AXLE CAMBER. Axle Camber. When you look at a vehicle head-on, camber is the tilt of the top of the tire inward or outward from vertical. Just like caster, camber affects steering feel, tire wear, and handling. And in solid axle design, it's not somet
ACKERMANN ANGLE. Ackermann Angle – What It Is and Why It Matters. When you turn your steering wheel, your front tires don’t turn at the same angle. That’s by design. The Ackermann angle accounts for the fact that the inside tire needs to follow a tig
AXLE SHAFT/ U-JOINT GUIDE. U-Joint Sizes for Axle Shafts. U-joints (universal joints) connect the inner and outer axle shafts and allow for angular movement as the wheels steer or the suspension cycles. Common U-Joint Sizes:. U-Joint. Cap Size. Overa
AXLE TUBES. Axle Tube Diameter and Wall Thickness. Let’s start with the basics. An axle tube’s strength is largely defined by two key factors:. Larger outside diameters significantly increase resistance to bending. Meanwhile, thicker walls increase r
BUMP STEER. What is Bump Steer?. In a solid axle setup, bump steer occurs when the axle moves up and down (through suspension travel) and causes the wheels to steer themselves without any input from the steering wheel. This is especially dangerous at
AXLE CASTER. What is Caster in a Solid Axle Setup?. Caster is the angle of the steering pivot, measured from vertical when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Positive vs Negative Caster – Why It Matters. Positive Caster (Top of knuckle leans rearwa
DANA 60 AXLE SHAFTS. 1480 vs 1550 Axle Shafts – Dynatrac’s Perspective. At Dynatrac, we’ve spent decades designing axles that outperform and outlast factory designs under the most extreme conditions. One of the most common questions we get is about t
DIFFERENTIALS 101. What a Differential Is. At Dynatrac, we see the differential as the heart of the axle. It’s the mechanical component that takes the rotational power from the driveshaft and splits it out to your wheels, allowing for smooth turns by
HIGH STEER KNUCKLES. What’s the difference between a high steer knuckle and a standard knuckle?. Standard Knuckles place the steering arm lower on the knuckle, often at or near the factory height. That’s fine for stock vehicles or mild builds. But wh
AXLE SPINDLE. What is an Axle Spindle?. In simple terms, the spindle is a stationary shaft that attaches to the knuckle. The hub assembly (which holds the wheel) rotates around it on wheel bearings. It also serves as the outer support for the axle sh
NEW GEAR BREAK-IN GUIDE. 1. Use Proper Gear Oil. 2. Initial Run. 3. Early Driving Phase (First 500 miles). 4. First Oil Change. 5. Towing Post‑Break‑In. ⚠️ Important Warning. Failing to follow these steps may lead to overloading, overheating, gear oi
SELECTABLE HUBS. From our perspective:. The factory Dodge Ram front end uses unit bearings and permanently engaged hubs, meaning there’s no way to disconnect the axle from the wheels. That results in:. That’s where our Dynatrac Free-Spin™ Hub Convers
FREESPIN BENEFITS. 1. Improved Durability and Longevity. 2. Reduced Maintenance Costs. 3. User-Serviceable Components. 4. Increased Front-End Strength. 5. Manual Locking Hubs = Better Efficiency. 6. Better Drivability & Steering Feel. 7. Enhanced Off
GEARS 101. Standard vs. Reverse Rotation Gears. Let’s start with standard rotation versus reverse rotation ring and pinion gears. Despite the name, reverse rotation doesn’t mean the vehicle drives backward—it refers to the direction of the gear tooth
GEAR OIL RECOMMENDATION. Recommended Oil. Why Dino Oil Over Synthetic?. Water Separation. Cost vs Benefit. Temperature Guidelines & Oil Change Intervals. Temp (°F). Change Interval. 170°. 100,000 miles. 200°. 50,000 miles. 220°. 25,000 miles. 240°. 1
HIGH PINION VS LOW PINION. What’s the Difference?. 1. Pinion Position Explained. The pinion is the small gear that drives the ring gear in your differential. The position of the pinion gear relative to the ring gear determines whether it’s a high pin
HYDRO ASSIST STEERING. What is Hydro-Assist Steering?. In a solid axle vehicle, steering requires force to turn the wheels, especially with large tires, lockers, and during off-road crawling where terrain resistance is high. Hydro-assist is a modific
LOCKER BUYERS GUIDE. What Are Off-Road Axle Lockers?. Off-road axle lockers are devices installed in a vehicle’s differential that force both wheels on an axle to turn at the same speed, regardless of traction differences. They're essential for off-r
PINION ANGLE. What is Pinion Angle in a Solid Axle?. Pinion angle refers to the angle between the pinion shaft (coming out of your differential) and the driveshaft connected to it. In solid axle setups, the housing and pinion angle are fixed together
PINION YOKES. 1. Pinion Yokes – Overview. A pinion yoke connects the driveshaft's U-joint to the pinion gear on the differential. Its design and style affect strength, serviceability, and compatibility with driveshafts. 2. U-Joint Sizes in Pinion Yok
PROGRIP BRAKE MAINTENANCE. ProGrip™ Brake Kit Installation – From Dynatrac. As the team behind the ProGrip Brake System, we engineered this upgrade to be as straightforward as possible for JK owners who want more stopping power without overcomplicati
SEMI-FLOAT VS FULL-FLOAT. What’s the Difference?. 1. Semi-Float Axle. How it works:. Common in: ½-ton trucks, SUVs, and many daily drivers. Pros:. Cons:. 2. Full-Float Axle. How it works:. Common in: ¾-ton, 1-ton trucks, heavy-duty work vehicles, and