Dana 60 front axle

[shiftpro]

Lol. I'm sure the GM engineers collectively decided to build a bigger, stronger axle and then throw in an inferior "weak link" just for the hell of it.

I'm not sure what you're getting at Mike,
and I'm not sure what GM was thinking... maybe a 'fuse' in the mechanical system is there for a reason(real or imagined!).
For example, when you upgrade to D70 35 spline stubs, and 35 spline locking hubs, the next weak link is the universal on the axle end. Upgrade that baby and the next fuse is the CV at the drive end of the shaft... as you know.

Of course none of this stuff was designed in the first place for ratting on 40" tires with maybe 500ish hp..

 

[77 K20]

So is a D44 with upgraded Yukon axle stubs a decent option instead of getting a D60?

I was looking for a D60, but they want so much for rusted/beat up crap around here. So have instead thought about Yukon axles for my Truetrac equipped D44.

 

[bucket]

Let's just say that the D44 and D60 actually do share the outer stub shaft diameter. Whether or not they actually do, it doesn't matter because that's not where I'm going with this. So let's just suppose they do.

The outer stub on a D44 really isn't the weak link. So many other parts are very likely to fail first. Just because the '44-sized' outer stub is the weak link on a D60 does not automatically mean that a D60 is no stronger than a D44, because the 44 will break other parts first.

That would be much like saying a K20 is no stronger than a K10 because they both share a front axle.

 

[rpcraft]

That is crazy. Great score!!!

 

[roundhouse]

Never seen a D44 break a stub
Seen lots of the U joints grenade and take the stub with it though

 

[rpcraft]

Its happened plenty, if it hadn't there wouldn't be a reason to have a Dana 60.

 

[shiftpro]

Let's just say that the D44 and D60 actually do share the outer stub shaft diameter. Whether or not they actually do, it doesn't matter because that's not where I'm going with this. So let's just suppose they do.

The outer stub on a D44 really isn't the weak link. So many other parts are very likely to fail first. Just because the '44-sized' outer stub is the weak link on a D60 does not automatically mean that a D60 is no stronger than a D44, because the 44 will break other parts first.

That would be much like saying a K20 is no stronger than a K10 because they both share a front axle.

Sounds like you don't believe the 44 and 60 stub shafts have the same size 30 spline shaft. I don't understand why there is any argument.
This is common knowledge with guys that build rock crawlers.
I'm just trying to be helpful tossing out further information about the D60 topic.

 

[rpcraft]

I might be mistaken... Now come to think of it I have seen the stub shaft break, but it usually breaks on the u-joint side. I've never personally seen the hub side break, but I am sure it has.

 

[crazy4offroad]

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A lot of other differences I couldn't quickly find pics for like bearing sizes, inner shaft sizes, fasteners, etc but the D60 is overall beefier in every way. Biggest drawbacks are expense, ground clearance and weight.

 

[rpcraft]

What has a Dana 600 in it? That is a beefy looking axle stub, lol.

 

[crazy4offroad]

What has a Dana 600 in it? That is a beefy looking axle stub, lol.

Large commercial vehicles like dump trucks, flatbeds, large tow vehicles, etc. Their WMS-WMS measurement makes them much too big for pickups.

 

[shiftpro]

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The D600 stub looks more like the 35 spline D70.

You can see the D60 has a larger bearing surface but then necks down to the same size as the 30 spline D44.

 

[bucket]

Sounds like you don't believe the 44 and 60 stub shafts have the same size 30 spline shaft. I don't understand why there is any argument.
This is common knowledge with guys that build rock crawlers.
I'm just trying to be helpful tossing out further information about the D60 topic.

I didn't want to debate it because I couldn't remember if they were the same diameter or not. That wasn't the point I was trying to make. My point was that the 60 is easily stronger than a 44, even with stub shaft diameter being the same.

 

[nvrenuf]

D44 and D60 stubs are not the same diameter (or spline count), see my previous post.

 

[shiftpro]

D44 and D60 stubs are not the same diameter (or spline count), see my previous post.

I've never seen a 19 spline shaft, but I heard it them. Maybe the older ones from the late 60s?
Later 70's as far as i know are 30 spline.