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Page updated: 10/29/2000 07:49 PM


Installing Dana 60's under my SOA YJ
Written by Al Bsharah, and as usual....all work done by Dehesa!

This write-up is relatively short, with just mostly pictures.  Admit it, you never read these things anyway!  If you want to see a full-on detailed SOA write-up, there's an article on this website under "TECH".

Getting our butts moving

Rubbers and beer.  Sounds like cause for trouble.
The new-wave in locking hubs!
 

Let the party begin!

These pictures are actually from a few weeks prior (at Steve's) designing the shock mounts, spring plates, and spring perches.  First, the shock mounts which were designed the same as they were built for the original SOA with stock axles.
Picture of the spring perches we built.  I wanted them as tight to the axle as possible and relatively long to help eliminate any axle-wrap.

Spring plates...big metal.  These are actually before Steve "ovaled" the holes with a torch.  The man has talent!

Teardown and reconstruction, Team Dehesa hard at work!

Hmmmm...  Contemplating some steering issues.  As you can see, the steering arm is MUCH longer than the arms used for the tie-rod.  This results in terrible steering response and turning radius.  So, the arm was cut down severely... at least enough so that I could still connect the custom draglink I just bought from Mike Duncan (the "fourXdoctor").  Mike's work is immaculate and very professional.  He's also a good friend of a good friend (Brad Kilby - Kilby Enterprises).  Ok, enough plugs already.  Geez!  So....my steering radius still isn't where it needs to be, but for now will get me by until I figure out a way to line things up a little better.  Bill did some great work on making the arm shorter...don't think I took a comparison after-shot of it though.

All Jeeps get worked on at Bud's place!

The following is a series of comparison shots.  Remember that we're going from 33" Thornbirds to 36" TSL Bias.  As well, we're going from stock Dana 35/30 axles to Dana 60's front and rear.

Dana 30 front next to a Dana 60 front...

Comparison of axle width (nearly identical) and tire height (not so identical)
Comparison of steering geometry.  Notice the original setup with the serious slope of the draglink, compared to the new with a perfectly parallel one.  This resulted in a COMPLETE elimination of any and all bump-steer.  The vehicle handles on the road phenomenally whereas before I used to have to play constant defense against the Jeep and where it wanted to take me.

Comparison of the rear axles.  Mmmmmmpumpkin.  Feet unchanged!

Comparison of tire size and a couple extra after-shots

Everyone sing it now....NINE CORONAS!

Daredevil Matt Brookins riding shotgun on the maiden voyage with me!

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