A properly planned Kingpin Dana 60 Steering Upgrade can give a lifted truck, custom Jeep, rock crawler, or solid axle swap a more workable steering layout. East West Off Road’s complete crossover and high steer package combines USA-machined billet arms, steering ends, mounting hardware, weld bungs, jam nuts, and two sections of DOM tubing for custom fabrication. It is designed for compatible Dana 60 Kingpin axle applications, but every build still requires careful measurement, fitment verification, fabrication, and final alignment.
Understanding Dana 60 Kingpin High Steer and Crossover Steering
A factory steering layout commonly places steering connections lower on the axle and may use a push-pull arrangement. On a modified vehicle, crossover steering changes the drag link path so it runs from the steering-box pitman arm toward the opposite-side steering arm or knuckle connection.
High steer arms move the tie rod or drag link connection higher on the knuckle. This can create more favorable steering angles and additional clearance in some custom suspension and axle configurations. The goal is not simply to raise parts, but to develop a complete steering layout that works with the axle position, suspension travel, steering box, track bar, wheels, tires, and chassis.
Why Factory Steering Can Become Limiting
Adding suspension lift changes the relationship between the steering box, pitman arm, drag link, axle, and knuckles. As the axle moves farther from the chassis, the drag link angle may become steeper. Tie rod placement can also create clearance concerns around springs, shocks, differential covers, suspension links, or wheels.
These changes may contribute to steering feedback, bump steer, wander, or inconsistent response. Factory-style push-pull steering can become less suitable on some heavily modified builds because the linkage was not designed around the new axle location and suspension geometry.
A crossover layout can provide a better path for the drag link, while high steer arms can relocate steering connections to a more useful height. Correctly planned geometry can help reduce bump steer or steering wander, but no steering kit can guarantee that every handling issue will disappear. Worn bearings or Kingpin components, incorrect caster, poor toe settings, flexible frame mounts, track bar geometry, and tire condition can still affect steering.
Why 1.25-Inch Billet High Steer Arms Matter
The included driver-side and passenger-side high steer arms are each 1.25 inches thick and manufactured from domestic billet steel. Their job is to provide strong, accurately machined mounting points for the custom crossover and high steer configuration.
Material quality and dimensional consistency matter because steering arms transfer driver input into the knuckles. Precision machining in the USA supports accurate hole location, hardware seating, and component alignment. Final strength and safety, however, still depend on correct knuckle compatibility, proper hardware installation, sufficient thread engagement, approved torque procedures, and regular inspection.
Five-Hole Steering Arm and Knuckle Compatibility
These arms use a five-hole design, so the knuckle pattern must be verified before ordering. Dana 60 axles have been produced in different years, configurations, and steering-knuckle styles. A Dana 60 Kingpin axle should not be confused with a ball-joint Dana 60, and compatibility with a ball-joint axle must never be assumed.
Builders should confirm the exact knuckle manufacturer, bolt pattern, stud arrangement, taper orientation, and any drilling or machining requirements. The presence of a Kingpin axle alone does not guarantee that every knuckle will accept the same arm without additional work.
DOM Tubing Included for Custom Steering Fabrication
This kit includes one 54-inch DOM tube and one 43-inch DOM tube. Both sections are listed at 1.50-inch outside diameter, 1.00-inch inside diameter, and .250-inch wall thickness.
The tubing is supplied as raw material for fabricating the tie rod and drag link. It is not a pair of finished, pre-welded, vehicle-specific steering assemblies. Each tube must be measured against the actual build, cut to the required length, deburred, cleaned, prepared for welding, and fitted with the appropriate 7/8-18 weld bungs.
Final tube length depends on axle width, arm position, steering-box location, pitman arm, wheel offset, and the desired linkage arrangement. Professional welding is important because poor joint preparation, contamination, heat control, or penetration can create a safety risk in a steering component.
