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Yukon Installation Kit Instructions

Yukon Soap Box Derby Racer

The Soap Box Derby is an all-American pastime with a storied past that stretches back to 1934. Aspiring racers compete in local derbies to qualify for the big race in Akron, Ohio. The road that led to the Yukon car can be traced back to 2007 and RANDYS Worldwide salesman Tate Hudson was the flashpoint. “We have been a part of the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby since 2007,” says Tate. “My son Sam, who was a fourth grader at the time, was picked out of his scout group to race their car. From the first time he went down the hill, he was hooked. Marla and Randy Heagle with Stanwood-Camano Windermere have been hosting this community event since 2006. During those days, we collected donations from the community and purchased our own car with the proceeds to race a Warm Beach Community-sponsored car, which Sam raced until he got too old for it.” “Fast forward to 2018 when my daughter Sophie decided she wanted to race in the Soap Box Derby, we realized that since it had become such a huge event with many local sponsors getting involved, it would be a great idea for Yukon to sponsor a car. I pitched the idea to Neal Hollingsworth in our marketing department and he was enthusiastically on board immediately. We had a local shop in Sedro Wooley wrap the car in the same style graphics as the dragster we sponsor and it turned out great! For kids that can’t afford their own cars Randy and Marla have a lottery system for loaner cars and the Yukon car is driven each year by a less fortunate young boy or girl who gets to experience building the car from the ground up with their parents or guardians.” Yes, the ‘Yukon Special’ is dismantled after each season, waiting for the next hopeful racer to enter its life. Soap Box Derby events are open to competitors age seven to 20. Our car is part of the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby, which consists two races per year, the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby on Father’s Day weekend and the Summer Classic Rally Races in mid-August. But the Soap Box experience begins well before the green flag flies. Racers are teamed with a mentor who helps them construct the car. Typically, the cars are built from kits but interested parties like us at Yukon sponsor the car for those who can’t afford their own kit. Participants work with mentors and learn STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), collaboration, and how to handle tools as they construct their cars at dedicated Build Clinics in the months leading up to a race. There are three racing divisions, two for beginners and one for advanced racers. The entry level Stock Division is for children between ages seven and 13. It uses simplified lean-forward style cars with a maximum overall weight of 200 pounds. The Super Stock Division is open to competitors nine to 17 years of age who compete in more advanced cars with a total weight maximum of 240 pounds. The Master’s Division caters to participants from 10 to 19 years old and features even more sophisticated cars built from Scottie Masters kits. These cars sport four-piece fiberglass bodies and advanced wheels. Our car is a Stock class car and Randy says it’s one of 75 racers that he has in his stable of sponsored cars. “The kids and the parents really love the Yukon car,” says Randy. It’s very cool looking and it pops… it might be the only car with purple on it as well.” The biggest difference makers of any Soap Box racer are precision of assembly, design and placement of weights within the car, wheel alignment, and steering cable tension. But Randy is quick to point to the cockpit as well. “The cars all weigh the same with a driver in them, the wheels and lanes are swapped for every round at all the races. Sure, there’s some amount of fine tuning… but the drivers are difference makers too. Staying super low and tucked in the cockpit and driving the natural slopes down the track are often the keys to winning.” Events at Arrowhead Ranch can attract up to 1,500 spectators. In fact, the recent 14th Annual Windermere Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby held the Saturday before Father’s Day 2021 was the biggest race ever this side of the Mississippi River. The track at Arrowhead Ranch is 800 feet long and the cars can reach speeds in excess of 30 mph. Racers accumulate points that can earn them a trip to Akron, Ohio for the World Championships at the famed Derby Downs track. “How can you not take advantage of keeping youth involved in the sport that so many of us in motorsports participated in,” said Neal Hollingsworth, Yukon’s VP of Marketing. “They feel like a part of something big and learn great skills along the way. As community outreach is so important today, this was a no-brainer for Yukon to get behind and support so less fortunate kids have a platform to build and drive a branded race car.” Click here for more info on the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby.

