SD vs KP D60

[Ruffnek7tree]

Hello all, my truck is a 93 f250, and eventually I plan to swap a dana 60 in, and I have both at my disposal, only variable is the KP 60 was torn apart before I got it and needs to be gone through completely, a hydraulic assist setup cutoff, etc, and the 03/04 single wheel 60 is ready to put in minus a hub bolt pattern redrill..

Either option will get a shackle reversal installed at the same time, so what are the pros and cons of each for a daily driver truck that won't have bigger than 33s on it, just getting rid of the stupid ttb setup?

 

[Kdo58]

To my understanding the super duty tighter turning radius

 

[CarterDawson]

King pin! I only say that because that’s what I put in my truck. Works well. Bolted right in.

 

[onetonjohn]

Yeah. I'm considering same as long term plan for project little foot (I already have kingpin). Superduty is better - tougher and turn better. Kinpin is tough as I will ever need and then some. Kingpin doesn't turn great - read really wide turning radius and 3 pts turns. Kinpin fit. Kinpin needs fab work. I think superduties are cheaper, but I've heard the price for those is creaping up.

 

[Black dawg]

Super duty has bigger brakes, are pretty cheap and everywhere, most are just d50 diffs though. Also has better tie rods.
Kingpin 60, the kingpin stuff will outlive most any trucks lifetime...with just an upper bushing change. All are d60 diff and packable wheel bearings.
Not sure either 60 is tougher, and have not seen the steering radius difference.....maybe I will try to measure that this week. Pretty easy to make the kp60 turn tighter though.

 

[Ruffnek7tree]

Thanks for the replies, I have both available to me, hence the question.. I have been leaning towards doing 3.55 gears either way, so both would need a regear.. if I decide to stay 4.10, then it would be the kp because its already 4.10s lol

 

[DirtyWood]

Only issue I've had with a kingpin axle was not quite being able to get perfect alignment, and the correction kits were either too much or too little correction. I do think the whole superduty axle and leaf spring swap would be nice. Supposedly the longer leafs on the Superduty ride a lot better.
The non-Superduty D60 swap is so easy as it is 100% no-drill/bolt-on, or at least it was on a 1993 F250.

 

[Black dawg]

Only issue I've had with a kingpin axle was not quite being able to get perfect alignment, and the correction kits were either too much or too little correction. I do think the whole superduty axle and leaf spring swap would be nice. Supposedly the longer leafs on the Superduty ride a lot better.
The non-Superduty D60 swap is so easy as it is 100% no-drill/bolt-on, or at least it was on a 1993 F250.

Was going to mention alignment issues being much harder and more expensive to deal with on the kingpin 60, but forgot......but then also, have never run into the kinpin setup causing memory steer due to stiff ball joints, which almost certainly will happen with any camber/caster correction added to the upper ball joint on the superduty stuff.....atleast for a few thousand miles anyway......

 

[Nero]

I like the king pins because I never have to worry about ball joints wearing out. My D60 is aligned though, and all I've ever done to it is lube it. As far as I know its never been apart and has well over 200k on it.

 

[DirtyWood]

At around 200k I had to replace the spring and bushing in the upper cap but that's so easy it hardly counts as a repair. I grease mine way ahead of schedule, especially during Winter.

 

[u2slow]

Short of a bent housing, bent C, or C's welded on at different angles.... I've never had a kingpin-60 that couldn't be aligned.

I would pick the kingpin 60 for ultimate durability, and available steering correction stuff (if applicable).

The SD one has better calipers, and rotors that won't warp near as easy. I would look into the bearing grease-fitting mod.

Note, there is aftermarket big brake kits for the KP60.

 

[Black dawg]

At around 200k I had to replace the spring and bushing in the upper cap but that's so easy it hardly counts as a repair. I grease mine way ahead of schedule, especially during Winter.

This is really all the kp60 ever really needs. Have worked on many of these trucks over the years, and I have never had the king pins farther apart than replacing a bushing and spring, or most of the time just adding a washer.

A well used sd 50/60 WILL need ball joints .........and then those stupid axle seals sealing the knuckle.

As far as alignment problems with the kp 60,(on 86 to 91 fords anyway) what I have seen is that they tend to drift/pull to the right (down the crowned road surface). A little more pos caster on the rf helps this.

 

[Old Goat]

Here is some 60 info.

https://www.pirate4x4.com/threads/front-dana-60-axle-tech-page-1.2702793/?nested_view=1&post_id=44988366#post-44988366

Goat

 

[u2slow]

.......and then those stupid axle seals sealing the knuckle.

I'm not sure those are truly required, unless you want to operate the hubs by vacuum.

 

[Black dawg]

They actually are, as the spindle bearing is exposed in the back of the wheel bearing.
Have also seen shortened life of wheel bearing, as I dont think they they are sealed that well.