Two questions regarding a front Dana 60:

Converting a 1997 2wd single rear wheel truck to 4wd and wanting to stay with single rear wheel. I found a reasonably priced D60 from a dually truck, that has the same 4.10 gears I currently have in my rear axle. I find so much conflicting information out there on what needs to be swapped to convert a dually front to a single front. Some say just to unbolt the dually extenders and be done, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. Others say you can use the F250 D50 parts. But then, there's differences in opinion on whether those parts have to come from a 'real' dana 50 and not a D44HD. I've seen two different looking hubs on 90's F250's over the years, so I think I understand what that means. So, what is the truth here? Please only respond if you've actually done this, so I don't end up with more 'a freind's brother's uncle's friend did it 20 years ago and I think he used....'

Secondly, before said D60 goes under my truck, I want to add a limited slip to it. Pretty sure D60's came with a lot of different spline offerings over the years, so what spline do I need, and what are relatively easy to find donors for such differentials?


Thanks!

 

I have no experience with firstly.

The 2 locking hub styles I've experienced on full 50's are auto and manual, and while they look
very different on the face, they're the same underneath, and swap.

With secondly, for most uses, a limited slip in front results in a complete loss of steering control in low grip surfaces.
Lockers are preferred, since they can be unlocked when steering is needed.

t

 

by 97 the F250 only had D50 front axle, so you are good there. to swap from dual to single on the 60, remove the rotor, hub, caliper mount, and adapter. put the D50 rotor, hub, and caliper mount on the D60 and you will be good to go.

 

thanks for the swap info.

regarding front limited slip, I have had one in the front and rear of my 87 F150 for years. I've never lost control of it, but it does require additional awareness on the street. But, when you need traction, you have no lack of it; I've never gotten that truck stuck.

 

Throw those dually adapters on Ebay. They almost never come up for sale.

 

agreed. last set i saw sold for $300 a few years ago.

 

Is the knuckle the same from the TTB D50 and the solid Dana 60? Or do I just need everything that bolts to the knuckle outward?

Got a whole D50 front end yesterday for $50, wondering how much of it I need to remove and keep. Has manual lockouts.

 

No the knuckles are not the same. Only the hub outward (srw) and manual vs auto locking hubs require the matching hub nuts - auto locking hub nuts vs manual locking hub nuts.

Spindles are not the same either. They will fit, but the aft portion of the spindle that fits into the bore of the knuckle is deeper on the d60.

brakes may not work either depending on yr of d60. Calliper pins vs bolts. As well as ball joints vs king pins. All depend on yr of d60.

In 96(ish) dana also dropped the use of the outer axle shaft thrust washers - some have them, some don’t, some have one side but not the other..

 

Jeff, please tell me more about the spindle interchangeability.....all the info I'd been able to piece together implied I could convert a DRW dana 60 front to SRW width by using the spindles and hubs off the D50.

As far as brakes, etc....the truck I am building is a 97 F250HD, the D60 DRW setup I am buying is a 95, and the D50 donor parts were from a 96. I believe the 95-97 setup was all the same, right?

 

I can’t comment on the drw aspect. I haven’t dealt with it. I’m only commenting on the interchangeability of d50 parts.

As above, spindles are slightly different. You will need d60 spindles. D50 spindles are not the same and do not engage into the knuckle as the d60 spindles. The d60 knuckle has a deeper bore. Only the hub outward is the same.

On 95-97 srw, correct - from hub outward they are the same, with minor changes such as thrust washers mentioned above.

From TJC Transport description above, you will be good to go using the d50 hub outward on the d60 spindle and knuckle. Im assuming the d60 axle has the knuckles and spindles with it?

“Is the knuckle the same from the TTB D50 and the solid Dana 60? Or do I just need everything that bolts to the knuckle outward”

You were asking about using the d50 knuckle outward, short answer. No. Only the hub outward is the same.

 

So.....can the Dana 60 DRW spindle be re-used, or are they different between the SRW and DRW applications? I'm hoping the spindles the same, because Iv'e got all the hub parts and warn manual lockouts cleaned and ready to go from the D50 parts.

 

I am pretty sure srw and drw spindles are the same, and the difference is in the hub. It has been along time since I messed with one and forget the details

 

srw and drw spindles are the same, I’m running my d50 ttb hubs on the drw d60 spindles

 

good to hear. thanks!