybe breaking a u-joint you will likely break an outer shaft and good luck finding a cheap replacement.
The D44 held up for you for now, why change it? Also spare parts for the 44 are cheap. If you have 3:55 gears now and want to find 4.11s just find a D44 with 4.11s in already. I wouldn't pay more than $200 for a D44 front...they are very common. One questions for this would be what size tire are you running? For off road use the D44 is usually good 35" and under tires (yes there are many exceptions for this). If you rebuild the D44, do you plan on putting in after market (stronger) axle shafts and u-joints (or do you already have them).
Load rating tests show that a fully upgraded D44 axle with good aftermarket shafts (there are LOTS to choose from and some are far better than others) is about equal to a stock D60 with 35 spline outer stubs. Ok now you just upgraded your axle shafts... what does your current ring and pinion look like? If you are eating up teeth or snapping pinion shafts there is really no fix for this but to go to a D60... well there is one possible option and that’s a Dana 50 which is a kit to drop in D50 gears into a D44, bigger ring gear but same pinion shaft diameter.
If you are going to regear and going to keep the D44 this might be a good time to look at this option for increased strength. Last question is... with the plow on the front and any extra weight are you over the D44's load rating? If you are really working it hard do you know if your D44 is still strait and are you overloading the wheel bearings? Might be time to weigh the front half of your truck and see where you are at. An axle truss might help, but I'd say if you are past the 44's weight I'd move on to a 60.
D44-D60 But you will have a hard time finding a 60 with the 32.5" spring spacing, it'll have to be from a dentside. The '86+axles are spaced at 36", but are more common. Honestly the price you pay for one is way over rated. I happened to get one and put it in my truck, but it is just bragging rights to say "Yeah...I got a D60 front axle." They are over rated unless you continually are beating on it so hard you are tearing your D44 apart all the time.
The truths:
Yes it is heavier...doesn't do much but slow your truck down.
Yes it has a bigger ring gear...haven't broke yours, so why need to go bigger?
Yes it has bigger u-joint...good news is that likely won’t break on you.
The pitfall:
(The outer shafts are the same diameter as the outer shafts on a D44) POSSIBLY INCORRECT (just a different spline count). Instead of maybe breaking a u-joint you will likely break an outer shaft and good luck finding a cheap replacement.
The D44 held up for you for now, why change it? Also spare parts for the 44 are cheap. If you have 3:55 gears now and want to find 4.11s just find a D44 with 4.11s in already. I wouldn't pay more than $200 for a D44 front...they are very common. One questions for this would be what size tire are you running? For off road use the D44 is usually good 35" and under tires (yes there are many exceptions for this). If you rebuild the D44, do you plan on putting in after market (stronger) axle shafts and u-joints (or do you already have them).
Load rating tests show that a fully upgraded D44 axle with good aftermarket shafts (there are LOTS to choose from and some are far better than others) is about equal to a stock D60 with 35 spline outer stubs. Ok now you just upgraded your axle shafts... what does your current ring and pinion look like? If you are eating up teeth or snapping pinion shafts there is really no fix for this but to go to a D60... well there is one possible option and that’s a Dana 50 which is a kit to drop in D50 gears into a D44, bigger ring gear but same pinion shaft diameter.
If you are going to regear and going to keep the D44 this might be a good time to look at this option for increased strength. Last question is... with the plow on the front and any extra weight are you over the D44's load rating? If you are really working it hard do you know if your D44 is still strait and are you overloading the wheel bearings? Might be time to weigh the front half of your truck and see where you are at. An axle truss might help, but I'd say if you are past the 44's weight I'd move on to a 60.
#15
01-25-2015, 05:30 PM
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I've swapped a 60 into a 78 bronco, and a high boy truck, and an 80s f250. I was breaking D44 axles frequently and a hub, and a pinion in that bronco so since then I said never again haha
The 60 has a 1410 axle joint!! And kingpins are tough. I haven't had to replace one ever. Definitely changed a few ball joints in the 44.
Either way I love these front ends because they will handle about anything you could possibly throw at em! Its just one less thing to worry about when your chained up to another truck, or its late at night and your kinda stuck in a mud hole miles away from a tar road!
The 60 has a 1410 axle joint!! And kingpins are tough. I haven't had to replace one ever. Definitely changed a few ball joints in the 44.
Either way I love these front ends because they will handle about anything you could possibly throw at em! Its just one less thing to worry about when your chained up to another truck, or its late at night and your kinda stuck in a mud hole miles away from a tar road!