When building a capable off-road machine, the front axle is the heart of your steering and suspension geometry. The Kingpin Dana 60 is widely regarded as one of the toughest axles ever produced, but its factory steering configuration leaves a lot to be desired for extreme rock crawling. To truly harness the potential of your front end and protect your critical linkages, upgrading to a Dana 60 crossover steering kit is a mandatory step.
Here is a comprehensive look at why swapping to billet arms and bronze components will completely transform your rig's handling and durability.
Why Your Off-Road Build Needs a Crossover Steering Conversion
Factory steering sits low, exposing your tie rods and drag links to boulders, stumps, and deep ruts. A high steer conversion moves these vulnerable off road steering parts up and above the axle centerline. This drastically increases ground clearance and improves the steering angle, ensuring you can navigate technical lines without bending a tube.
The Power of 1.25 Inch Thick Dana 60 Billet Arms
If you are running 37-inch tires or larger, the rotational mass and lateral stress on your knuckles are immense. Standard cast iron arms can easily crack or flex under this pressure, especially if you are using a hydraulic assist system.
The Dana 60 high steer arms from East West Offroad are machined from solid domestic billet steel. By utilizing 1.25 inch thick Dana 60 billet arms, you eliminate the flexing that causes vague steering response. These heavy duty steering arms provide a rigid, unbreakable connection between your steering box and your tires.
Eliminating the Weak Link with Dana 60 Kingpin Bronze Bushings
Even the thickest steering arms cannot fix a sloppy pivot point. The original Kingpin design relies on plastic or nylon bushings that compress and wear out rapidly under the weight of a heavy, modified 4x4. This wear directly translates to "death wobble" and steering wander.
Superior Hardware for a Rock Crawler Steering Kit
To permanently solve this issue, you must replace the plastic with a Dana 60 kingpin bronze bushings set. Bronze is incompressible and provides a robust, self-lubricating bearing surface. The Kingpin bronze bushing set hardware ensures that your knuckle remains perfectly aligned, maintaining a tight and predictable steering feel no matter how hard you push your vehicle.
Versatility and Fitment for Maximum Performance
A premium steering upgrade should be adaptable to your specific build, whether you are running factory knuckles or high-end aftermarket replacements.
Reid Compatible Dana 60 Arms and 5 Hole Pattern
The East West Offroad kit features a highly versatile 5 hole pattern Dana 60 steering arms configuration. This makes them perfectly Reid compatible Dana 60 arms, allowing you to bolt them directly onto the strongest aftermarket knuckles available.
To ensure the arms never shear off during a tough climb, the Dana 60 complete high steer arm pair uses a specialized mounting system. By securing the arms with ten 1/2 inch fine thread studs Dana 60 and Dana 60 tapered nuts, the kit creates an interference fit that locks the components together, distributing extreme forces evenly across all mounting points.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does the East West Offroad high steer kit include?
The EWO Dana 60 high steer arm pair is a fully inclusive kit. It features both the Dana 60 passenger and driver side arms, the complete bronze bushing set with threaded screws and grease fittings, and all the necessary heavy-duty mounting studs and tapered nuts.
2. Can I use these arms if I don't have Reid knuckles?
Yes. Even though they feature a 5 hole pattern Dana 60 steering arms design to be compatible with Reid and other aftermarket brands, they will bolt up perfectly to standard 4-hole factory Kingpin knuckles.
3. Why are billet steering arms better than cast ones?
Dana 60 billet steering arms are CNC-machined from a solid block of steel, ensuring there are no internal voids or structural weaknesses. Cast arms can have hidden flaws and are much more likely to shatter under the extreme side-loading of a Kingpin Dana 60 high steer setup.
4. Do bronze bushings require more maintenance than plastic?
Not necessarily, but they do require lubrication. The included Kingpin bronze bushing set hardware features grease fittings to make maintenance incredibly simple. A few pumps of grease after a heavy trail weekend will keep your Dana 60 steering upgrade running smoothly for years.