dana 70 overkill???

I've just been offered a deal on a set of axles out of a m715. dana 70 rear and dana 60 front.. I was wondering if that would be overkill under my jeep.

I live in El Paso so when I get this thing done it's going to see alot of rocks.

the deal is pretty sweet @ 600 bucks.

I know the gears will be really really steep.
I also know that the front is the undesirable closed knuckle 60 front.
(but come on it's going under a tiny jeep.)

what other conciderations might I have to think about on the swap.
I know that the swap will not be that straight foward, but I might go coils.

gimme some input.

Rio

 

way overkill. unless you are running 38s+ you will be dragging that axle over everything.

 

Those axles are HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE for a Jeep. I vote overkill also.

 

I dunno, You wouldnt have to worry about breaking them, but yes anything bigger than a dana 44 is a waste unless you are extreme rock crawling, In which case, i think they are just right. if you do decide to use them I would like to see pics.

 

I'd hafta say overkill, even for rocks. Built 44's should be plenty of axle.........unless you turning out an insane amount of horsepower !

 

Not really overkill, but overpriced. It's common for those axles to go for $200 a pair. They're fairly strong, but their reputation has been a bit inflated. For the money, go get yourself a modern Dana 70 or Chevy 14-bolt from a junkyard. Both are stronger and easier to modify and find wheels for. M-715 rear has coarse 10-spline pinion that's the "weak" link. The 23-spline 1.5-inch axleshafts neck down to something like 1.37-inches at the flange. They don't break too easily, but they will twist with heavy use. The Dana 60 front uses Dana 44-sized axleshafts and U-joints. Plus it's closed knuckle, big drum brakes, wide 6-lug bolt pattern, etc. etc. $600 will get you pretty close to a pair of 3/4-ton axles with a lot less hassle.

 

Way stronger than you need in a vehicle this light unless you are doing extreme rock crawling. i have busted dana 44s but it is not due to week axles, but more in part to jolting occurred when traction is lost and gained again suddenly, ie rock crawling type situations

 

Overkill in my opinion. Good side of it is plenty of weight down low for a lower center of gravity.

 

they are a little prices but i say go full size and dont look back, i dont care what peaple say how strong there 44's are if your in the rock then its 60's, rockwells or u-mog are your friends.

its just piece of mind to have a way over built axle ( stock ) than to worry if the other axle can survive, and when you stuff the front tire into a large hole and you need to turn all the way to one side its feels good to burn that tire up a little rather than to here "SNAP''.

not saying 44's cant be built for that but thats the key word BUILT, 60's and 70's ( not these ones ) are rated for a 1 1/4 ton trucks so they will survive stock under a little willys or 5 and all the trails now can handle the full size width axles, be different go for it, jason.

 

overkill? nah, and who cares about rock crawling. with the right suspension, think of the payload capacity. you could let an elephant ride shotgun. oh yeah, they used optional D70 dualies in some jeep-a-trenches.

 

i'm not going to say overkill nor will i say they are the solution to your problems, but you're best bet would be to get a drivetrain from a 1 ton chevy 4x4 so you get a d60 front and corp. 14 rear.

 

Over kill, yea!
I'm not even sure without outboarding the springs that the dana 70 will fit between the frame rails. The gussetting on the center housing makes it almost 20+inches wide.
The jeep a trench used a dana 60, a dana 70 is probably another 120lbs heavier than a dana 60, if it fit you would end up with a 400lb rear axle or more.