Need, I can't verify it yet, I am still looking for a Furd D60 with balljoints in the yards, but I did run across a site last night referencing that Ford's knuckles are a different height than Dodge. That seems pretty idiotic considering they use the same balljoints.
I was searching the Dana website, and the knuckles listed in the parts manuals all say contact vehicle manufacturer, would that mean that Ford made the C's and knuckles and shipped them to Dana for assy?

So, at this point, for those who are following, I would say we do not have a straight bolt in, and I will continue to research.

 

I could have told you the C Knuckles were different, thats why I suggested using Ford C Knuckles on a Dodge Axle assembly. Dana casts all their own knuckles, the reason they are different is because Ford uses a different spindle assembly, brake assembly, and obviously a lockout system, so the knuckles have to be different. The balljoints are based on the C Knuckle and Outer Knuckles mating surfaces, and the taper/diameter of the ball joint holes. Most of Dana's front axles share balljoints when they can, its just good business sense, its cheaper to buy one big batch of balljoints than a few balljoints that are all different. The reason that Dana is telling you to contact the manufacturer is because they don't sell anything to the public unless its out of their aftermarket division, and all they are going to have is part numbers, without a cross reference for vehicles and parts.

 

Ok, I still think it is nuts for a manufacturer to forge different C knuckles and cast different spindles based upon a different customer, but that appears exactly what they did. I am still going to look for a Joint equipped D60 to verify, but I am coming to the conclusion that it will be back to my original choices, swap the whole axle, go to the EMS kit, or now perhaps do the C knuckle swap, but if I do that, I will def. use my kingpin setup over the BJ style.

Just for grins, how much did you typically lay the caster back, and is it measured through the centerline of the upper and lower kingpin hole?

Thanks for all your information man!

 

Well...keep in ind all of our axles were for test purposes only, but we would test between 0* and 8* caster, I don't think anyone besides desert racers run caster any higher than that though. For the new F-350/450's I thought about 4.5* caster was the best, but it all depends on the steering system and suspension setup, remember a radius arm system has varying caster depending on the height of the truck (basically the angle of the radius arm). While a 4-link should stay about the same.

Stock Caster is about 2-3* depending on the truck and suspension being used, I personally like more caster, about 5-5.5* in my truck, but thats dialed through the cam-bolts. You'll have to measure out the suspension to make sure you weld the C-knuckles on in the same caster as the old ones came of. And yes it is measured Ball Joint centerline to Ball joint centerline.

 

Thanks man!