strength of a dana 27

how do they hold up, i mean to the abuse of being locked and wheeling hard on the rocks with 33'' to 35'' tires. i want to run a one with U-joints in a mid engine buggy i am building, it will be light and under horse powered ( using a GEO 3 cyl and an auto tranney ).

another ??? would flipping the axle without turning the knuckles affect the kin pins and how will the caster/camber be, i know the axle will run backwards but i need to run that way, thanks jason.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

That is like a buggy im building, it should hold up. Mine are smaller then a dana 27 and held up for years with a 4 cyl with a 3 speed, now im going with a toyota 4 cyl with a auto more power yet and im hoping it will hold still. PS mine is heavy and the spiders are welded together.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Oh i looked mine axles came out of a vovlo car both axles are, one is upside down but then it does not have knuckles or anything. It turns by articulating in the center. if u want more help i will try to help u.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

is your set up the using a mid engine like i am, are you runing two steering axles or one, i to will be runing welded spiders but not sure if the front will push steer, this is why i thought of two steering axles this, way i could get 4-wheel steering and no lockers to buy. got any picts of your rig, jason.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Mine has no steering axles, pics are located at http://community.webshots.com/user/budtoh3zo i have not personally ran it yet, my grandpa used to run it hunting. He used to carry moose that weight 1000 plus pounds in the back of it. As for locking up the front it will cause it to push steer but for the traction i find it worth it, it depends what ur going to use it for. The pics are of the tear down, im putting it back together now im going to have up dated pics as soon as im done painting it.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Thanks dan, She is just about painted the motor is droped in, all that is left is wiring, rad mounting and paint.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

i like it, how do you steer it tho, with brakes? jason.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

no it turns in the middle with the hydrolic ram as it pushes it articulates it one way then as it retracts it pulls it the other way like some tractors do

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

LOL Dan dont worry with that buggy i have had to borrow ur crack pipe a bunch of times lol

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

dan you can take a hit off of my pipe, if you search around pirate you will see alot of peaple building these types of buggys. i have had jeep before ( 57 willys, a couple of cj-7's and now a 48 willys with rockwells ) i just like idea of a front seat mid engine buggy, this way i can see all the bumps in the road.

we established that they should hold up fine what about the caster/camber. if i flip the axle will the kin pins hold out too, they look like they would work fine because there are two on each end ( upper/lower ) so the upper become's the lower and will it transmit the load the same, jason.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

i believe that the king pins will hold up i just dont know about the caster and camber i beleve you should be able to adjust it enough.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

thats what concerns me now, is if its adjustable enough, its only going to be a trail only buggy very low speeds but i still dont want it to be unsteerable, jason.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

if it is low speed it does not have to be exsact you can be out abit just u will wear your tires uneven but what i beleve is that it will work farily well and be able to adjust to your needs.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Not much of a front end guy, but the only adjustment available to you with a d27 is toe in toe out. if you flip the axel with out flipping the ends, you will have a dog of a time steering even at low speed. if you are looking at crawling over rocks in precarious postions wouldn't you want your steering to respond the best it was designed to? $.02

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Certainly easily breakable in a Wagoneer with oversize tires. Recall these cars came with an AMC 327 or Buick 350, and weigh about twice as much as a CJ. Repair or replacement in those vehicles isn't very cost effective - better to find 44 axles from a later vehicle.

A lighter foot and/or vehicle should make them last longer.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

Also his motor is not putting out much power as and his is lighter and my axles are weaker then the onces jason is going to use. The major differance is i have 2 drive axles with no steering. So that part im kinda in the dark for. Pull a Dana 27 out put it upside down and see how far its out, on my CJ5 i would put a dana 27 in the back for 4 wheel steering with out even thinking. A 3 cyl GEO dont put out much power rember.

 

Re: strenght of a dana 27

If you are locked in the front with that 27 you will break axles. My frind has a 27 with a lockright and 33" tires and when he gets bound up in front they break. He averages 2 breaks a year.