JK JL JT 1 TON - APEX Front Kingpin-Balljoint 60 Swap Kit 1985-1997

This APEX Front Kingpin/Balljoint 60 Swap Kit gives you every weld-on bracket needed to put a 1985-1997 Dana 60 front axle under a Jeep Wrangler JK, JL, or Gladiator JT. Built around Artec's patent-pending APEX truss, it converts a junkyard or built one-ton 60 into a bolt-in-place, weld-on-the-axle assembly with the coil, shock, control-arm, and trackbar mounts already located for you, so you get one-ton strength up front without piecing brackets together by hand.

Key Features

• CNC laser cut in-house from 1/4" and 3/16" mild steel, with a 3/16" thick truss for rigidity
• Patent-pending APEX peaked-top truss design is stiffer than a traditional flat-top truss
• CNC precision-bent in-house so the truss drops onto the axle ready to weld, with no puzzle-piece assembly
• Around 70% less welding than previous-generation truss designs, which means less heat warping and faster install
• Upper control-arm mounts integrated into the differential bridge for a 3-link front setup
• Includes coil brackets, bump-stop pads, and repositioned shock mounts, plus trackbar bracket compatibility
• Long seams are pre-bent rather than welded, adding strength and cutting fabrication time

Fitment & Compatibility

Provides the front-axle swap brackets to install a Dana 60 into a Jeep Wrangler JK (2007-2018), Wrangler JL (2018-present), or Gladiator JT (2020-present). The kit covers 1985-1997 Dana 60 front axles in both configurations: kingpin (1985-1991.5) and balljoint (1992-1997). This is a weld-on kit that mounts to the axle, not a bolt-on part, so it requires fabrication and welding. For a later Superduty-based 60, Artec makes a separate APEX Front Superduty Swap Kit (1999-2004). Pair this kit with the JL-JT Front Frame Trackbar Bracket for 1-Ton Swap to complete the steering-side geometry.

Specifications

What's in the Box

• APEX front truss with integrated upper control-arm / bridge mounts
• Coil brackets and bump-stop pads
• Shock mounts
• Lower control-arm brackets and trackbar bracket provisions
• Choice of upper-link mount option per variant selected (adjustable truss upper link mount for 3-link, RockJock Johnny Joints in factory location, or Daystar bushings in factory location)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which axle and years does this kit cover?
It is designed for 1985-1997 Dana 60 front axles, covering both the kingpin style (1985-1991.5) and the balljoint style (1992-1997). It provides the brackets to swap that axle into a Jeep JK, JL, or JT.

Does this require welding?
Yes. This is a weld-on swap kit. The truss and brackets are located and then welded to the axle. Artec bends the parts in-house so they drop into place ready to weld, and the design uses roughly 70% less welding than older trusses, but full fabrication and welding skills or a shop are still required.

What is the APEX truss and why is the peaked top better?
The APEX is Artec's patent-pending next-generation truss. Its peaked-top profile is more rigid than a flat-top truss of the same material, and because the long seams are pre-bent instead of welded, you get more strength with less heat distortion.

What do the variant options change?
The upper-link mounting is configurable: an adjustable truss upper link mount for a 3-link, RockJock Johnny Joints in the factory location, or Daystar bushings in the factory location. Choose based on how you are building your front suspension.

Does this include the axle or steering?
No. This is the bracket/truss swap kit only. You supply the Dana 60 axle, and steering components are separate.