Dana 60 6.17 gear strength?

Turtle Bite · Dec 9, 2008

What kind of luck are people having with the higher Dana 60 gear ratios? I was considering either 5.86 or 6.17, but I dont want to break ring and pinions. I have 35 spline yukons and drive flanges on order, I would prefer to keep the weak point the shafts or joints.

sarg · Dec 9, 2008

Turtle Bite said:
What kind of luck are people having with the higher Dana 60 gear ratios? I was considering either 5.86 or 6.17, but I dont want to break ring and pinions. I have 35 spline yukons and drive flanges on order, I would prefer to keep the weak point the shafts or joints.

whats your setup and size of tire?

Turtle Bite · Dec 9, 2008

I have a toyota, 39.5 tires in the rocks and 44tsls in the snow, vortec 4.3, th350, dual t-cases, (both stock ratio but 23 spline/ chromo output).

I realize I probably wont break anything as I am set up know but after the axle upgrade I may swap in some more HP. I like the lower gears for the crawl ratio, but I dont want to worry about getting new gears for the next 5 years or so.

Cascade_Crawler · Dec 9, 2008

paging jeepmauler

sarg · Dec 9, 2008

Turtle Bite said:
I have a toyota, 39.5 tires in the rocks and 44tsls in the snow, vortec 4.3, th350, dual t-cases, (both stock ratio but 23 spline/ chromo output).

I realize I probably wont break anything as I am set up know but after the axle upgrade I may swap in some more HP. I like the lower gears for the crawl ratio, but I dont want to worry about getting new gears for the next 5 years or so.

if its not a trailer queen you should be alright but if it were me I would run 5.38s and never think about it.

bigiron · Dec 9, 2008

I will let you know I just changed out mine now 6:17 with 44 boggers

Cascade_Crawler · Dec 9, 2008

I would not go lower than 5.38s anything lower than that and you will be running a spicer gear which are great quality but dont seem to hold up as well as an aftermarket gear to off road abuse.

bigiron · Dec 9, 2008

I will be going to 5.38 when the 6.17 fail

PUO-BANNED · Dec 10, 2008

I was wondering too. you would think the 6.17 ratio would have less contact area than a higer ratio set. (4.56 or 5.13)

PORTER · Dec 10, 2008

As long as your rig isnt a heavy pig you should be alright. Hell I run 7:17s and to date(3.5 years) havent broke one yet. Mauler runs 6:17s and dont think he broke a set yet either. Hopefully he will chime in tho.

Nuzzy · Dec 10, 2008

PORTER said:
As long as your rig isnt a heavy pig you should be alright. Hell I run 7:17s and to date(3.5 years) havent broke one yet. Mauler runs 6:17s and dont think he broke a set yet either. Hopefully he will chime in tho.

I believe Mauler has had them crack though and just caught them in time. Seems to be the gist of what he posted on the subject a while back.

sarg · Dec 10, 2008

also you guys are talking about buggys with stickys which would put any setup through hell:redneck:

jeepmauler · Dec 10, 2008

I quoted myself from the other thread cuz I'm too lazy to type

"Just a heads up......I cracked two sets of 6.17 R/Ps. One was subsatnially cracked and ready to fail(front) and the rear was just starting to crack at the root of the ring teeth.They were Dana/spicer gears.

I warrantied both sets (Thank you Randy's R/P )and carry a full R/P spare in the tow rig.I NEED to check my front again to make sure the teeth aren't trying to fall off....I'd bet they are cracked at the root at least.

My rig is WAY smaller with alot less horse power(3000# & ~325 horse) so I can't see them holding up in yers any better.My plan is to go 5.38 at the diff and a "baby" stack/3oo 4:1 and take some of the load off the diffs. "

My buggy is apart and under the knife now and I will be going through both diffs/axles...I fully expect the front R/P to be cracked......I just checked the rear a couple months ago and it "may" still be OK

Kat · Dec 10, 2008

hmmmmmmmmmmm....... 60's and 6.17's and 54 boggers for my Jeep oh yah and about 16" lift too.

Turtle Bite · Dec 10, 2008

Its looking like 5.13s /5.38s are going to be way cheaper and the 6.17s are not 100% bulletproof, not worth it. Thanks guys.

crewchi · Dec 15, 2008

we competed with a buddy who ran a old cruiser with hydraulic suspension and leavesprings and 44 swampers back in the arca days. It was bushing 5300lbs witha 389 stroker and he never broke a 7:17 r/p. And he won multilple events with the set up.

bigiron · Dec 15, 2008

I think mine will be ok....I do not plan to run the OM or any real crazy stuff....I will know on new years day .....I plan to lean on the new setup hard and see what it will handle

PORTER · Dec 15, 2008

Nuzzy said:
I believe Mauler has had them crack though and just caught them in time. Seems to be the gist of what he posted on the subject a while back.

Well ****, your right there Nuzzmaster. I run the 7:17s in my 60s and have never broken them yet in 3.5 years of wheelin. I must not be as hardcore as I thought.:booo: :booo:

Binder · Dec 15, 2008

It's a matter of torque. Yes torque not horse power.:flipoff:
If you don't have low gears in front of the R&P and or you don't have torque at the power plant the weaker gears will last longer. Even if you do have the torque there must be some resistance in order to do damage. That's why big tires tend to always break gears/ axles. Small tires can do it too if you wad them up....

boxboy · Dec 15, 2008

jeepmauler said:
I quoted myself from the other thread cuz I'm too lazy to type

"Just a heads up......I cracked two sets of 6.17 R/Ps. One was subsatnially cracked and ready to fail(front) and the rear was just starting to crack at the root of the ring teeth.They were Dana/spicer gears.

I warrantied both sets (Thank you Randy's R/P )and carry a full R/P spare in the tow rig.I NEED to check my front again to make sure the teeth aren't trying to fall off....I'd bet they are cracked at the root at least.

My rig is WAY smaller with alot less horse power(3000# & ~325 horse) so I can't see them holding up in yers any better.My plan is to go 5.38 at the diff and a "baby" stack/3oo 4:1 and take some of the load off the diffs. "

My buggy is apart and under the knife now and I will be going through both diffs/axles...I fully expect the front R/P to be cracked......I just checked the rear a couple months ago and it "may" still be OK

wasn't this also when you were running water in your tires? Do you think the extra weight in the tires had a large part in the ring gear breaking? I would be interested to see the gears now since you have not been running water...