Anyone use a Dynatrac Dana 60 in a 3rd gen?

[Sean K.]

any time someone is thinking of going to a front 60, I say YES. then do whatever to make it work.

Whole-heartedly agree. Unfortunately, I didn't take my own advice on my current 4Runner build.....but I was trying to keep the weight down and didn't plan to go bigger than 37s.

 

[Mountain Fun]

Sorry guys, I guess I wasn't really clear. I currently have a Waggy Dana 44 (60 wms but with 1.5" spacers) up front with 4:88 gears. I'm happy with the front axle and plan on keeping it but want to upgrade it to 5:38 gears (and chromolly axle shafts). My rear axle is the stock Toyota rear, also with 4:88 gears. I want to go to a taller gear in my rear axle but nothing else will match the Dana44 front. I was considering having a custom made Dynatrac Dana 60 that would have 5:38 gears, 6 x 5.5 lug pattern, and Toyota brakes, with a width of 62".

I know Dynatrac makes a Dana 60 rear for the late model Tacoma that accepts the factory Toyota brakes and ABS sensors. I was just curious if anyone had a custom Dynatrac made for a 3rd gen 4Runner.

If I'm going to upgrade my rear axle I might as well go with something that isn't likely to break on a trail unless I'm doing something stupid, hence the Dana 60.

I know the members of this forum are really knowledgeable so was just looking for some opinions and options I might not have thought of. Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate it.

 

[Sean K.]

Sorry guys, I guess I wasn't really clear. I currently have a Waggy Dana 44 (60 wms but with 1.5" spacers) up front with 4:88 gears. I'm happy with the front axle and plan on keeping it but want to upgrade it to 5:38 gears (and chromolly axle shafts). My rear axle is the stock Toyota rear, also with 4:88 gears. I want to go to a taller gear in my rear axle but nothing else will match the Dana44 front. I was considering having a custom made Dynatrac Dana 60 that would have 5:38 gears, 6 x 5.5 lug pattern, and Toyota brakes, with a width of 62".

I know Dynatrac makes a Dana 60 rear for the late model Tacoma that accepts the factory Toyota brakes and ABS sensors. I was just curious if anyone had a custom Dynatrac made for a 3rd gen 4Runner.

If I'm going to upgrade my rear axle I might as well go with something that isn't likely to break on a trail unless I'm doing something stupid, hence the Dana 60.

I know the members of this forum are really knowledgeable so was just looking for some opinions and options I might not have thought of. Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate it.

Is the Dynatrac Tacoma D60 rear axle a full floater?

 

[csp]

BTW, DO NOT buy a high pinion/reverse cut Dynatrac 60 for the rear....get a standard rotation/low pinion for a rear application.

I'll agree, but there is no such thing as reverse or standard rotation. The rotation of the pinion and axleshafts relative to the pinion is the same whether the gearset is reverse cut or standard cut.

What's your width up front? WMS to WMS is probably north of 67"

IIRC, the OP has a Waggie D44 which would put WMS to WMS at around 62.5"

You could scour the boneyards for a 6 lug D44 out of a later 70's model Chevy 1/2 ton....

He already has a D44 front axle, besides the fact that Chevy D44s have the diff on the wrong side for a 3rd gen 4Runner.

im pretty sure hes talking about the front axle.
since he mentioned a 60, and 14b.

The OP is asking about a swap for the rear axle. He should be clarifying this instead of just liking every post.

 

[nevada]

oh geez. for the rear?

no, not worth it.

 

[Sean K.]

I'll agree, but there is no such thing as reverse or standard rotation. The rotation of the pinion and axleshafts relative to the pinion is the same whether the gearset is reverse cut or standard cut.



IIRC, the OP has a Waggie D44 which would put WMS to WMS at around 62.5"




He already has a D44 front axle, besides the fact that Chevy D44s have the diff on the wrong side for a 3rd gen 4Runner.



The OP is asking about a swap for the rear axle. He should be clarifying this instead of just liking every post.

Reverse cut is the correct term. Of course the pinion doesn't spin in the opposite direction....input still comes from the driveshaft/tcase in the same manner....so the drive and coast side cuts are reversed on each individual tooth for a front application so that you'll be driving on the "drive side" when going forward. Not sure why you want to split hairs about it.

