axles

[JEM]

so i found this add today http://frederick.craigslist.org/pts/3086255394.html
i really want those 1 ton axles so if i do go and look at them what should i look for to make sure they are in good condition?

 

[crazy4offroad]

WOW if that really is a Dana 60 you could make some money off that. Bookmark this link...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/60_front/
it should help you identify it from a Dana 44, which for $100 I'm thinking it is more than likely a D44, or a typo on the price for a D60. From that link, you want to look at #3 in this pic...

It will say "60" if it really is a D60. Go ahead and assume it is going to need kingpin bushings & bearings, those arent very expensive. Turn the pinion yoke back & forth a little and get a feel for backlash of the ring & pinion. There should be a little "clunk" noise and no movement of the axleshafts but the movement should be almost unnoticable. 1/16" movement is borderline. Other than that look at the yoke for broken u-joint cap keepers, pinion seal for leaks, broken wheel studs, etc. It is going to be hard to tell if the wheel bearings are bad, unless they are really bad. Make sure all the brake hardware is there. Make sure the caliper shim bolts arent broken. Look for gear oil leaking out the axle tubes, the internal seals are a bitch to replace. Ask to remove the cover and check the condition of the ring & pinion, count the teeth and verify it really is 3.73, and check the condition of the carrier and even the oil. If it is brown it may have been in the water.

For the rear look for leaks at the drums. The seals arent hard to fix but may also be an indicator of a bad wheel hub bearing. Same as the front check the yoke for broken u-joint cap keepers, and check for a leaky pinion seal. You may see a little at the pinion housing to 3rd member mounting surface, no big deal. Same deal as the front with checking backlash, if the pinion moves more than 1/16" the backlash may need tightened up a little which is much easier on the 14 bolt. Again ask to remove the cover and check everything out. You wont be able to tell if it has a LSD, the way the carrier is made the mechanism is concealed.

And think about the gear ratio, are you sure you want 3.73s? Changing the front & rear ratios, even doing it yourself could run over $600 for the parts & setup kits. Even if the D60 turns out to be a turd I would get it, you can make your money back and then some, as long as it really is a D60.

 

[JEM]

Thanks for all the info. I actually want the axle that supposedly has 4.56s in it. I was already going to take my current axles to get regeared and i wanted 1 tons anyway which is why i am jumping all over this. He told me over the phone that he wants $100 for each axle which if it really is a d60 is a HUGE deal.

 

[JEM]

also...what teeth should i count? i have never checked a ratio that way

 

[crazy4offroad]

Count the ring gear's teeth and the pinion gear's teeth and divide the numbers together.
41 ring gear / 11 pinion = 3.73 ratio
41 / 10 = 4.10 ratio and 37 / 11 = 4.11 ratio
41 / 9 = 4.5555 rounds out to 4.56 ratio
44 / 9 = 4.88 ratio
41 / 8 = 5.125 rounds out to 5.13 ratio

Sometimes the tooth count is stamped on the outside circumfrence of the ring gear like "41 - 10" but it is best to count and do the math and be sure. Unless you suck at math lol.

 

[JEM]

Unfortunately he sold the whole chassis to someone else tonight. o well on to the next

 

[smurph20]

If you look close i dont think that was a 60 up front. The locks dont look right do they?

 

[HotRodPC]

Damn, just for the purpose of not being sick over letting a $100 D60 get away, let's hope it wasn't a D60. Sunabish what a steal that woulda been.

 

[JEM]

the way the man talked it was the original axles to the frame.

 

[bucket]

The ad says "3/4 or 1 ton frame" and lists a D44 front diff...

 

[HotRodPC]

The ad says "3/4 or 1 ton frame" and lists a D44 front diff...

Then it's not a 1 ton. Very little difference in a 1/2 and 3/4 ton frame if any, some say the 3/4 frame is thicker carbon steel by a 1/16 over the half ton, but the 1 ton rails are much deeper than a 1/2 or 3/4. But, 3/4 and 1 ton do share the same rear axles in SRW. Cab&Chassis has the same axle but it's narrower.

 

[bucket]

Then it's not a 1 ton. Very little difference in a 1/2 and 3/4 ton frame if any, some say the 3/4 frame is thicker carbon steel by a 1/16 over the half ton, but the 1 ton rails are much deeper than a 1/2 or 3/4. But, 3/4 and 1 ton do share the same rear axles in SRW. Cab&Chassis has the same axle but it's narrower.

1 ton has a narrower spring pad width than a 3/4 ton. The SRW a C&C 14 bolt rear axles are basically the same, but the C&C axle uses the same hubs as the dually D70, that makes the track width narrower. The housings only differ where the backing plate flanges are welded on.

 

[JEM]

uhh...bucket it clearly says 1 ton in the add. not 3/4 ton.

 

[bucket]

uhh...bucket it clearly says 1 ton in the add. not 3/4 ton.

The seller must have changed it since you last looked... go look again. The title says "3/4 or 1 ton", the description starts off saying "1 ton", but the front axle is listed as a "dana 44".

 

[HotRodPC]

He did change it. Someone must have pointed it out to him. It did say 1 ton only.