which to keep, ball joint 60 or kingpin?

[gonecrazyi]

I just picked up a truck with a ball joint dana 60. I have a few kingpins axlesas well and was wondering what were the strengths and weaknesses of both. I plan to sell one at some point. I've always heard the kingpins are worth more.

 

[mabc926]

Ball joints need replaced, kingpins don't.


EDIT: Kingpins are also better for lifted trucks because of the high steer kits.

 

[jam0o0]

Ball joints need replaced, kingpins don't.

wow wrongo. king pins need maintenance just like ball joints. the bushings wear, the springs get soft, the lower bearing wears out or corrodes, the seals dry out. even the kingpins themselves wear-out eventually.

when i rebuilt my 89 kingpin axle a few years ago it needed everything except the kingpins replaced.

ball joints get replaced all at once. but they are weaker. and it's true that you can break ball joints. wile kingpins are pretty much unbreakable.

 

[gonecrazyi]

I heard ball joint axles turned sharper. Is this true?

 

[mabc926]

wow wrongo. king pins need maintenance just like ball joints. the bushings wear, the springs get soft, the lower bearing wears out or corrodes, the seals dry out. even the kingpins themselves wear-out eventually.

so you're saying a dana 60 kingpin will need rebuilt every 100K miles? cause a ball joint dose.

 

[typ4]

If you grease a king pin 60 they will go 300k, easy. Even on logging rigs.

 

[gonecrazyi]

Guess I may sell it and keep the kingpin. I Luke to make my own roads at times.

 

[jam0o0]

you said kingpins don't need to be replaced. they do. just not as often as balljoints.

 

[mabc926]

you said kingpins don't need to be replaced. they do. just not as often as balljoints.

Excuse my wording

 

[Diesel_brad]

so you're saying a dana 60 kingpin will need rebuilt every 100K miles? cause a ball joint dose.

BAll joints do NOT need replacing @100k. If there are greased every oil change. I have Personally seen then go over 200k

Now to the OP question

The axle is only worth what someone is willing to give for it.
When I put the D60 in my 97 you couldnt of given me a KP axle or for that fact even a 92-94 Ball joint one. I wanted a 95-97 one

But for my 86 and 80 they will both be getting king pin axles

 

[gonecrazyi]

What's the difference with the 95-97 axles?

 

[itsacrazyasian]

the best brakes!

 

[bghnkinf350]

What makes the late ones better?

Nevermind - just answered!

 

[Diesel_brad]

What's the difference with the 95-97 axles?

Bolt on calipers. The 94 and older have the pin on calipers

 

[gonecrazyi]

Ah. I guess I did notice that dana 50s also went to bolt on calipers.