Hear me out - Mod options

[AusJeepNoob]

This probably belongs in the tech section but didn't know whether it would be in suspension or drivetrain.

Has anyone considered running Dana 60s with portals and 37s instead of 42s and whatever lift is required to make them fit?

• Under diff clearance would be about the same
• Can run stock suspension meaning none of the issues with massive lifts like wander, driveshaft angles, etc
• You're going to have to fit 60s if you want to run 42s so there is no cost difference there
• Better tyre to guard/inner guard clearance at full compression and steering angles due to the smaller overall diameter of the tyre
• Lower COG and overall height
• Portals give lower gearing already so no need to regear (probably a moot point if you're changing diffs anyway)

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[Kreepin1]

You mean something like this?
https://emeraldwest.com/motorsports/products/crawl-king-60-front-rear-portal-axles-set

I'm gonna' say no, although it is surprisingly affordable at $22k (US) for a set.

First issue is tires. If you run a trail on 37's when everybody else has 42's you will find ground clearance under the axle isn't everything. Sure, this might prevent a diff getting hung up on a rock, but the smaller tire won't be able to climb up on rocks that are chewed up at the bottom. So you're still gonna run 42's.

Second issue is height. Lower is better except for mud bogs. These portals net 5" of lift. On paper maybe you could lower the Jeep some but in practice it is really tough to package portals. Suspension behavior is not just about link geometry, it also depends on the height of the center of gravity (COG)and location of the tire's contact patch. In addition, portals put a lot more stress on the links, so you end up fabbing a new 4-link suspension with more vertical separation of the link ends to keep the stresses in reason. Unimog axles were all the rage for a few years, but people found it was very difficult to build a low COG rig with them.

Third issue is weight. You are adding 75 lbs per corner in addition to 60's. The sport has changed so you need to be able to crawl, but also keep up on the faster stuff. Unsprung weight is the enemy here...

Forth issue is strength. Check out the distance from the wheel mounting surface to the kingpin. I would not want to jump a rig with those axles. One advantage of the Unimog axles is that the portal gear reduction lets you run a smaller ring and pinion and axle shaft since they see one third less stress. But there is no Dana 44 housing that is going to stand up to that bending moment. And we haven't even started to talk about the havoc that scrub radius is going to cause with tire clearance, wheel availability and steering system.

Bottom line is if you are going to run 37's, might as well stick with Dana 44's. If you are going to run 42's, better step up to 60's.

 

[aldo98229]

$22,000 for two axles? Where do I sign?

 

[AusJeepNoob]

$22,000 for two axles? Where do I sign?

60s from Dana Spicer, Dynatrac or Currie are $17k so an extra $5k for portals isn't really that much.

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