May 1999 - Dana 60 rearend

Page 1 of 2

I had been running 35" tires for almost a year and was in desperate need of new gearing. I knew that the stock 8.8" rear could probably handle the 35's, but with a locker and bigger tires in the future, it would break too easily. I considered a 9" rearend and was looking a pricing for a new custom rearend. The price was only a few hundred less than a base price for a dana 60 rearend. Since I have plans to seriously wheel the Bronco in the future I decided to do something right the first time, so I won't have to worry about it or replace it in the future.

I wanted to keep the 5 lug pattern primarly because I didn't want to run two different size rims. I originally planned on keeping the IFS dana 44 up front, but now I want to convert to a dana 60 up front as well. Aside from that, I wanted to keep the 5 bolt wheels that I currently had. Fortunately I saw an ad in one of my 4x4 mags that said that Dynatrac made custom dana 60 rearends with a 5 lug pattern.

I ended up ordering the rearend from Dynatrac with the following specs:

- Dana 60 rearend
- 4.88 ring/pinion
- Detroit Locker
- Warn full floater kit w/ premium hubs
- 35 spline axle shafts
- disc brakes
- parking brake
- ABS

I must say, I have been pleasantly suprised at the strength of this rearend. The 4.88's are very nice as well. I'm still only running 35" tires, so it's really easy to spin the 35's from a stop. I have a shift kit installed as well, and because of the really hard shifts it actually chirps the tires when shifting into 2nd gear. This was never the case with the stock gearing. Wheeling with a locker in the rear is a breeze, I love it, don't know how I ever did anything without it. Street driving takes a little getting used to, but after the first couple days you get used to the chirping tires on tight turns and you adapt to the presence of a locker in the rear.

Page 2 of pics.