is a dana 60 really needed?

[MUDKICKR]

I have enjoyed both, I intended to keep the d50 in my utility body work truck till a d60 fell in my lap, once my broken femurs heal i'll install the d60, this is intended to be a no holds barred real cowboy work truck, winches front and rear, tow 10k equipment trailers, go anywhere.

My 4 door bronco project will have a coil sprung d50, looking at half and three quarter ton ttb axles I should be able to use half ton bottom spring perches on HD d50 axle with HD coil springs all bolt in factory parts for a comfy highway ride and various trips to Tahoe.

Ask towcat about an eccentric bushing for alligning.

oh, i know all about alignments, trust me.
i had also thought about keeping the coil spring setup under the truck and modifying it for the dana 50 frt axle, but the only thing im not sure about is the how the unsprung weight of the axle will do with the coil spring. either way the frt axle will be setup for dually, just wondering how the extra unsprung weight will effect the truck, ride wise. anyone know?

 

[RedTruck]

I originally had a D50 in an extended cab I used for hauling. Here is what I learned before switching over to a D60.

There are very few people (even fewer shops) that really know how to align one. If you get it setup right without a load it will be out of alignment with a load.

I put a new set of tires on mine after upgrading to a factory 3 spring setup and getting an alignment. After evenly wearing the insides of the front tires down I purchased a D60 with all the trimmings. The tires that came off of it were evenly bald.

I won't offer you any advice, but I will say the bushings from the springs and hangers on a D50 are the same as a D60.

Where I grew up a lot of dually guys pull the rear outside wheels during the winter and load the box up with sand or iron. This is even better without an open rear. If you will be hauling in the winter this may not be an option for you.

Good luck,

Paul

 

[gonecrazyi]

Heck. Why go through the trouble of coil springing the 50 when you can do the same to the 60.

 

[tom37]

The only bit that I can offer is, in my opinion the 60 is well worth the swap.

I am in the middle of trying to make my 50 right, if it was a 60 I would be done.

I found a guy with a long rack where I could leave my trailer hooked up while he ran the alignment. He set the toe, and let me know that I was 1 full degree out with the camber. Since then I have added to the front pac's and brought the caster very very close to right. Next step is to take it back and find out what the caster needs to make the steering wheel return to center a little better.

It just seems to me like setting the toe and maybe stacking a shim for the caster would be a mess easier if I was working with a 60, that I haven't found yet.

I have heard alot of guys talk highly about the coils but I have no experience with them.

Good luck with what ever way you choose to choose.

 

[riotwarrior]

Dana 60 with coil springs...turns nice...with leaf springs...not so nice....hence my desire to weld 60 knuckles onto a rear diff and have 4wh steer...one day....lol

 

[MUDKICKR]

Heck. Why go through the trouble of coil springing the 50 when you can do the same to the 60.

with the dana 50 you have camber/caster sleeves so it is easy to adjust.
with the dana 60 one would have to have adjustable radius arm to correct alignment, not to hard to make, but more money.

 

[towcat]

with the dana 50 you have camber/caster sleeves so it is easy to adjust.
with the dana 60 one would have to have adjustable radius arm to correct alignment, not to hard to make, but more money.

wrong.
the kingpin d60 has up to 1.5 deg caster/camber adj kits.
the balljoint d60 also has the adjustment sleeves.
google up "specialty products company"
I do a fairly brisk business doing proper alignments on these trucks and I'm not cheap either. It's time+materials or the truck doesn't get worked on.

 

[MUDKICKR]

wrong.
the kingpin d60 has up to 1.5 deg caster/camber adj kits.
the balljoint d60 also has the adjustment sleeves.
google up "specialty products company"
I do a fairly brisk business doing proper alignments on these trucks and I'm not cheap either. It's time+materials or the truck doesn't get worked on.

i was talking about if i went with coil springs instead of leaf springs, being most caster adjustment is usually by a shim between the spring and axle. but after searching i found what you were talking about. would require more money for not enough gain in my opinion. but would be an option if needing kingpins.

 

[towtruckdave]

I have never had a ttb that did not ruin tires.

Perhaps they are out there, but I have never had one.

If you tow, which causes varying ride heights, a straight axle is FAR superior.

The ONLY reason my black truck is still a ttb, is because I decided to keep the donor truck I bought for the D60. I am currently looking for another F350 4x4 donor truck. The thing is, I am trying to find a truck cheap enough to scrap when I am done, to get my money back. I like free parts. If it's free, it's for me!

 

[pennsylvaniabo]

they handle significantly better with a d60 over a ttb 50. also wears your tires evenly, rides better, etc.