SAS Parts Help

[Tbars4]

i'm just wondering why everyone seems to have the dana 44 while i would think the dana 60 would be better and easier to get parts for, unless you want to pay big money to currie, i'm not getting it...please, enlighten me...

 

[FROADER]

Cost and availability.

 

[Tbars4]

i take it you mean the initial cost??? and for availability it was easier to find a d44??? how much wider are the d60's than the d44's??? i seen your is shortened but i do understand having to wait for awhile for the rear axle to be done....stic-o must be rich

 

[DB_1]

Not sure on the exact width difference from EB/waggy D44's to full width D44's but i'd guess in the neighborhood of 6+ inches. My EB axle is 60" wms-to-wms FWIW.

Stic-o's rear 8.8 is out of a full size truck...F-150 right Steve?

If I could do it over again I would've gone D60...actually first choice would be a Spider9 housing with Crane or Reid Racing D60 knuckles and Hi-9 center chunk. Maybe when I hit the lottery.

But for now I'll stick with the EB D44 I have, it's been holding up great so far especially since I put in Superior shafts and Longfield joints.

 

[Tbars4]

so, it would cost me about the same to change to fw d60's as it would to go with eb 44's???? and 6"'s is 3" s each side more or less???? i guess what i'm getting at is this is suppose to be next springs project as i haven't even got my recently purchased gears and locker in yet but i ran across this d60 and said hummmm, i better see if this is worth getting into now, as in, getting the parts rounded up...:scratch:

 

[FROADER]

To narrow the axles you take the full amount off the pass. side.

 

[Tbars4]

but a fw d60 will be know problem in lining up then????

 

[FROADER]

You'll need to space out the coil buckets, and the radius arm mounts unless you do custom links and coilovers.

 

[IZwack]

so, it would cost me about the same to change to fw d60's as it would to go with eb 44's????

This depends on what exactly you want like lockers, hi-steer, and what not. But D44 is cheaper because the support for them is a lot wider in general so it brings the price down a bit. If you have the $$ flow, then go with the D60. Do a search on PBB or something for the D60 cauz not all D60's are the same -- like kingpin vs. ball joints, etc... But many of us on the board are running D44s, some have had some broken parts but some have not so I guess it depends on how you push it and how you drive. The biggest advantage of a D60 over a D44 is in the axle shaft and the axle shaft u-joints.

 

[Tbars4]

thats where i want to go, coilovers.... but what i need to know is is it worth buying this d60 or just wait till later????

 

[DB_1]

thats where i want to go, coilovers.... but what i need to know is is it worth buying this d60 or just wait till later????

If you buy the D60 now, you'll never regret it...buy the D44 you might kick yourself later for not buying the D60:

Look in the SAS registry, there's a few D60 SAS build-ups to give you some ideas.

Also, like IZ mentioned before there's a D60 bible on Pirate 4x4 that will tell you anything you ever wanted to know about D60's...there's a lot to read.

 

[Tbars4]

thanks for the heads up...i'll probably run into stico over there looking for his d60 , lmao...i appreciate all the help and again, thanks...

 

[Stic-o]

My front is D44 out of '78 Full size Bronco

My Rear is 8.8 out of '89 Full size Bronco

The biggest reason, I went full width was, I didn't want to cut the front axle, and I wanted spare parts easy to find, everything off the shelf. You get custom, and end up in the middle of nowhere broken and no parts available. The other was everyone said you will not regret it, and I don't


Not rich! Just planned out well. Total cost was 4-5k which should have gone to paying off Credit Cards. But I new I had to get it done before we desided to have a kid and a house, because then there would be no money. Lucly my dad had the space and was willing to help out. I stated collecting parts and how to pay for it about a year ahead of time. Took 6 months from off the road to back on. We need to get a meet and greet going again, so you can take a look at it.

 

[Tbars4]

j/k about the rich part...i am actually heading down the same trail you were on literally speaking of course...
1st) now that you've been down that road, would you have liked to get the d60 setup instead???
2nd) if you did it with the d60 would it have been more cost effective???

not to pin you to the wall or anything like that...i have planned in my "Project X" thread to do the sas next spring or so, but his d60 fell in my lap, lol...i am really over spent on my money pit already but, if i could get a good idea if it was worth jumping on, i would get it...if i heard it's a so so deal, no problem...i have already picked out a color, a name, and i know how i want to set the truck up...heck, i've almost had it running for 2 weeks now...

i am working and hoping i can get my current front end done and 4wd by a week from friday and would love to run up and try that cleghorn hill in my current new setup with you...maybe froader can run up too...

you will notice i have a theme about taking my trucks to the max stock so i can see what the difference is when i go maxxed out, but at the same time, i'm stingy with my money....

 

[Stic-o]

D60? Honestly...no. I don't belive I'm at a skill level off roading where I need it. I think what I have works great right now. Until I get to the point where I try much harder trails and have to replace broken parts all the time, I'm good. If I did a D60 though, I wouldn't run a 8.8 still. It just dosn't make sence. The otherthing is I don't need the extra weight. Just remember, you start running heavy stuff like that, you start stressing other thing alot more. Like your engine, trans, etc.

 

[Tbars4]

exactly, i forgot to also mention that...thanks...after paying to get the a4ld rebuilt, i am actually not that impressed with it and i do see another tranny in it down the road...just another thing to completly replace...i am looking to get mine just built enough to run like yours and then i want to update it like i did my ranger...

i too am thinking about easily saying no to the d60...heck, i have alot of fabricators near me that would jump on building me just a cage, throw in a huge motor and fabricate me something to put a seat in but i haven't wanted to go that route...

i guess i'm getting older and i like my trucks like my women....built just enough to play with and dressed real purty, lol...

 

[FROADER]

i too am thinking about easily saying no to the d60...heck, i have alot of fabricators near me that would jump on building me just a cage, throw in a huge motor and fabricate me something to put a seat in but i haven't wanted to go that route...

I'll trade you for a month, then they can all go to town on my truck. When they're done, we can switch back.

 

[Stic-o]

if you can get the 60 cheap...get it! then Flip it.

 

[Tbars4]

lmao, the thing is they won't even touch my trucks, well maybe, they just like creating monster machinery...heaven knows if they would even let me drive it or if it would ever get finished...they are always doing customers extreme rides and it would be total caos ...rofl...then again, i really couldn't afford what they put out so i'm staying buddy buddy so i can get my sas done when it's time...

 

[redranger4.0]

I have both a D44/9" and a D60/D70 combo. the D44 with gears and new outers and locker cost me about 1000. The D60 (79 F350 HP Kingpin) stock cost me 1000. So I guess you could say the D44 is cheaper. I bought the D60 as a backup axle, for when my **** is done and I start breaking the D44.