Rick, remember that all HPD60's come stock with 30 spline stub axles. You need to either order 35 spline alloy stubs, 35 spline D70 stubs (Parts Mike), or use Dodge outers which are 33 spline.
Rick and I are going through ball joints, but he wheels almost every weekend and I've run a couple King of the Hammers. I still question the longevity of ball joints with 40" tires when you run hard, but all Dynatrac and Currie built D60's are ball joint and no one seems to be having any issues with them.
Look at Parts Mike's website for ideas and prices on upgrades to a stock D60, like 35 spline stubs and 5 on 5.5 hub kits, and 1/2 ton brake conversions. If you go aftermarket on the outers and want 5 on 5.5, the Tera60 outers are the best value and they use 33 spline Dodge unit bearings and 1/2 ton brakes, and any aftermarket D44 high steer arms, though Tera's own high steer arms are the cheapest price.
Currie and Dynatrac do custom machining to put high teer arms on balljoint knuckles, and it would be very difficult to do it with stock balljoint knuckles. Stock kingpin 60 knuckles use the four 1/2 bolts that hold the upper kingpin retainer to mount the high steer arms, and it's a known weak design, with plenty of people shearing off the bolts. This is why the aftermarket kingpin knuckles come with five bolts, the extra bolt is at the front where most of the load is. Plus, four 1/2 bolts is nothing like the three 9/16" studs and cone washers on D44 high steer arms, and many drill and tap the D44 stuff to 5/8's (mine are 5/8's, plus I welded them on).
Chromo axle shafts are not that expensive, and the stock axle u-joints are pretty stout. If you're going to have to use custom length shafts, might as well spend the dough and get some good ones that you'll never break.
Have fun, :wave:
(or a similar brand)
