Dyantrac free spin / Carli Ball Joint Install

[ENafziger]

Eric, all I can say right now is that this is an AMAZING write-up with the pics and all, and all done just cuz li'l ole me asked for it. I am both honored and embarrassed!! :-laf
BUT it will likely help MANY others who one day will be doing the exact same work that you are putting so much thought AND effort into.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

You're welcome... I actually just got a new camera, and was looking for an excuse to put it to good use!

If it helps someone along the way, it's worth it...

--Eric

 

[NavyDood]

Yeah, that may have worked, but the caps were what was stuck... and stuck big!!! I didn't want to cherry out the yoke ears and change the metal tempering. Plus I still would've been faced with opening up the yoke to accomodate the big u-joints, or having the truck down for a few more days until I got the smaller AAMs.

Hopefully I had the worst stuck u-joints possible, and everyone else will have an easier time!

--Eric

I know what you are saying. Just throwing this out there for future ppl that are going to tackle this.

You would have only been pushing one cap at a time instead of trying to move two at the same time. Torching out the center of the ujoint brought very minimal heat to the shaft yoke and spindel yoke ears when I did mine.

 

[ENafziger]

I know what you are saying. Just throwing this out there for future ppl that are going to tackle this.

You would have only been pushing one cap at a time instead of trying to move two at the same time.

Yes! Thanks for the feedback. I wish now I'd have gone this route, but I already bent my ears before I realized how stuck things were. Oh well, live and learn!

Thanks Navy Dood

 

[DaveHess]

Eric: All I can say is that is an amazing write-up. Thanks a million for taking the time for the rest of us out here "creepin'" and thinking about this swap out!!!! Enjoy the Honeymoon!

 

[Tinman]

Eric, that's one heck of a nice truck you have there. Couple??



Who's truss is that?

What wheels?



I have the Dynatrac sitting in the garage waiting on the BJs. This will help a lot. Thanks!



I think I am gonna put a locker in front while I have it apart.

 

[JCrockett]

Nice write up, dont forget to look some of us AK TDR members up when you head this way.

 

[ENafziger]

Eric: All I can say is that is an amazing write-up. Thanks a million for taking the time for the rest of us out here "creepin'" and thinking about this swap out!!!! Enjoy the Honeymoon!<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Thanks!!! Hope it can be a help to someone...

 

[ENafziger]

Eric, that's one heck of a nice truck you have there. Couple??

Who's truss is that?
What wheels?

Thanks!

Dad and I made the truss in our driveway. I looked at every possible design I could find, and then took what I considered to be the best of all of them and tried to integrate them into mine. The result is a little bit better ground clearance than some, and plenty strong!

I used 1 1/2" DOM with 5/16 wall for the main beam that connects the C-knuckles. Where it goes under the pumpkin, I notched out to gain about 1" clearance. I used a 25 ton press to bend the correct angle, and then plated it in with 1/4" steel treadplate that I had laying around.

It's important to stitch weld everthing first to keep things from warping. However, it really went alot easier than I thought, albeit a little time consuming. I cut and notched all the pieces, and Dad did the welding. By preheating the center cast section slightly (~150 - 200° F), you can actually use 7018 rod for everything.

Here's a couple pics I have of it:


#ad



#ad


#ad


#ad


#ad


#ad



I also reinforced the upper "C" on the knuckles with a piece of 1/2" solid steel, and tied it into the coil bucket... you can see it in this pic if you look closely:
#ad


To finish it off, I made a plate that bolts to the bumper and DSS steering box, that covers the underside of the intercooler, radiator, etc:
#ad




The wheels are XD Hoss by KMC Wheels 17 x 9 with a 6. 1" backspacing (close to stock).


--Eric

 

[seafish]

Eric, PLEASE come work on my truck!!!!!! :-laf

 

[RBertalotto]

Great write up... ... ... ...



But aren't the U-Joints held in place with melted plastic like the main drive shaft differential? When I replaced those main U-Joints, I heated up the end caps until a "snake" of melted plastic came running out.

 

[ENafziger]

Update:

I finally got a chance to break in the new ball joints a little...

#ad


#ad


It sure seemed to seat things in alot better... I'm sure it was simply an oversight that they forgot to add this final step to the installation instructions! :-laf

The truck actually steers/rolls/drives so much more effortlessly... it's amazing how much you can actually feel the benefits of this upgrade!!!

--Eric

 

[Curious Dave]

I torched my BJ's out. There was no way we were going to get them out any other way. At least not with what we had available for equipment. Other than cutting... No heating... Just lots of beating.

Does anyone make a bolt on or pre-fabbed truss for D60's?

Great write-up. Brings back the fond memories.

 

[ENafziger]

Does anyone make a bolt on or pre-fabbed truss for D60's?

Not sure about for the D60's. Bigley (Dezert Freak) makes some pre-fabbed trussus for the AAM 9. 25s that were marketed by Lorenz Industries. I have one that I used for a pattern for mine. I can check against my brother's '99 Dodge 2500 Cummins to see how close it would fit if you're interested.

--Eric

 

[ENafziger]

Nice write up, dont forget to look some of us AK TDR members up when you head this way.

We'd love to stop in and meet some people if it works out! We should be in Alaska from 8th - 18th or so.

--Eric

 

[Curious Dave]

ENafziger... . That would be great... Let me know what you find out.



Dave

 

[AlaskanCummins]

From the 8th to the 18th of what month Eric?

 

[ENafziger]

From the 8th to the 18th of what month Eric?<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Oops... sorry! Too much on my mind. The month of July. We're leaving here (Knoxville, TN) on July 2, and need to be back on the 26th. We have some friends in Fairbanks we'd like to see, and a few other people along the way, but no real iternerary yet.

--Eric

 

[JCrockett]

Well I am in Wasilla, there are a couple other guys here in Wasilla and AKCummins is in Eagle River. Let us know if your in the area and we will show you some Alaskan Hospitality. Enjoy your trip, best time of year to be up here for sure! It snowed last night... :{

 

[Lorenz]

Enafzinger,

Thanks for the mention. Bigs and I appreciate it.

Here's a link to the weld on truss that was mentioned. Bigley and I discussed cutting the price a couple months back and never followed through. I'll update the website in a day or two when we figure out what we can do for TDR members.

+++ Dezert Freak Products Axle Truss +++

What kind of camera did you pick up, those shots look very clean. A Prosumer DSLR is my guess?

 

[Lorenz]

As if I haven't taken the photography off topic enough already... Try putting your camera guy a little closer to the RR tracks next time. Not closer as in, in the street closer, but place him at the landing zone up the street 10-15'.



Follow the truck with the camera as it leads up the the tracks. Track the truck all the way through the air.



Set the camera on "Shutter Priority", drop it down to 1/90th and run it in continuous shutter mode (holding the button down so it will fire of 3-5 continuous shot).



It's called slow panning. The background gets blurred and you look like your moving 100mph.



#ad


#ad