2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission upgrade from auto lock hubs to manual

[b.ferrara]

some time ago I heard of guys doing this up grade, at that time I had a 1st generation truck with manual hubs. 3 years ago I sold that truck and bought a 2nd gen and can't stand the auto hubs. I've finally come to the point where I upgrade or buy a truck with manual hubs.

thanks in advance for your reply. Oo.

 

[Fishin Guide]

If you are looking for an upgrade, I am assuming that you want manual hubs?



Dyna-Trac (sp?) has got a complete kit that will accomplish that. in fact, they have additional kits for the hard core. Including upgraded shafts and such.



Dave

 

[b.ferrara]

Dave, I just got off the phone with Rob from Dynatrac. He informed me that the 3 stage kit has been upgraded to a 2 stage kit making it more affordable. Also their in the process of make the kit work on a 3500 series truck. They'll have an answer for me in 2 or 3 weeks. If they don't come up with a 3500 kit, I'll do the upgrade and run

3/4 ton rims on the front and duallys on the rear. thanks for response

 

[HerbW]

Unlockable hubs on our Dodges wanted!!

I want hubs also on my '98 Dodge Quad Diesel. I would like to leave the axles, etc. the same, just replace the hub units only. I'm surprised Warn Hubs aren't all over this. In one of the early TDR articles it had full pictures of an installation, but it involved new rotors, pads, axles and alot of cash I'm sure. It looked very good, but I will never put any FORD product on my Dodge if I can help it. I would like unlockable hubs on my '01 Durango also. I'll have to check out the web againn for updates. I'm sure TDR will have any info we want. Thanks for this thread. Thanks, Herb Oo.

 

[pwerwagn]

Yes, the dynatrac kits are good, but fairly costly in my opinion. I personally wouldnt do it for the hubs, I'd do it for the wheel bearings though.

when it comes time for new bearings in my 98 12V, Im going to put a late 70's ford dana 60 up front. good shafts, hubs and good bearings.



the reason why Warn does not offer just a hub for these truck is because it cant be done. for starters, the stub shaft (the outer most axle shaft) is not splined long enough to engage with a hub. second, there is no place to just mount a hub.

That is where dynatrac came in. They retrofit our crappy unit bearing with a service-able bearing assy. they use WARN hubs, also.

The other advantage to the Dynatrac conv, is you can also get real Dana 60 1. 5" 35spline shafts. our stock 60's have Dana 44 (read: 1/2 ton) sized shafts inside them. They are not real D-60's.

My only drawback to the Dynatrac kit (other than the $$$) is the fact that even after you drop the $$ and have all the good internals, you still have the crappy cast iron sleeve where the CAD once resided.

I have seen one of them break.

Soooo, might as well run a ford 60 and have all the good stuff!!!

Later,

Jeff

 

[SRehberg]

To clarify, the '70's Ford Dana 60 will slip under the 3500's as well? Any particular years you're aware of? I had checked with DynaTrac and as it was posted, no kit is available for the DRW 3500's. The price got my attention, I think a complete swap of axles would be cheaper.



Why wouldn't a 1st gen 3500 front hubs etc work? Are they hung differently at the ball joint area? Just trying to figure a way around this problem.

 

[TRCM]

1st gen uses leaf spring... not coils. That would require a lot of fab work to make it work right.

 

[HerbW]

Ford 60 in a 98 Dodge?

Jeff,



Do you know anybody that has did this conversion? I'm sure it could be cheaper if possible. Thanks, herb

 

[RAndrae]

i did it

On my 02 I installled the Dyna trac kit. The reason I did it was because i dont have the axel dissconnnect that 02 and older trucks do have, for some reason dodge did away with it in 02 only. So all my gear was turning all the time and I had no way of using a manual connnect kit so I can use low on pavement. It cost some change but now I can use 4 low, and I am getting 2++ MPG gain and less wear and tear on turning parts... ... ... ... .

 

[SRehberg]

I realize the 1st gen trucks used leaf springs vs. coil on 2nd gen, but I was only interested in the outer hubs, rotors etc. I was wondering if they would hook up to the axle housing, they are both Dana but didn't know if the knuckle part was the same. Knowing D/C they made some change to prevent it from being that easy.

 

[CyberRanger]

The current issue of Four Wheeler magazine (Dec 05) on pg 94 is showing a DynaTrac Dana Pro 60 for '92-'02 2500's w/ the Cummins. It includes a high-pinion housing, Warm Manual Locking hubs, HD 35-spline axleshafts, Spicer 1480-series u-joints, vented disc brakes & choice of R&P ratio & optional locker.

