Rear End Full Floater Hubs? Options and Opinions

[triple_fcked]

If you have the ability to machine e bearing housing pucks and third member picked and get a ground bar tkk on pads through you know she is straight as an arrow. Let me know if I can help. I only have 40 ton press for axle straightening. Might need to go to the big dogs if I do t have the tonnage to help.

I have been guilty of using a cutoff wheel to pie cut the tubes on an axle housing and welding them shut to make it easier to straighten. Works nice on toyota housings which are made of tinfoil

 

[Kellyex1450]

Man, I keep coming back to this thread—so much good info. Should be a sticky.


Just picked up a Dana 60 and want 5 on 5.5 while keeping the D60 spindle. Axle Pros suggested the Trail Gear unit-bearing pockets + Branik 5x5.5 unit-bearing hub setup. Sounds solid and I’ll probably do it, regardless ill be using them to put everything together


…but I’m still curious if there’s a legit way to make a solid axle 14-bolt hub work on the D60 spindle. I can’t find anything definitive saying it’s possible (or how), and Solid was closed when I called.


If anyone has a proven link/write-up for D60 spindle retained → 5x5.5, drop it here

 

[85Yota]

https://www.polyperformance.com/solid-axle-industries-d60-forged-wheel-hubs

I'm checking stock on these from Solid axle now

 

[Brett_408]

Man, I keep coming back to this thread—so much good info. Should be a sticky.


Just picked up a Dana 60 and want 5 on 5.5 while keeping the D60 spindle. Axle Pros suggested the Trail Gear unit-bearing pockets + Branik 5x5.5 unit-bearing hub setup. Sounds solid and I’ll probably do it, regardless ill be using them to put everything together


…but I’m still curious if there’s a legit way to make a solid axle 14-bolt hub work on the D60 spindle. I can’t find anything definitive saying it’s possible (or how), and Solid was closed when I called.


If anyone has a proven link/write-up for D60 spindle retained → 5x5.5, drop it here

The Branik 5x5.5 unit bearing looks like its standard with 1/2 studs I'd be curious to know if 5/8" is possible looks like it probably would be to tight with clearances. I called solid a few months back about the 14 bolt hub compatibility on a D60 spindle the dude that answered was not to sure and told me "he thinks it does but he'd have to check with the owner". I never pursued any further because of the issue brought up in here with getting wheels passed the axle flange bolts.

Whatever you find out please post in here.

 

[Brett_408]

One other issue I found out with the Solid D60 spindles is the OD is like 2.92" on the part the slides into the axle housing tube. This means for a typical 3.5" x .250 housing the spindle would be to loose in the end so solid suggested that the spindle be turned down and hosing sleeved with a .120 tube to get them to fit. I thought this was a little shifty. The other suggestion was using a housing with a 3/8" wall tube then turn spindle to fit. Like a ruff stuff or trail gear hosuing.

 

[Kellyex1450]

I spoke with a guy at Solid Axle today — he seemed to really know his stuff. He said the 14-bolt hub can work on Dodge/GM Dana 60s, but not on the Ford Dana 60. According to him, the only ways to go 5 on 5.5 are:

• Start with a 14-bolt, Dodge, or GM Dana 60
• Or use their kit and weld new spindles on

If anyone is considering the Solid Axle route, I’d definitely recommend calling them first to confirm fitment for your specific need.


Since the Dana 60 I picked up is a Ford, I’m leaning toward welding on unit bearing pockets instead. I’ve been told welding unit bearing pockets is easier than swapping spindles, and it seems like a few people here have suggested the same — but I don’t have firsthand experience with either method yet.

If anyone has knowledge on the unit pocket bearing weld on mounts , I'm curious and need to figure out how they affect the axle width when done. seems like I should be worried that if i cut off my current spindle ends and weld pocket unit bearing mounts on than the rear end would end up narrower than it was before? which I don't want. I'm looking to end up the same width as it is currently.

 

[85Yota]

Get a duly rear axle to start with.So you can cut it whatever width you want.When welding on the trail gear unit, bearing cups