Steering Ends, Weld Bungs, and Mounting Hardware
The package includes ES2026R and ES2027L drag link ends/components with supplied hardware, along with ES2234L and ES2234R tie rod ends/components. These parts provide the articulated steering connections needed for the fabricated linkage.
Left- and right-hand 7/8-18 weld bungs and matching jam nuts allow the linkage length to be adjusted without removing both steering ends. Correct thread direction, adequate thread engagement, and secure jam-nut tightening are essential.
Ten 1/2-inch fine-thread mounting studs are included and are listed at 180,000 PSI in the supplied product specifications. Tapered nuts, threaded screws, grease fittings, spacers, and related hardware support arm mounting, lubrication access, spacing, and final assembly. Builders should follow the correct torque procedure and inspect how every tapered or flat seating surface contacts the arm and knuckle.
Key Features and Benefits
- Complete component package for compatible Dana 60 Kingpin crossover and high steer conversions
- Driver-side and passenger-side 1.25-inch domestic billet steel arms
- Five-hole arm design for verified compatible knuckles
- USA precision machining
- Included 54-inch and 43-inch DOM tube sections
- 1.50-inch OD, 1.00-inch ID, and .250-inch wall tubing
- Drag link and tie rod steering ends/components with supplied hardware
- Left- and right-hand 7/8-18 weld bungs and jam nuts for adjustment
- High-strength 1/2-inch fine-thread studs listed at 180,000 PSI
- Optional pitman arm selection for builds that require a compatible arm
What’s Included
The package contains:
- One driver-side and one passenger-side 1.25-inch billet high steer arm
- One 54-inch and one 43-inch DOM tube section
- ES2026R and ES2027L drag link ends/components
- ES2234L and ES2234R tie rod ends/components
- Two left-hand and two right-hand 7/8-18 weld bungs
- Two left-hand and two right-hand 7/8-18 jam nuts
- Ten 1/2-inch fine-thread mounting studs listed at 180,000 PSI
- Ten tapered nuts
- Two threaded screws, two grease fittings, and two spacers
- Related installation hardware
A pitman arm is optional and is not automatically included. The correct spline count, drop, taper, clocking, and steering-box compatibility must be confirmed before selecting or sourcing one.
Important Notes Before Ordering
Verify that the axle is a Dana 60 Kingpin model and confirm the exact knuckle pattern. Check whether the five-hole arms match the knuckles or whether machining is required. Also confirm steering-end taper, drag link orientation, tie rod location, steering-box position, and pitman arm requirements.
Measure the intended linkage lengths before cutting the DOM tubing. Confirm that the supplied 54-inch and 43-inch sections are long enough for the planned design after accounting for weld-bung insertion and required thread engagement.
Ideal For
This package is intended for properly engineered custom builds such as lifted GM and Chevy trucks, Jeep Dana 60 conversions, rock crawlers, overlanding rigs, trail trucks, oversized-tire applications, solid axle swaps, and custom 4x4 steering systems.
Suitability depends on the specific axle, knuckles, suspension, steering box, chassis, wheels, and fabrication plan. It should not be treated as a universal bolt-on solution.
Fitment and Installation Notes
Steering is a safety-critical system. Installation may require knuckle preparation, drilling or machining, tube cutting, deburring, welding, steering-end setup, hardware torquing, and alignment. An experienced steering, suspension, or fabrication professional should complete or inspect the work.
Before driving, cycle the suspension through full compression and droop. Turn the steering from lock to lock and verify clearance around the differential cover, springs, shocks, links, frame, wheels, and tires. Check that the drag link and track bar remain appropriately related where a track bar is used.
Confirm weld quality, hardware seating, stud engagement, jam-nut tightness, grease-fitting access, toe setting, steering-wheel position, and final alignment. Reinspect the system after initial use and as part of routine off-road maintenance.