 

[steved]

I realize the 1st gen trucks used leaf springs vs. coil on 2nd gen, but I was only interested in the outer hubs, rotors etc. I was wondering if they would hook up to the axle housing, they are both Dana but didn't know if the knuckle part was the same. Knowing D/C they made some change to prevent it from being that easy.

The dodge 1st gens use king pins, not balljoints... nothing will interchange.



The "poor man's" version of the dynatrac kit is to find a mid-90s Ford with a D60 and rob all the outer parts... knuckles, stub shaft, hubs, rotor, spindles, etc. ) and swap that over to your dodge, the only downfall is that dodge "flipped" the balljoints around 2000... so the Ford swap won't work for the 2000+ dodge guys. And you still have the CAD... if that is a problem.



Additionally, the newer ford D60s also use a unit bearing just like dodge.

The older Ford D60s are rare and also require some fab work to make them work (obviously)... The mid-80s Ford D60s don't have enough housing on the short shaft side to mount a coil bucket IIRC.



And, most people miss the point on why a Ford D60 is used... they are the only version of the D60 with a driver's side drop... all the older dodge and GMs are passenger side drop and won't line up with your transfercase. The Ford D60s of the 70s are also a high pinion version which helps with driveline angles for people with lift kits. The ford D60s are also king pin until the 90s.



As for not putting a Ford part on your dodge... a dana axle is a dana axle... it isn't like you need to go the a ford parts house to get pieces for your dodge.



steved

 

[pwerwagn]

I couldnt have said it better myself Steved.



Herb, Yes, I have seen it done. It came out clean. the main concern is getting all the control arm brackets, as well as the coil buckets in the right place.

I dont see why a ford dually front axle wouldnt work... cept for one thing. Up until a certain point, ford didnt build many duallys themselves, most of them were centurion conversions (we've had 2 of em'). A lot of the conversions used front spacers instead of true dually hubs to make it work. On that note, you could to the same with the dynatrac kit. Buy a spacer kit for the front of a single wheel truck to run a dual wheel. Its harder on the bearings, but it should work.

--Jeff

 

[SRehberg]

Steved, if I understand it correctly, a mid 90's Ford Dana 60 will do the job by just removing the outer parts and installing them on the Dodge(parts you mentioned)? Thanks for the information, it sure would be better to be able to disconnect all that rotating hardware.

 

[steved]

Steved, if I understand it correctly, a mid 90's Ford Dana 60 will do the job by just removing the outer parts and installing them on the Dodge(parts you mentioned)? Thanks for the information, it sure would be better to be able to disconnect all that rotating hardware.

Yes, I know of several people who have done this... I'm not 100% sure of the particulars (exact years, makes, models, or the conversion)... but IIRC, early/mid 90s F350s with the D60F balljoint front axle (SRW) are the parts source (the later models have unit bearings, so make sure of what you are getting)... then everything from the knuckle out is swapped including the stub shaft... keep in mind that if you have four wheel ABS, there is no provision for the front ABS sensors.



I believe you can find everything you need to know at PavementSucks.com ... just search that site a little bit.



steved

 

[SRehberg]

Thanks for the great information, I appreciate it. I have 4whl ABS but that is easy to remedy, just take the little bulb out so it doesn't annoy anyone

 

[rteig]

There is a company in Missoula, MT that makes a manual hub conversion that I read about in a Four Wheelere magazine sometime back. I can not find it on the internet but will see if I can find the magazine tonight when I get home... ... ... ... ..... Oo.

 

[SRehberg]

I find it frustrating to know I've seen something then can't remember where

I guess at the time it isn't something we're really needing, so it goes into the "might remember this for later" memory bank. Thanks

 

[pwerwagn]

When you find the ball joint ford axle you wanna pirate it from, make damn sure its not a unitized bearing assy itself. I *think* (definitley dont quite me on this. . ) the 94 or 95-98 fords were unitized. they do have hubs, but the you'd still have the unitized bearings. It may have not been until 98 that they went unitized, though (super doody's with the Dana 50 crap).

Also, some of the 4-wheel drive vans I've seen use ball joints instead of king pins. that may be a good souce of parts (on the 1-tons. . )

--Jeff

 

[pwerwagn]

Just for future reference, 1991 was the last year ford used kingpin dana 60's... ... .

--Jeff