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Axle swap

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Old 06-05-2010, 11:21 AM
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Default Axle swap

I have a 99 ram 1500, and am looking to throw dana60s under the truck. The weak 44 up front just cant take what im putting through it, ive broken 5 axles in 2 years... sick of it.

Does anyone know what axles out of what trucks would be the most easy swap? Would dana 60s out of another dodge be easier than axles that came out of say a chevy?

I want a 60 up front, but am open to a 60 or a 14bolt in the rear.

My plan is to throw 5.13 gears in them, and get some 37's on the truck... a front dana 60 should be able to handle that? correct?

Im considering fabricating some better track bar design also, that doesnt wear out every 100 offroad miles. Is the dodge 2500 track bar the same ****ty design of the 1500? Why exactly did dodge use a balljoint on the frame end insted of just a bushing like most other manufacturers I see?

Im going to start looking at junkyards for axles, any better ideas on where to find them?
Any insight from someone educated in the area would be great!

Ive never done an axle swap, and the only that that really intimidates me is getting the driveshafts and whatnot to bolt up... so I would like to get an axle that uses the same style driveshafts.
 
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Old 06-05-2010, 12:24 PM
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The 94-02 2500 d60's will swap right in the front no problem. The rear d70 out of the same years will fit but you have to cut the axle pads off and move them out because the 1500's have 2.5" leafs where the 2500's have 3". yes the 2500 trac bar is the same as the 1500's. Im not 100% sure but i think the front yokes are different on the 2500 but the rear is the same. i believe you can get a conversion joint from neapco for the front shaft if it doesnt bolt up.
 
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Old 06-05-2010, 12:30 PM
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Now that im thinking about it SpcD1500 just did a 2500 axle swap on here.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/237514-...or-1500-a.html
 
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Old 06-05-2010, 01:16 PM
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Not sure if this will help you, but I've heard its a good upgrade...

http://www.solidsteel.ca/Trackbar.htm
 
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Old 06-05-2010, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by jasonw
Not sure if this will help you, but I've heard its a good upgrade...

http://www.solidsteel.ca/Trackbar.htm
I've tossed that idea around in my head for a while, but $160 seemed a little high for a bracket imho. Wonder what kind of group buy deal they could give lol Hopefully a little better than the latest hughes deal.
 
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Old 06-05-2010, 10:24 PM
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meanwhitemopar has done the dana 60 front and rear upgrade, maybe PM him.
 
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Old 06-06-2010, 01:20 PM
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Thanks for the replys.

Good to see someone makes a bracket to fix the poor trackbar design, I never understood the point of that design at all.
Good to know that the 2500 axle would bolt in no prob, I figured it would but its good to know. That will be my next upgrade. With the dana 44 up front im afraid to do much of anything in 4wd with cheap u joints. I just broke my expensive spicer joints and killed another axle last week.
 
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Old 06-06-2010, 03:13 PM
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im doing the 60 swap very soon, except i will be doing something very very different. i am using a dana 70/80 rear from a 01 2500, and my front is a 1974 Ford kingpin dana 60. to hell with ball joints, unit/wheel bearings, vacuum CAD unit. i like having lockout hubs and none of that other garbage that dodge uses. guess its a good think im good with a welder and torches.
 
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Old 06-12-2010, 02:12 PM
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Default axle swap

Does anyone know if a front axle 373 ratio off of a 01 ram 3500 fit on a 04 ram 2500 with the same ratio.
 
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Old 06-12-2010, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by rgood001
Does anyone know if a front axle 373 ratio off of a 01 ram 3500 fit on a 04 ram 2500 with the same ratio.
Doubtful with out mods.
01 are DANA
04 are AAM
 

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