Why Builders Choose East West Off Road
East West Off Road focuses on heavy-duty steering and axle components for builders working with real-world 4x4 configurations. This kit brings the major crossover and high steer components together while still allowing the linkage to be fabricated around the vehicle rather than assuming one fixed length or layout.
For a Kingpin Dana 60 Steering Upgrade using included DOM tubing and USA-made billet arms, review the complete product details, verify your axle and knuckle configuration, and view the kit here: https://www.eastwestoffroad.com/product/complete-dana-60-crossover-and-high-steer-for-dana-60-kingpin-axles
FAQs
1. Does this crossover and high steer kit fit every Dana 60 Kingpin axle?
No. Although the kit is designed for compatible Dana 60 Kingpin applications, axle year, knuckle manufacturer, five-hole pattern, stud arrangement, taper orientation, and machining requirements can differ. Buyers should identify their axle and knuckle configuration and verify fitment before ordering.
Compatibility with a ball-joint Dana 60 should not be assumed. Ball-joint and Kingpin axles use different knuckle and steering configurations, so separate confirmation would be required.
2. What components are included in the complete Dana 60 steering kit?
The kit includes driver-side and passenger-side 1.25-inch billet high steer arms, 54-inch and 43-inch DOM tube sections, ES2026R and ES2027L drag link ends/components, and ES2234L and ES2234R tie rod ends/components.
It also includes left- and right-hand 7/8-18 weld bungs and jam nuts, ten high-strength mounting studs, tapered nuts, screws, grease fittings, spacers, and related installation hardware.
3. Is DOM tubing included, and what are its dimensions?
Yes. The package includes one 54-inch DOM tube and one 43-inch DOM tube. Each section measures 1.50 inches in outside diameter, 1.00 inch in inside diameter, and has a .250-inch wall thickness.
The tube lengths should be compared with the required finished drag link and tie rod dimensions before fabrication begins.
4. Are the included DOM tubes already cut and welded into steering links?
No. The tubes are supplied as fabrication material rather than completed, pre-welded, vehicle-specific steering assemblies.
Accurate measuring, cutting, deburring, cleaning, weld preparation, weld-bung installation, welding, adjustment, and inspection may be required. Steering-link welding should be completed or inspected by an experienced fabrication professional.
5. Is a pitman arm included with this Dana 60 high steer kit?
A pitman arm is optional and should not be assumed to be included in the standard package. Different builds may require different spline counts, tapers, drops, clocking positions, and steering-box connections.
Making the pitman arm optional allows the builder to select or source the configuration that matches the vehicle’s steering box and drag link design.
6. What is the purpose of the 1.25-inch billet arms and five-hole design?
The driver-side and passenger-side arms provide elevated mounting points for a crossover and high steer configuration. They are manufactured from domestic billet steel, measure 1.25 inches thick, and are precision-machined in the USA.
The five-hole design must match the intended knuckle pattern. Buyers should verify the knuckle manufacturer, hole layout, stud configuration, and any required drilling or machining before ordering.
7. What do the steering ends, 7/8-18 weld bungs, and jam nuts do?
The ES2026R and ES2027L components are supplied for the drag link, while the ES2234L and ES2234R components are supplied for the tie rod. They create the articulated connections needed for steering movement.
The left- and right-hand 7/8-18 weld bungs and matching jam nuts allow linkage length to be adjusted after fabrication. Correct thread direction, sufficient thread engagement, and secure jam-nut tightening are essential.
8. Will this kit eliminate bump steer and steering wander on a lifted truck?
No steering kit can guarantee complete elimination of bump steer, wander, or every steering concern. A correctly planned crossover and high steer layout can improve steering angles and may help reduce these conditions when the axle, suspension, steering box, track bar, caster, toe, tires, and linkage geometry are compatible.
Professional installation, correct hardware torque, full-travel clearance checks, lock-to-lock steering inspection, final wheel alignment, and a complete steering-system inspection are necessary before the vehicle is driven.