2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Dynatrac + EMS = Less $ & More strength ?

[SRath]

I see there is a group buy going on for a couple more hours on the Dynatrac Free Spin hub conversion and the Stage 2 inner axle upgrade.

Even at 10% off, the Dynatrac kit is too pricey for me. The EMS top-of-the-line Extreme Duty hub conversion at full price is still more than $645 cheaper than the sale price on the Dynatrac!!

Dynatrac: "The complete kit includes inexpensive, serviceable Timken bearings, cromoly spindles, cast nodular wheel hubs, Warn Premium manual locking hubs, and massive 1. 50” diameter, 35-spline outer axle shafts. All made in the USA. "

EMS: "The Extreme Duty kit uses upgraded Chromoly 4340 35 spline Axles and Warn Premium Lock outs. The Extreme Duty Kit was designed for heavy plow trucks, pulling trucks and heavy offroading. All inner axle kits use a Chromoly Axle shaft. "

>Both use Warn premium hubs.
>Both use 35 spline outer shafts. EMS are 4340 chromoly and Dynatrac's are simply described as "heavy duty".
>The hubs and spindles may or may not be different in quality and/or materials. EMS does not say what their's are made of or where they are made.
>Bearings and seals are also unknown on the EMS and Timken bearings on the Dynatrac.
>Dynatrac is all USA made. EMS does not say.

The Dynatrac kit, at 10% off, is $1790. 10, regular price $1989
The Extreme Duty EMS kit is (regular list price) $1145

ems offroad 4x4 fabrication custom lift axle swap all offroad products lift kit

Dynatrac

The only significant difference I see in these kits is in the Stage 2 or inner axle optional upgrades. That is where I think the Dynatrac is superior:

Dynatrac Stage 2 kit:
2x Extreme-duty, Induction-hardened Alloy, 35-spline
1. 5” diameter Inner axle shafts
2x Inner axle seal
2x Seal housing
2x 1480 Spicer U-Joint

List: $595. 00 on sale for $535. 50

EMS Extreme Duty, one piece, chromoly, 35-spline,CAD-delete includes:

2x chromoly 1-piece 35 spline axles
2x axle seals
1x CAD block off plate and gasket

List price: $475

While the price difference for these inner axle kits is only $60. 50 (Dynatrac group buy) or $120 regular price, there is a major difference in the design of these optional inner axle kits:

>The Dynatrac axles are constant 1. 5" inch, true dana 60 diameter and require a special housing for the axle seals. NO necked-down, tapered area on the axle shafts. Much beefier than dodge dana 60 stock inner axles which are actually only the size of the much smaller Dana 44 shafts due to the CAD design!

>They supposedly had some seal leakage issues at one time, but they supposedly have that problem fixed now. Dynatrac also does NOT show or mention any block-off plate being included for the CAD. You may need to make your own.

>The EMS kit does NOT include u-joints according to their photos. Dynatrac does.

>More importantly, the EMS inner axles DO taper to stock Dodge Dana 60 axle shaft diameter at the seal area and use stock size inner axle seals. That necked-down seal area would be a significant weakness in their design and construction rendering the 1. 5 inch diameter of the rest of the shaft insignificant.

>Unless the chromoly shafts EMS uses are MUCH stronger per inch of diameter than the induction hardened shafts Dynatrac uses, the clear winner in shaft strength is Dynatrac.

>The cost of the u-joints alone ($90 on sale), and NOT included with the EMS kit, almost make the Dynatrac inner kits a better buy.

Question: Would a smart buyer then pay $1145 for the EMS outer hub conversion kit and combine it with the Dynatrac inner axle kit to get the best value and strength?

Does anyone have any thoughts as to compatibility, or lack of it?

The only interface of the outer and inner kits is the u-joint, and I don't see any problem with compatability there.

For less than $1700 a guy could have the whole setup with the superior diameter Dynatrac inner axle shafts and the u-joints.

Has anyone taken this route?

 

[DIESELWRKS]

you should get some hits on this I know there are members out there with EMS kits try coping and sending this to the offroad thread this may help as well.

 

[SRath]

Math can be confusing...



My point was that it seems quite clear that by combining part of one company's total package with the other's, a person can have the best of both and save about $600.



Neither company offers a truly "complete" kit. Dynatrac does not provide a CAD blockoff plate and gasket and EMS does not include u-joints with their respective inner axle kits.



I do NOT see where Dynatrac's outer hub kit is worth $650 more than EMS's. It is just a higher (MUCH higher) price tag.



But I DO see where Dynatrac's inner axle kit is both stronger and a better value than EMS's despite it's higher price tag.



Surely this has caught someone else's attention before it caught mine and has been done before. . ?

 

[Steev]

This is a FANTASTIC catch, SRath. I'm greatly interested to see what comes of this... are there any Dynatrac or EMS guys out there to respond to this? (Doubt it :-laf. )

 

[Denis]

EMS vs Dynatrac

I have purchased both of these kits for my '97 3/4 ton. The machining on the EMS kit was very, very poor and I returned this kit. The machining on the Dynatrac kit was much better; but even so I had to return 2 of the unique pieces because of poor machining. Dynatrac was very helpful and quickly send replacements.

Even considering the cost of the kits, I am satisfied with doing this conversion. Did it abount 2 years and 30K miles ago.



Denis

 

[SRath]

That's very useful feedback. Can you elaborate on the mis-machined pieces a bit? Spindles? Hubs? What did EMS have to say about it?

It sounds like you ended up using all Dynatrac components. Is that right?

 

[Denis]

Free wheel kits

I looked at both the EMS and Dynatrac links in the above posts. The EMS kits looks to have the brake rotors included. The kit I bought from EMS looked the same as the present Dynatrac kit, no brake rotors included. The spindles and hubs were poorly machined and the bearings were poor quality no-name bearings. This was several years ago, so I can not comment on the kits that are sold now. EMS was OK to deal with; they promptly gave me a refund when I told them I was not satisfied with their kit.



The first Dynatrac kit I received had one of the spindles machined off-center and a hub was made from a porous casting. They replaced these parts but the replacement hub was made from an even more porous casting and a second replacement was sent. Dynatrac was helpfull and prompt in sending replacements; seems like they have poor quality control though. Again this was several years ago, so no comment as to how they are doing now.



After I got the kit installed, which was not a difficult job, I was pleased with the results and have had no problems whatsoever.



If I was doing the job today, I would look into the EMS kit and check out the quality. Their price is much lower than Dynatrac and the rotors seem to be included. EMS is located in central PA which is not too far from where I live. These kits are heavy and shipping is expensive just to look at one.