My point in mentioning it at all was that, especially on a street driven rig, the oiling of the pinion bearing isn't as good, even with the improved design of a Pro-Rock60, and....more importantly I've seen enough HP failures of various D60s placed in rear applications to know that a 70 or 14B would be a far better choice if longevity and durability are the main concerns....which is why I told the OP to stay away from the Pro-Rock60 for the rear.

So I looked on Dynatrac's site and found the Taco D60 rear end: https://www.dynatrac.com/axle-assemblies/prorock-60-builder-s-kit-for-tacoma.html and sure enough, it's the Pro-Rock60 with the HP. To me, that would eliminate it from consideration. If you plan bigger horsepower later, it wouldn't be the best choice under the rear of a 4Runner. Further, the axle is not a FF, it's only semi-float.

Price is listed at $2600.

The current width of the OP's Waggy D44 is, IMO, the single biggest issue. Getting any comparable axle with comparable gear ratios, he's going to need to go custom....unless he can get the rear D44 axle out of the Wagoneer but the diff will be offset to match up to the Waggy's quadratrac. Another option for a centered D44 of the same width would be the 86ish Waggy/Grand Waggy...but it would be 5 lug and would need to be redrilled to 6 lug....and with any of these options, the Toyota ABS is going to go bye-bye.

The most cost effective thing is to run 5.29s in his stock rear end and 5.38s in the front D44....if he's running manual hubs.

Just one of a hundred threads on this: matching gears, 5.38's & 5.29's - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

JFYI...the OP did clarify that he's looking for a rear axle in post #22. My suggestion was clearly about REAR D44s out of Chevys and Fords from the late 70's. ***EDIT2*** And wouldn't work anyway as they are 65" wide and the Waggy front is only 60". Wrote that whole post before knowing the OP went with a narrow track D44. ***

 

[manesfesto]

I run 5.29 and 5.38 and have never ever had an issue. D44 up front and stock rear. I'm starting to figure out my rear axle s next direction, but it's tough to think about spending tons of money when the stock ones work amazing. Haha

 

[csp]

Not sure why you want to split hairs about it.

"Splitting hairs" because it's probably the most misused term in axle building. Newbs don't know that rotation isn't different.

Another option for a centered D44 of the same width would be the 86ish Waggy/Grand Waggy...but it would be 5 lug and would need to be redrilled to 6 lug....

The last year of a five lug fullsize Jeep was 1973. Every year Waggie/Grand Waggie/fullsize Cherokee 1974-1991 (last year of FSJ) was six lug.

My suggestion was clearly about REAR D44s out of Chevys and Fords from the late 70's.

Neither Ford nor Chevy used a rear D44 of any sort in the 70s/80s/anytime after that. Ford used the 9" in the 70s for 1/2ton, D60/61 in 3/4 ton and 1-ton. Chevy/GMC used the 10bolt/12bolt/14bolt as rear axles.

 

[white_n_slow]

If you only use 4x4 in the dirt/mud/snow, you can get away with 5.38 in the front and 5.29 in the rear. I wouldn't do this in a full-time 4wd or AWD configuration, but a rugular ol' 4x4 should be fine. I have read about quite a few people doing this (mostly on pirate), no personal experience.

 

[Sean K.]

"Splitting hairs" because it's probably the most misused term in axle building. Newbs don't know that rotation isn't different.



The last year of a five lug fullsize Jeep was 1973. Every year Waggie/Grand Waggie/fullsize Cherokee 1974-1991 (last year of FSJ) was six lug.



Neither Ford nor Chevy used a rear D44 of any sort in the 70s/80s/anytime after that. Ford used the 9" in the 70s for 1/2ton, D60/61 in 3/4 ton and 1-ton. Chevy/GMC used the 10bolt/12bolt/14bolt as rear axles.

As you said...the rotation is the same, regardless of how the gear is cut....which would make it "standard rotation" in a low pinion, as I said.

I stand corrected on Grands.....however, '86 base model Waggy shows a 5 on 4.5" pattern: http://beta.discounttire.com/en/fitmentresult/wheels/optionalPlusSize/15 Therefore, it sounds like finding a Grand Waggy rear end might be the ticket for the OP if he doesn't want to just keep his Toy rear and doesn't want to mess with redrilling the flange pattern.

