Great questions here. We’re getting great feedback from customers already running our ProRock XD with our new 1550 LT[emoji768] wheel end. 1550 LT[emoji768] is our official registered trademark for this new product. I only wanted to mention it so folks do not confuse our product with others that just happen to have a similar U-joint size. People often just refer to the Dynatrac product as “1550 wheel end” in conversation and posts to be brief.
First a little clarification on a couple of points. Spicy Chicken is running an early version of our Elite package with Evo bolt-on coil over suspension, not DTD. Spicy Chicken also has 3.5-inch BS wheels. Since that time, we’ve released new steering linkage, and improvements to the trac-bar and ram-assist brackets. These improvements are now included in all Elite axle packages, and custom ProRock XD front axles with our new wheel end.
Rubicat has 5.5-inch BS wheels, and is running a slightly modified DTD suspension with a custom width ProRock XD60 with our new 1550 LT[emoji768] wheel end. This is essentially the same axle as in the Elite package except for the wider width and different shock brackets for DTD. Anyone can order this axle, and folks already are. It does cost a little more than a typical Elite package at this time. The deeper BS wheel and taller tires just yield better low-scrub and steering benefits.
To maintain identical trac width and wheel travel with the deep backspace wheels and tighter steering on Rubicat, Dynatrac simply made a few mods. The DTD shock brackets are slightly modified to pull the bypass shock closer to the frame, and we changed the location of the external tubes on the bypass shocks to provide more tire clearance in extreme jounce (full stuff and full turn) positions. We have provided all the drawings and technical data so anyone can purchase and install the identical package. We have customers doing so now.
OR Evo also sells another special package from Dynatrac that includes our XD housing with our tried and true Pro60 wheel end. The Evo version ProRock XD-Pro60 front axle combo is still very popular and does not require the DTD shock bracket and bypass tube changes. OR Evo also supplies their own steering set-up with this combo.
If anyone is sticking with 3.5” BS wheels they can still greatly benefit from the low scrub and steering benefits of the new 1550 LT[emoji768] wheel end. They will also not need the same axle width as we did on Rubicat.
We are confident that just like our prior breakthroughs, this wheel end will soon become another benchmark for the industry. We are working with more customers everyday on our Elite axle package, and custom ProRock XD60-1550 LT[emoji768] builds. More wheel choices with deep BS will emerge.
Leading the way on axle performance is why Dynatrac exists. Many folks may be too young to remember, but I will never forget what Lee Iacocca said as he saved Chrysler from extinction in the 1980’s. He made a big impression on me. It was Iacocca that acquired AMC and Jeep for Chrysler. No telling where Jeep would be today if not for that.
At that time Japanese carmakers were making it very tough on the Big3. Iacocca was determined to fortify and preserve American car manufacturing and save the livelihoods of tens of thousands of American families. To this day I still remember the TV commercials, “We don’t want to be the biggest. Just the best.” That simple statement is our mission at Dynatrac.