Dana 60 tech

[bburris]

I don't think we've had a solid Dana 60 thread on here, so I figured it was time to start something up. Enough of you guys have built and rebuilt them, and I had my hand in putting a couple together back in Corpus, so maybe we can get some sort of resource together (here) to be used for reference?

I haven't surfed Pirate enough to be up on the latest cool-kid parts and pieces for axles, so if someone is up on knuckles and axleshafts please fill in some info.

[bburris]

In order to figure some things out, I started pulling the D60 that's been sitting in my garage apart. I don't have anything better to do, so it seemed like a good idea. I forgot what kind of horrible ***** kingpins were. I got one out, but you can see what happened with the other. Suggestions welcome, but I guess I'll drop by Home Depot and grab a butane torch to heat things up some and see if that will help.

[bburris]

I also can't get the carrier out. I know some people have used winches and all sorts of other contraptions, but I don't think strapping it to my apartment carport is going to work so well... I tried a prybar and a BFH, but that didn't seem to help. Again, suggestions welcome.

[Sharpe]

Weld a piece of 2" square tubing to the kingpin and use a pipewrench to get it out.

[CRaSHnBuRN]

why not find a piece of square tubing, drop it over the kingpin, weld them together, then go to town with a big pipe wrench while its still warm?

edit: damn sharpe beat me to it

As for the carrier, my D70 was really tight as well. I just worked on it for a while with a pry bar, and finally I got it to pop loose. So all I can suggest is keep working on it

[CRaSHnBuRN]

as for axle shafts, go with longfield birfs and be done with it :D

[bburris]

I looked around some more about the carrier, seems I was probably too gentle with it. I'll smack it around some more tomorrow after work and see what happens.

EDIT: Birfields = :rainbow:

:flipoff2:

[redcagepatrol]

buy the cool ones from Twisted Customs...

[CRaSHnBuRN]

EDIT: Birfields = :rainbow:

:flipoff2:


they may be gay but I would sure take a set if I could afford them

[sasquatch]

or if you didn't mind cutting on the allen key, cut a piece of it off and hammer it into the kingpin and run a good bead around it. then heat it up and use an impact or breaker bar

[agjohn02]

did you beat on the allen with a hammer or use a cheater?

[bburris]

Hammer...

Then I stood on it.

[Fredo]

you could do what St.John and I did on his. Weld a piece of flat stock to a long piece of tubing (5-6 feet) and then drill a hole in the flat stock, slip it over the kingpin, then run a bead around it. Then one person stands on the housing while the other stands on the tubing and wha-la!

[DRAGOONRANCH]

you could do what St.John and I did on his. Weld a piece of flat stock to a long piece of tubing (5-6 feet) and then drill a hole in the flat stock, slip it over the kingpin, then run a bead around it. Then one person stands on the housing while the other stands on the tubing and wha-la!


If you did this pre-TAMOR Fat Ass Thread, then it never had a chance, now might be a different story. :gigem: :texas:

[bburris]

you could do what St.John and I did on his. Weld a piece of flat stock to a long piece of tubing (5-6 feet) and then drill a hole in the flat stock, slip it over the kingpin, then run a bead around it. Then one person stands on the housing while the other stands on the tubing and wha-la!
I don't have a welder, nor do I have a method of transporting an axle housing to a place that does.

[AggieTJ2007]

oxy fuel weld it on?

[bburris]

You think I have a torch? I said I had to go get a butane torch from Home Depot tomorrow to try to heat it up some... :D

[Fredo]

are you in beeville or did you bring the 60 home?

[bburris]

This is the same one that's been sitting in my garage since I moved up here.

[Fredo]

Hmm....guess I never noticed it while you were in that battleship in a bathtub phase with that CJ.

[agjohn02]

http://tamor.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10109&stc=1

[Fredo]

If you look at the kingpin brett is reffering to, it split, so he's a little past the cheater bar method at this point.

[agjohn02]

i know, but i think using a hammer is why people split them. just adding to the tech thread.

i cant think of any way to get that out without a welder. a monster easy out would do i reckon. maybe try to get a good grip with a pipe wrench and use a cheater. heat it up and spray some wd40 on it. it'll wick in better hot than it will cold.

[Doug Krebs]

damn I don't know how that didn't happen on mine. I was pushing with my legs and pulling with my back/arms on a six foot cheater.

