I got a 60 and I got a few questions

[JeepFreak21]

I picked up a Dana 60 rear today. It's a 30 spline full float and I got it perty cheap. Only problem is... it's slightly offset. About 4" longer (axle tube) on the drivers side. When I realized this, I refused to pull another 60 (since this one was out), but I did pick up some 30 spline shafts from a centered 60 rear.
I'm thinking that I'll lengthen/shorten the axle tubes on my 60 so that I can use the shafts from the centered 60. How hard is it to change the axle tubes?
Also, I'm considering welding the spider gears (because it's cheap). Now, I don't wanna go through tires like I'm made of money either, so I figure I can pull one shaft when I'm not wheelin. I'll just cut off one of the flanges from the other shafts to use for a cap. Anybody think of a problem there? It only takes a few minutes to throw the shaft back in at the trail head.
Any input or opinions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Billy

 

[flexj]

Interesting thought, pulling one axle. I can't imagine you would break a 60 by doing that. A 35, yes, but a 60, I think you'd be ok. How much street driving do you do? I'm planning on putting a spool in mine and it's a DD.

As far as swapping tubes, I'd leave that up to professionals.

BTW, what was the offset 60 out of?

 

[JeepFreak21]

Interesting thought, pulling one axle. I can't imagine you would break a 60 by doing that. A 35, yes, but a 60, I think you'd be ok. How much street driving do you do? I'm planning on putting a spool in mine and it's a DD.

As far as swapping tubes, I'd leave that up to professionals.

BTW, what was the offset 60 out of?

Mines my daily driver, so I drive on the street quite a bit. I got the offset 60 out of a Dodge van.

 

[Stoney]

don't worry bout the offset!! 8.8 are offset it won't be a big deal!!!!

stoney

 

[roXJeepr]

If you want to shorten the long side, I've heard the PBB guys, that you'd just want to cut the tube and reweld the plate on, using a jig to make sure it's all lined up. Just too much trouble to change the tube.

 

[JeepFreak21]

If you want to shorten the long side, I've heard the PBB guys, that you'd just want to cut the tube and reweld the plate on, using a jig to make sure it's all lined up. Just too much trouble to change the tube.

Yeah, but there a problem with that... then I'm back down to 60" and I went with the D60 for a wider stance than the waggy 44 :-\

 

[norcalxj]

if you drive with one shaft in it will drive like crap. when you give it gas it will pull hard to the side that the shaft is missing. just put it in and stop complaining.

 

[BarrelRoll]

To me it seems like it's easier to pull another axle than shorten an axle. Also putting only one shaft in isn't a great idea as said it will pull to 1 side and i'm guessing handle really funny on the road. I drove my tj with a mini spool in the back as a daily drive for a good 3 or 4 months with no problems and then i decided to swap in a dana 44 front and it went for a daily driver to sitting to pretty much trail only and i got a daily drive/ tow rig but driving it on the street wasn't bad. Weld it and see how you like it. Take it from some one that tried to do an axle swap on the cheep with their daily driver it's not easy or cheep no matter how you look at it and unless your really good your jeep will probalby be down for a day or 2. I did do an 8.8 swap in the back of my tj and that wasn't bad but it was practically bolt in and i had all the parts lined up, pre made brackets, tons of people had already done it and the axle was in new condition. My dana 44 front axle swap was another story partially because it was a pass side drop and i put a d300 in my tj and because i decided to make my own brackets. My biggest advice to you is do your prep work first, have it to the point where all you have to do is bolt the axle under your jeep before you tear it appart, think of the little things that you might not plan on and track them down (brake line stuff, adapter u-joints, brake parts) before you tear your rig apart and plan on drive shaft mods because the 60 is longer than the 44 or 35 it's replacing.

BarrelRoll

 

[MistWolf]

The offset is evil. It'll cause you to swerve suddenly into parked Yugos and coffee shops for $5 Lattes. You should give it to me and avoid the bad karma such an axle will give you.

Conventional Wisdom has it that an offset axle is bad for your drive shaft cuz now you have an angle on two planes to deal with. I'm not that it's always true as I have a 79 Cherokee with a T case with the rear output shaft ofset to the right running to a D44 with a centered pumpkin and had no troubles with it. Maybe we oughta just swap

 

[Stoney]

To me it seems like it's easier to pull another axle than shorten an axle. Also putting only one shaft in isn't a great idea as said it will pull to 1 side and i'm guessing handle really funny on the road. I drove my tj with a mini spool in the back as a daily drive for a good 3 or 4 months with no problems and then i decided to swap in a dana 44 front and it went for a daily driver to sitting to pretty much trail only and i got a daily drive/ tow rig but driving it on the street wasn't bad. Weld it and see how you like it. Take it from some one that tried to do an axle swap on the cheep with their daily driver it's not easy or cheep no matter how you look at it and unless your really good your jeep will probalby be down for a day or 2. I did do an 8.8 swap in the back of my tj and that wasn't bad but it was practically bolt in and i had all the parts lined up, pre made brackets, tons of people had already done it and the axle was in new condition. My dana 44 front axle swap was another story partially because it was a pass side drop and i put a d300 in my tj and because i decided to make my own brackets. My biggest advice to you is do your prep work first, have it to the point where all you have to do is bolt the axle under your jeep before you tear it appart, think of the little things that you might not plan on and track them down (brake line stuff, adapter u-joints, brake parts) before you tear your rig apart and plan on drive shaft mods because the 60 is longer than the 44 or 35 it's replacing.

BarrelRoll

Thats some NEAT information i want to tahnk u for it!!


but seriously ur jeep was down for 1 to 2 days?? u know we are talking about an xj here with leafs?? took my friend and i like 5 hours to do an 8.8 swap in mine!! what took u so long??
neat neat neat

stoney

 

[4ward]

To be completely honest, sell that offset 60 and go and find a 60 out of a 1 ton ford or chevy. You'll have to cut down one side and lengthen the other to get it the right widths on both sides, not worth it to me. Rear 60's are cheap and plentiful. Factor in the amount of time and resources it's going to take to get this 1 to work and think about it for a couple of seconds.

As far as welding your rear and pulling a shaft, I wouldn't do it ( did I hear an echo? ) Even though it's a 60, the shaft is still only as big as a 44, it just doesn't have the load of the vehicle on it. It's no big deal to limp home and even drive around on it for a few days, but I wouldn't use it like that every day.

Sean

 

[Gary E]

The swapping the tubes bit is not a typical backyard mechanic manuever it will be more of a hassle than just finding the right rear axle. Consider a 14b they can be had at the same width.

 

[Cresso]

Conventional Wisdom has it that an offset axle is bad for your drive shaft cuz now you have an angle on two planes to deal with. I'm not that it's always true as I have a 79 Cherokee with a T case with the rear output shaft ofset to the right running to a D44 with a centered pumpkin and had no troubles with it. Maybe we oughta just swap

Driveshafts only care about radial angle - shifting it off to one side is the same as lifting it more. I had a front dana 60 in the rear of one vehicle and the angle wasn't even that bad.

The only reason I can see for being concerned about the offset is that you'd have to carry two different axleshafts as trail spares for the rear. Since rear 60s are a dime a dozen and cherokees have gobs of room in 'em, I don't really see a problem with that either. Oh, and I'd definitely get some spare shafts. With a 30 spline 60, they're the same size as dana 44 shafts. Ouch.

 

[JeepFreak21]

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