If I'm wacked out here please let me know why this won't work.

I've got quite a bit of late model (2006) 1 ton ford running gear. This includes a complete high pinion Dana 60 front axle assembly, a complete Sterling 10.5 rear end both, a full set of 18"x 9.5 inch MT alloy wheels, 5- 37x13.5x18" MT ATZ tires.

I've got a lot of money invested in the wheels and tires and would love to put them on my JK. Enter the problem, My jk has a dana 30 front and a 44 rear (5on 5). I truly can't afford an axle housing swap but can swing a R&P and shaft upgrade, maybe even a truss with inner C braces.

So here's my idea. I'm looking for a set of alloy axles shafts that fit the D30 and D44 but the flanges need to have a 8x170mm bolt patern. Additionally to help keep cost down, I plan to use the ford 1 ton disk brake rotors and calipers.

Is this doable or stupid? If doable, where should I go for the axle shafts?

Thanks

 

Woo! I finally graduated. I have a post that was actually move up to Xtreme JK Tech instead of down to sub-stock!!! I'm not worthy, (James Worthy that is)

 

I wish I could feel your pain. I would love to have a set of dana 60s setting in my garage, ready to fab. But, I don't. Let me say, I have never done a dana 60 swap, but I would try giving Offroad Evolution a call. I'm sure they can answer a lot of questions for you. Although, they are in California, and you in Alaska, I think it would be a great place to start, if you don't mind the long distance call or maybe just send an email.


Just my 2 cents. . .

Keep us posted on the progress, I'm sure we call learn from it.

 

the 8x 170 studs will need bigger brakes. this would mean you would have to move the caliper. its more work and fab then its worth.

if you were to line up the rotor them selves you would se how much of a difference there is in the hub diamater


Lou

 

Good point Jerzey. Brakes are a good thing to have. So here's another idea... I'll prolly just bite the bullet on the 8 lug wheels I currently have and sell them on craigs list. After a long discussion with the family CFO, I don't have the money for the appropriate upgrades to my D-30 so I plan to just run it to failure (3.73:1). After the front end explosion, it will be easier, to convience the her that I really need a Dyna Trac D60 up front.

Has anyone on here actually ran their D30 to failure? How catastrophic was the failure and what were the circumstances? How many miles before it finally let go? I need to know so I can start rat holing away the funds.

 

I've only read of a failure of the axle shaft during wheeling excursion. So don't go wheeling and you don't need to replace or take it easy when wheeling.

I was wondering about your inital post. Are you considering taking the front axle and swapping it into the JK? I believe there was another thread or two using a ford axle doing this swap.

 

Yep, exactly what Jerzey said. I think it would cost way more to convert a full witdh 1 ton ford D-60. By the time I had the tubes cut down, the new shafts, the R&P with a locker, not to mention all the welding of the new brackets, then the brakes, I could prolly just buy a bolt in ready dyna trac or Tera-60. I was hoping to just re-axle my 30 with 8 lug flanges. but you're right, unless I could get a set of 8 lug rotors that fit my calipers, it could be a can of worms.

So yea, I'll prolly just run the 30 til cataclysmic destruction. Hell it may even be fun. I truly would like to put the Ford sterling 10.5" in the rear though. I could prolly even get a set of 5 on 5 shafts for it. Considering the stock jk rear axle track is 65.25" and the sterling is only 67.2" I think it's doable.