My carrier fell out :( There was a good .030 of slop if I remember. I shimmed it with shim stock I cut out and guessed where to put it. It was a couple days before clayton. Being the front axle, I didn't think it would hurt too bad. I wasn't attached to the 4.10's anyways.

The bottom kingpin was all fubared on mine. It was gouged pretty bad from a bad bearing. I welded it up and turned it back down on the lathe. I didn't know at the time you could buy new ones for $40 else I would have went that route.

[Sharpe]

There's a thread on pirate somewhere where a guy used a grinder with a cutoff wheel on it and cut the kingping just above where it screws into the knuckle in order to relieve the pressure applied on the threads. You can do this then try a pipe wrench.

[sasquatch]

You think I have a torch? I said I had to go get a butane torch from Home Depot tomorrow to try to heat it up some... :D

maybe its time to invest in one

[bburris]

Pretty sure the gas can in that first picture is enough to get me evicted from my apartment, I wouldn't have time to think if I brought a hot wrench in. It's not really on the priority purchase list.

[jerryg79]

Pretty sure the gas can in that first picture is enough to get me evicted from my apartment, I wouldn't have time to think if I brought a hot wrench in. It's not really on the priority purchase list.

what a puss, there once was a time when you would change the oil sans drain pan and let it run down the apartment pavement to the storm drain. Where has that man gone.

To keep on topic.

Dana 60's are stronger then dana 30's, per my internet research.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Rockwells is where it's at now Jerry, haven't you heard...

[Seth]

Would a 1984 chevy k30 (i think 30 - the manual showed the 4x4 shift pattern and it matched the k30) have a front 60? its pass drop, open knuckle, low pinion, kingpin, and i swear its bigger than my d44 pumpkin. hard to tell without having them side by side. the Xcase shift pattern is straight forward and back, while the 1/2 and 3/4 diagrams shown in the manual had some left and right movement. I basically am trying to identify the drivetrain in this thing. I just got a glance at it today, but should be able to get a better look and some pics later. The rear looked like a semi floating 14, no huge hubs sticking out. the front hubs were autos.

[bcolman]

check and see how the front spring plates are attached, if they have 3 u bolts then it is a 60, other wise it is something else, and if it is a k30 then as far as i know they only came with 60's in the 4x4 variety

[Seth]

are these 60s worth as much as high pinion variety?

[Reckless]

Yes, it is a 60. Thats the same truck that I got my D60 out of.

[Seth]

Or a sweet scout drivetrain.

[bcolman]

the high pinions are better, if you are going drivers drop, but if you need passenger drop then i dont know of a high pinion 60

[Sharpe]

Aight kids listen up. Chevy 60. 3 u-bolts, BIG hubs (almost 4" in diamtere) Crew cab truck? Deff 60 if so. No one ever put high pinion p-side 60's in trucks.

[Reckless]

Where is a good source for king pin and bearing kits?. I am about to tear into mine soon so im trying to get some leads on vendors.

On another note, who has the D70 disk kits? Ed, where did you get yours at? And what kind of rotors do i need for the conversion?

[bcolman]

i got my d70 disk kit from diy4x4

[Reckless]

i got my d70 disk kit from diy4x4

How do you tell the difference between the D70 and D70HD?

[bcolman]

it depends on the diameter of the axle tube, i cant remember off the top of my head, but i think the hd is 4 inch and the others are 3.5 inch, also some hd's have an hd cast in to the diff housing on one of the ribs

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Still have drums on mine for now. Figured it would be easier for the e-brake.

I will try to locate the D70 bible for ya.

[bcolman]

I will try to locate the D70 bible for ya.

thats slightly harder to find than the 60 bible since it is a thread and not a tech write up

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Dana 70 Bible

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=522333&highlight=dana+70

brake install thread w/ pics

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=594520&highlight=dana+70

[CRaSHnBuRN]

On another note, who has the D70 disk kits? And what kind of rotors do i need for the conversion?


Most vendors like ballistic fab, ruffstuff, etc have the D70 calipers. D70HDs have 4" tubes, all the others are 3.5, though they normally neck down a little near the brakes. For brakes use late 70 model K20 rotors and calipers

[DRAGOONRANCH]

You may talk to copperhead fab, if he doesn't have them, I bet he could knock some out pretty quick. You are in his neck of the woods too.

[Reckless]

DIY 4x4 has a pretty good setup. rotors and brackets for $140 for the pair.