Ford most certainly did use the D44 in F100s (I don't know if it was exclusively D44 in the rear or if it was also the 9") from 1948-1979. Found here (if you care to look): List of axles by year? - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums I know.....I swapped one into my '91 Toyota.

Chevy/GMC used rear D44s in half tons from the late 50s to late 60s.....apologies for the wrong date. Want to know about swapping out a rear end and what to use Here

I fully understand that a D44 is a very rare axle to find in a half ton Chevy or Ford....as Ford used the 9" and Chevy used the 12 and later 10 bolt. They are out there....and the older Chevys are fairly narrow, according to the link....problem is, they may be undesirable 19 spline versions. I don't know when Dana went to 30 spline, but one could GTFS and find out pretty easy.

I wonder what the width is on the Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport D44 is? Don't know anything about them....hopefully they didn't have the aluminum center found in the Grand Cherokees. Might be much easier to find....and would be 6 lug. Might be a total POS for an axle too....as I said, I've never researched them. ***Just looked it up briefly..... THE Definative Tech Thread on the 1998+ Isuzu rear Dana 44 axle - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum ***

 

[csp]

And pointing out standard rotation would imply that there is a non-standard rotation, which there isn't unless we start talking about rear engine applications.

My mistake on the F100 D44. I had 4x4s in mind and I'm not Googling this information, it's in my head. I did know about the late 60s GM D44. My 2WD, leaf spring '68 GMC has one and they are 30 spline, not 19.

The '86 model Waggy was a trim package based on the little XJ Cherokee, not fullsize. This is why the fullsize Wagoneer had the "Grand" added to the name.

Regardless of these trivial facts, the D44 is a marginal rear axle to be using with 37s and not really a good choice to begin with. I have D44 axleshafts in my shop now with twisted splines from just 33s.

 

[Sean K.]

And pointing out standard rotation would imply that there is a non-standard rotation, which there isn't unless we start talking about rear engine applications.

My mistake on the F100 D44. I had 4x4s in mind and I'm not Googling this information, it's in my head. I did know about the late 60s GM D44. My 2WD, leaf spring '68 GMC has one and they are 30 spline, not 19.

The '86 model Waggy was a trim package based on the little XJ Cherokee, not fullsize. This is why the fullsize Wagoneer had the "Grand" added to the name.

Regardless of these trivial facts, the D44 is a marginal rear axle to be using with 37s and not really a good choice to begin with. I have D44 axleshafts in my shop now with twisted splines from just 33s.

I put both nomenclatures of low pinion/stnd. rotation so there wouldn't be any confusion....but whatever.

Chevy and GMC used the D44 until 1972 in the K series 1/2T....JFYI for anyone interested. https://www.ringpinion.com/DiffWizard.aspx You can plug in whatever you're looking for.....


Agreed....the D44 and the Toyota axle are both "marginal" for 37s....but then it all depends on how it's used.

 

[FoCoNemo]

Sorry guys, I guess I wasn't really clear. I currently have a Waggy Dana 44 (60 wms but with 1.5" spacers) up front with 4:88 gears. I'm happy with the front axle and plan on keeping it but want to upgrade it to 5:38 gears (and chromolly axle shafts). My rear axle is the stock Toyota rear, also with 4:88 gears. I want to go to a taller gear in my rear axle but nothing else will match the Dana44 front. I was considering having a custom made Dynatrac Dana 60 that would have 5:38 gears, 6 x 5.5 lug pattern, and Toyota brakes, with a width of 62".

I know Dynatrac makes a Dana 60 rear for the late model Tacoma that accepts the factory Toyota brakes and ABS sensors. I was just curious if anyone had a custom Dynatrac made for a 3rd gen 4Runner.

If I'm going to upgrade my rear axle I might as well go with something that isn't likely to break on a trail unless I'm doing something stupid, hence the Dana 60.

I know the members of this forum are really knowledgeable so was just looking for some opinions and options I might not have thought of. Thanks for all the responses, I really appreciate it.

So, did you do it? I'm day dreaming about cannibalizing my 87 F350: Dana 60 front, 10.25 rear, for my 96 runner. Both are 35spline, but I'm unsure of gear ratio, need to do more research.