Re-Gearing Ford Super Duty Axles with Yukon Gears

Ford Super Duty axles are arguably the most common setup swapped in to other vehicles, and it is easy to see why. The Super Duty is one of the last vehicles on the market equipped with front and rear solid axles, and the only with a high-pinion Dana 60 front end. By starting with heavy-duty, eight-lug axles with 35-spline axle shafts we didn't feel is necessary to upgrade shafts or U-joints, even when planning to run 40-inch-tall Milestar Patagonia M/Ts on our full-size truck. That doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, or that all Super Duty axles are created equal. We recently went to Axleline to upgrade the Super Duty axles in our latest project with Yukon components for improved strength and trail prowess. Axleline's head honcho, Aaron Lechner, showed us the strengths and weaknesses of Super Duty axles, along with the changes that have been made over the last 20 years that Ford has been using these axles. Yukon makes lockers, ring and pinion sets, and installation kits for every generation of Dana 60 and Sterling axle. We recommend starting with the newest axles you can find since they have the biggest components to support the increases in power and tow capacity as the Super Duty has evolved. Then just add lockers and low gears and you are ready to hit the trail! Super Duty Dana 60s Through the Years While not as bad as the variations of Dana 44, where zero components from a Dana 44 under a new Wrangler JL are shared with the Dana 44 under a CJ-5, Dana 60s still have quite a bit of variation, even the ones found under Super Duty pickups. Starting in 1999, Super Duty trucks used Dana 50 axles under F-250s and single-rear-wheel (SRW) F-350s. High-pinion Dana 60s were used on dual-rear-wheel (DRW) Dana 60s starting in 2002. These axles had spring perches for leaf springs until 2004 with virtually no axle tube sticking out of the casting on the short side, making it a challenge to mount coils or links. In 2005 Ford went to coil springs, along with bigger knuckles and brakes on the Dana 60 front axles. F-450 and F-550 trucks of this era came with "Super 60" front axles that use a larger 10-inch ring gear, 37-spline axle shafts, and 1550 U-joints for even greater strength. These axles have 10-lug adapters, but removing the adapters converts them to the normal Super Duty 8x170 bolt pattern. Sterling Rears Through the Years Not all rear Sterling axles are the same, but the differential covers, axle shafts, and carriers are all interchangeable. These are full-floating axles with 1 1/2-inch, 35-spline axle shafts that are very strong. They don't benefit from the third pinion bearing that makes the 14-bolt the king of rear axles though, and the axle tubes can spin in the center section under hard use. Early 1985-1992 Sterling 10 1/4 axles used drum brakes, an 8-on-6 1/2 bolt pattern, and short pinion splines. The second generation (1993-1998) of Sterling axles used longer pinion splines and a different yoke, but were otherwise the same. The introduction of the Super Duty in 1999 brought the introduction of the Sterling 10 1/2-inch, which has a different inner pinion bearing than the Sterling 10 1/4. The 10 1/2 also uses disc brakes and an 8-on-170mm bolt pattern. In 2005 the brakes were upgraded to 13.4-inch brake rotors, and in 2013 they grew even larger to 14.3 inches.  

Tools of the Trade: Yukon Driveline Tools

From weekend warriors to master builders, craftsmen worldwide know that no matter what you’re working on, it’s all about the tools. For the mechanic, having the right tools is the difference between a smooth well-executed job and running around trying to find ‘something that works’ —most likely a screwdriver or other blunt, ill-advised tool—just to get the vehicle off the lift. But the difference between getting a job done and getting a job done right, is the proper tools. Yukon knows differentials and in our 40-plus years in the industry we have pioneered many specialty tools just for drivetrain work. From specialized bearing pullers, to simple shim drivers, make it easy on yourself by investing in the proper tools for when a vehicle pulls in with that elusive “vibration in the rear.” Tools are an investment that will build your business. There are four critical steps that ensure a strong, quiet, and long-lasting differential. A high-quality pinion depth-setting tool and a specialized inch/pound torque wrench is to install the pinion gear and set bearing preload. After that, specialized spanner tools or shim drivers allow you to dial in the backlash and carrier bearing preload. Yukon has developed more than 80 different tools that streamline differential and drivetrain assembly. Here are some top sellers to consider: YT P20 / YT P22 Yukon Bearing Pulling Set – These bearing pullers simplify bearing removal for those without a press. They feature different clamshell sizes for a clean, quick and simple way to remove a bearing quickly and without risk. YT SD-01 Shim Driver Set – This set addresses Ford, GM, Chrysler, and many other housings. These half-moon, heavy-duty cradles are perfect for replacing the much-maligned screwdriver, punch, or pry bar so you get the job done right the first time. No more chipping shims or hammering screwdrivers to set your shims. YT BD Bearing Race Driver – Yukon as developed more than 20 race drivers for different applications and they all will make your life easier because they accurately drive races and produce a perfect alignment for the right fit. These drivers are built to take a hammering, which is exactly what’s required to properly set bearings. The tool keeps your races centered and straight and works much better than using a socket or even the bottom of the closest beer can. YT A06 Side Adjuster Tool – It’s almost impossible to reach the recommended adjuster torque of 150+ foot pounds without having the proper tool for side adjustment. Although this tool has a very singlular purpose, it’s exactly what’s needed to get the job done right. No more stacked extensions and cobbled together drivers to get the perfect fit. Yukon also offers bolt extractors kits, spanner tools, spindle boring cutters and more to outfit a shop that wants to do the work and do it well. Tools are an investment that will build your business. Invest in the best, Yukon driveline tools. Shop Yukon Differential Tools