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What difficulties will I encounter if I swap a 1998 Dana 60 front assembly?

Is it to wide?

Has anyone swapped in a newer style front axle?

After 93 there are too many problems to list,the biggest one is the left side drop...

I'm new so I'll have a few silly questions.

re: The left side drop...can't the drop be overcome?

It can,if you use a old ford or newer(94+ dodge) transfer case,but why would you want to ?

Ideally, you want a king pin (pre '93) Dodge D60. You should be able to pick one up for around $400.
If you find one, inspect the diff housing very well since it has two threaded bosses for the studs for the u-bolt plates.
The '94+ models are ball joint, the drop is on the wrong side for your t-case and it's vacuum actuated.
Also, it's a full time axle meaning it doesn't not have lock outs on the hubs (hence the vac. disconnect). Locking hubs are waay expensive and not worth the money in my opinion.
The steering on this axle is set up for cross over so you'll have to figure how to adapt your push-pull steering box.

If you're hell bent on using the '98 axle, you might want to look into getting a driver's side drop NP205 but even then, you'll have the other issues to address.
Also, chances are your truck has 4.10s. What R&P does the '98 axle have?

Lowdown wrote:Ideally, you want a king pin (pre '93) Dodge D60. You should be able to pick one up for around $400.

If you can get one for 400 hundred Ill give you 600 hundred for it.
Up here your lucky if you can get one for 800, there mostly 1000-1200

Sweet, come down to MD!
I picked up a complete '91 Dodge 60 for $400 back in the fall and have found others in the MD/VA area for about the same price.
In my experience, it's the GM D60s that bring the larger $, closer to $800, like you're talking.

The 98 has 4.09 R&P but it looks like I'll need go another route. I don't intend to replace the entire drive train. I just want to update to disc brakes and possibly upgrade to the steering also. Any guidance on alternatives?

93 and earlier king pin Dodge 60.

Biggun67 wrote:The 98 has 4.09 R&P but it looks like I'll need go another route. I don't intend to replace the entire drive train. I just want to update to disc brakes and possibly upgrade to the steering also. Any guidance on alternatives?

Like Lowdown said, 75-93 axle. They pop up on ebay regularly. $500-1000 range depending on if it was cut out of a truck with a torch or it has been gome through (bearings, seals, u-joints, brakes, etc). You can sink a couple of grand in getting a Dana 60 front if you're inclined.

I have one, its just that I'd need to sell the rest of the truck with it lol.

Hold out for the Dodge version, not GM.

Bucky

I know a guy in Lewiston that sold a dana 60f out of a 93 dodge a couple of weeks ago. At $650 it only took one day to sell on craigslist.I bought one 2 years ago for 450,but it was for a DRW and needs new brakes.

As far as steering,look at the sticky at the top of this section.Also in the Technical write ups section.

And don't be discouraged if you can only find a dually axle.
Dually hubs can be converted to single wheel hubs with some machining and a welded on spacer.
I just a had a pair done that turned out pretty well for a Jeep project.
I'll be honest, the conversion will take some leg work: Remove the hubs from the axle then remove the seals and bearings, press out the studs,
find a machinist willing to do the work (I can help you there if you need it), press back in new studs, weld on spacer, and reassemble.
Obviously finding a set of single wheels is the easiest route but can cost around $250 for the pair. New hubs are about that per hub.

The older 60s (through '91) will have external hubs and '92+ axles will have internal hubs. For a street driven truck, I wouldn't hesitate to run
the external hubs. I purposely looked for an axle with external hubs to main the look of the truck.

75-79 axles will have drive flanges, which can be replaced with Milemarker Selectro locking hubs #11034

Bucky

I was at a yard a few weeks ago and they had a bunch of pre 93 D60 fronts and he only wanted $275 each...are they so expensive up there because there is a high demand?

I found that the jeep/rock crawlers are buying them up. I paid $1000 I think for my D60 front and 70 rear with 3.54 gears about 2.5 years ago. I felt great about it. At the time around Spokane everyone wanted at least $1000 for just the front.

But like the guys said it's avery easy swap. I used 92' axles.

A few little things to remember you have to move your shock mounts on the axle to the front, and use a disc brake master.