60 Knuckle Question

wgamble · Dec 12, 2014

Here is another dumb ass question that I have always wondered:

Can someone convert a hp60 balljoint axle to a kingpin axle?

Note: I am sure most of you will have fun with this one but at least I know I will get an answer unlike the fags over at butt pirate.

Eddyj · Dec 12, 2014

What would be the benefit? The ball joint seem to be holding up well.

Ask all the questions you want. Nobody will mess with you, unless you run your mouth.
How hard can you squeeze a bathroom scale?

patooyee · Dec 12, 2014

You would have to cut off the inner C's and weld on BJ inner C's. I agree with Eddyj though, lots of work and money for a debatable gain.

John Galbreath Jr. · Dec 12, 2014

I run kingpin fronts and ball joint rears on both my rigs. I would not go to the trouble to change either way.

crawlin85cj · Dec 12, 2014

For 90% of the rigs out there a balljoint is perfectly adequate. For those 10%ers a 60 knuckle is marginal either way. Yeah, I just pulled those stats out of my ass but it is a valid point.

2010 Jim's Garage 4429
2012 Jim's Garage YJ
2013 Wide Open Design WFO

Rockwells607 · Dec 12, 2014

Dale Larson is Breakin em off so I think you will be fine !

twizt3dfuc · Dec 12, 2014

Re: Re: Re: 60 Knuckle Question

Eddyj said:
What should be the benefit? The ball joint seem to be holding up well.

Ask all the questions you want. Nobody will mess with you, unless you run your mouth.
How hard can you squeez a bathroom scale?

It is seriously really important of how hard you can squeeze a scale lol

The-Boss · Dec 12, 2014

Rockwells607 said:
Dale Larson isn't Breakin em off so I think you will be fine !

Fixed

RustyC · Dec 12, 2014

Yes you can. In my Jeep I have a superduty 60 with Chevy kingpin outers. Mine was an odd situation. I had a complete Chevy 60 and had driver drop t-case. I basically had the superduty axle minus outers fall into my lap. So I cut off the inner c's off both housing. Had the kingpin c's bored to fit the bigger tubes of the superduty HP60 housing.
I welded on the kingpin inner c's and used the inner shafts from the superduty. Regeared to 5.13 added a Spartan locker, 35 spline stubs and Warn lockouts. Yes the lockouts will break when pushed hard so I keep a set of Yukon flanges in the box for trail repairs.
It has been that way for about 5 years and has done as great in a trail rig.

I also have a 609 in my buggy using 99-04 ball joint D60 outers. 38" SX on H1 wheels (heavy). I takes the abuse without a care. Balljoints and unit bearing straight from the salvage yard.
Last weekend one of the 30 spline stubs finally broke and took out the lockout too. Unit bearing has zero damage to it. Honestly it lasted through one Dirt Riot and two smaller races and a bunch of trailriding before it let go. I'm actually impressed.

The only bad thing about BJ 60's is high steer set ups. Only a few on the market and require minor machining of the knuckle.
(http://www.hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php?topic=16633.0)
(http://www.hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php?topic=37461.0)

If I had a complete BJ axle I would run in and leave the kingpin stuff in the past. Superduty brakes on a buggy is unbelievable as well.
EDIT one other small issue with BJ axles is the metric 8-170mm bolt pattern. Unit bearing can be redrilled for the standard 8-6.5" pattern.