Dana 44's on 37's
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood, NM
I bet both my d60s were the same as a pr44 front damn near. Also saying i sound like is judging. I actually baby mine compared to the local racers and especially compared to the 2 time koh local champion. Was merely stating your claim of a pr44 being way better than a built d44 in my opinion is complete shit. Ive seen d60s, spidertrax axles and 1500$ ring gears blow, 15k transmissions blow. Everything can break and ultimately as ive always said it depends how you wheel/how often. Shit sees wear and tear and can give. Id rather over build but plenty love to go cheap or don't have the skills to do there own work. To each his own in the end all im doing is giving my 2 cents based on what I've personally seen. People can take it how they want and thats fine with me. Yes i do be a smart ass sometimes but hey thats just the way i am.
Last edited by kenb1023; Mar 10, 2015 at 09:17 AM.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
You got front and rear D60s, new with gears, lockers and shafts for under 5K. Would love to know where you shop. Are they Semi or full floating. As for my comment to "Sound Like", it was they way you were coming off. Maybe I read more into it than what was there. If I did then my apologies. I have ran into to many people that say "If you don't have X,Y or Z brand type part and wheel on trail 1,2,3 then your rig is shit. Those are the people I let go by the way side. All their testosterone is in their Jeep and none in them. I am not saying you are one of them but you started to come off that way. So lets agree to disagree or just say to each their own and have a happy life on the trail
Invest4ms axles are even more heavy duty and still a great deal. Theyll make most other d60s look small.
Last edited by Maertz; Mar 10, 2015 at 09:29 AM.
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood, NM
No i come off as an asshole alot by my short responses. But yes i have full float d60s with new gears and lockers and such and chromoly 35 spline shafts. Fully trussed aswell for under 5k but they are junkyard axles i built. I think when its all done i may be under 4k even....no harm done man I don't get angry at online posts i was just explaining my side more.
Invest4ms axles are even more heavy duty and still a great deal. Theyll make most other d60s look small.
Invest4ms axles are even more heavy duty and still a great deal. Theyll make most other d60s look small.
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
It could be Spicer gears. There are only a few manufactures of gear sets out there. The difference is the specs used and the quality of the grind/cut. Then a name gets slapped on it. You can have two sets of gears from the same plant but with totally different levels of quality and strength. When I was doing my research from people that actually run and install these housings I also learned that very few ever have issues were as something like a Currie Rock Jocks are in all the time with issues.
Issues with the housings are a result of design. There is something about the Currie 60 that was not ideally engineered. Likely a lot to do with getting oil to the gear.
People wouldn't have issues with a stock D44 if they just spent the $300 to beef them up before they start putting larger tires on. It's that simple.
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
1. Buy axles from late model Ford Super Duty (already have huge disc brakes, etc). Easy to find on car-part.com. Probably looking at $1200 for a fairly new set with low mileage.
2. Ok, this is the one time where you have to put in a little manual labor, but it is no harder than weeding your garden. Grab a buddy and clear the stock brackets off the axle. You can do it with a $30 angle grinder from harbor freight.
3. Buy Artecs JK swap kit for the axles.
4. If you can't weld, find a local welder who will weld it on for you. I'd guess around $500 max for the labor.
5. Drop axles off at driveline shop for gears and lockers.
6. Install axles on Jeep.
Yes, you have a few minor items to deal with beyond that (you need a new drag link and have to put tone rings on the rear hubs), but nothing technically challenging. You can do it for even less up front and do gears/lockers later. You can even find a rear with an e-locker and use that for a while.
Then you also have a set of JK axles to sell for $1200-$1500 to offset the cost.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
True story - I can show you the way to axles that are stronger than PR60s that will be ready to roll for under $6k. The reality is nowhere near as intimidating as the thought of it. In fact, you'll look back and be proud of the accomplishment. Newer axles take a lot less work and most of us have figured out the details for others. Here is the process and how little effort it can take:
1. Buy axles from late model Ford Super Duty (already have huge disc brakes, etc). Easy to find on car-part.com. Probably looking at $1200 for a fairly new set with low mileage.
2. Ok, this is the one time where you have to put in a little manual labor, but it is no harder than weeding your garden. Grab a buddy and clear the stock brackets off the axle. You can do it with a $30 angle grinder from harbor freight.
3. Buy Artecs JK swap kit for the axles.
4. If you can't weld, find a local welder who will weld it on for you. I'd guess around $500 max for the labor.
5. Drop axles off at driveline shop for gears and lockers.
6. Install axles on Jeep.
Yes, you have a few minor items to deal with beyond that (you need a new drag link and have to put tone rings on the rear hubs), but nothing technically challenging. You can do it for even less up front and do gears/lockers later. You can even find a rear with an e-locker and use that for a while.
Then you also have a set of JK axles to sell for $1200-$1500 to offset the cost.
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood, NM
That sounds like a plan but not one I can take on at this time. It does however give me an idea for down the road. When the time comes, sell the PR44 and stock rear with the lockers and do this build. That would also be an ideal time to go to a 4" long arm lift. It's all time and money, need both at the same moment.
JK Freak
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 645
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa, OK
Really interesting thread, just wondering- are D60's overkill for 37's for the majority of jeeps? What kind of weight and clearance differences are there between D44's and Ford D60's and how did they factor in any decision making?
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Edgewood, NM
I think it is over kill unless you plan on moving up to 40+ down the road. For me 37s would be the limit. My issue is my wife wheels with me and she has mobility problems and starts to get real hard for her to get in and out of the Jeep. We figure she will be able to make it if I go to 35s or maybe 37s with increasing my lift to 3.5".