Need Spindle confirmation...
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
Need Spindle confirmation...
Here's what I've got:
The right is from a '97 D50, the left is from a '94 D60. Does that extra 1/4" of material at the top make that much of a difference? The bearings look like they sit at the same depth on both. Just curious because the D50 spindles are in better shape than the D60 ones...
Plus:
Anyone need 3.54 front gears? I've got a matching 3.55 rear 10.25 axle as well...
The right is from a '97 D50, the left is from a '94 D60. Does that extra 1/4" of material at the top make that much of a difference? The bearings look like they sit at the same depth on both. Just curious because the D50 spindles are in better shape than the D60 ones...
Plus:
Anyone need 3.54 front gears? I've got a matching 3.55 rear 10.25 axle as well...
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 98
From: Ashland City, TN
Thats the only difference between the solid d50 and d60 axles that i know of is that part on the spindle.
I cannot figure out anything different on the new d50's compared to the older d60's.
If it seats in the knuckle, if there is nothing for it to catch or rub on, i dont see any reason to not use it.
I cannot figure out anything different on the new d50's compared to the older d60's.
If it seats in the knuckle, if there is nothing for it to catch or rub on, i dont see any reason to not use it.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 98
From: Ashland City, TN
Well, the D60 axle shaft is gonna be different anyways.
but there is a needle bearing in the end there, and then a seal over it, plus a dust boot on the axle shaft as well (sometimes)
I could be wrong on the needle bearings for these though.
I know the D44 spindles have them.
but there is a needle bearing in the end there, and then a seal over it, plus a dust boot on the axle shaft as well (sometimes)
I could be wrong on the needle bearings for these though.
I know the D44 spindles have them.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: The boonies by Dallas OR
On a D50 the brake caliper mount is built into the knuckle. The boss sticking out of the spindle must only go through the knuckle.
On a D60 the brake caliper mount is a separate piece of metal sandwiched between the knuckle and the spindle. The boss on the spindle must be longer to reach through the caliper support.
Put the caliper support on the spindle and decide if that's enough boss left to make you feel safe. Some people have run that way but there isn't much boss left to stick out. It makes the spindle bolts carry more of the load so it won't be as strong.
On a D60 the brake caliper mount is a separate piece of metal sandwiched between the knuckle and the spindle. The boss on the spindle must be longer to reach through the caliper support.
Put the caliper support on the spindle and decide if that's enough boss left to make you feel safe. Some people have run that way but there isn't much boss left to stick out. It makes the spindle bolts carry more of the load so it won't be as strong.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,791
Likes: 98
From: Ashland City, TN
On a D50 the brake caliper mount is built into the knuckle. The boss sticking out of the spindle must only go through the knuckle.
On a D60 the brake caliper mount is a separate piece of metal sandwiched between the knuckle and the spindle. The boss on the spindle must be longer to reach through the caliper support.
Put the caliper support on the spindle and decide if that's enough boss left to make you feel safe. Some people have run that way but there isn't much boss left to stick out. It makes the spindle bolts carry more of the load so it won't be as strong.
On a D60 the brake caliper mount is a separate piece of metal sandwiched between the knuckle and the spindle. The boss on the spindle must be longer to reach through the caliper support.
Put the caliper support on the spindle and decide if that's enough boss left to make you feel safe. Some people have run that way but there isn't much boss left to stick out. It makes the spindle bolts carry more of the load so it won't be as strong.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Thomasville, GA
The 95-97 Dana 60 and Dana 50 both use the same caliper and rotors... and the caliper mount for both looks identical...
I just don't see where that extra little bit of material makes a difference. They both line up the same...
I just don't see where that extra little bit of material makes a difference. They both line up the same...
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: The boonies by Dallas OR
I'm more familiar with late 80's axles. The knuckles are the same? Are you sure there isn't a line there where you can pull the D60 caliper off?
This is an example of the removable mount:
(The left on is a D60, the right is a D44)
On the D50 it is one piece... and I've seen a newer axle so I'm sure about the D50, just not a mid to late 90's D60.
This is an example of the removable mount:
(The left on is a D60, the right is a D44)
On the D50 it is one piece... and I've seen a newer axle so I'm sure about the D50, just not a mid to late 90's D60.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Thomasville, GA
Basically I'm using the '94 Dana 60 axle and knuckles, '97 Dana 50 rotors (same as 95-97 dana 60), and '95 2wd calipers (same as 95-97 4x4 calipers)
The 94 and older axles had a 12.5" rotor and older caliper, 95+ used 13" rotor and newer caliper.
The knuckles and one of the ball joints are different between the 50 and 60, and apparently the spindle is different.
What I want to know is would it hurt anything to use the dana 50 spindles? Does that 1/4" of material the seats in the knuckle really do anything?
The 94 and older axles had a 12.5" rotor and older caliper, 95+ used 13" rotor and newer caliper.
The knuckles and one of the ball joints are different between the 50 and 60, and apparently the spindle is different.
What I want to know is would it hurt anything to use the dana 50 spindles? Does that 1/4" of material the seats in the knuckle really do anything?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: The boonies by Dallas OR
OK, this had me wondering for a while so I had to do some research and this is what I figured out:
I'm screwing up the thread because the axle I've worked on was from an '85
Sorry..
In '91 Ford changed how the brake calipers attached to the knuckles. Prior to '91 the knuckles had slides on them. The caliper clipped on around the slide. After '91, Ford went to a bolt on caliper. On a D50 the slides were built into the knuckle, and on a D60 there was a part like the picture I posted above that had the caliper slide on it.
I googled looking for pictures, and the old knuckles looked like the one on the right:
That's a Dodge knuckle on the right, but that is what a old D50 knuckle looks like.
Since Ford moved the caliper mount on the knuckle I don't see what the longer boss could do. They probably just didn't re-tool the spindle because it would have cost more.
I'm screwing up the thread because the axle I've worked on was from an '85
Sorry..
In '91 Ford changed how the brake calipers attached to the knuckles. Prior to '91 the knuckles had slides on them. The caliper clipped on around the slide. After '91, Ford went to a bolt on caliper. On a D50 the slides were built into the knuckle, and on a D60 there was a part like the picture I posted above that had the caliper slide on it.
I googled looking for pictures, and the old knuckles looked like the one on the right:
That's a Dodge knuckle on the right, but that is what a old D50 knuckle looks like.
Since Ford moved the caliper mount on the knuckle I don't see what the longer boss could do. They probably just didn't re-tool the spindle because it would have cost more.
Thread Starter
|
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 11,231
Likes: 130
From: Thomasville, GA
OK, this had me wondering for a while so I had to do some research and this is what I figured out:
I'm screwing up the thread because the axle I've worked on was from an '85
Sorry..
In '91 Ford changed how the brake calipers attached to the knuckles. Prior to '91 the knuckles had slides on them. The caliper clipped on around the slide. After '91, Ford went to a bolt on caliper. On a D50 the slides were built into the knuckle, and on a D60 there was a part like the picture I posted above that had the caliper slide on it.
I googled looking for pictures, and the old knuckles looked like the one on the right:
That's a Dodge knuckle on the right, but that is what a old D50 knuckle looks like.
Since Ford moved the caliper mount on the knuckle I don't see what the longer boss could do. They probably just didn't re-tool the spindle because it would have cost more.
I'm screwing up the thread because the axle I've worked on was from an '85
Sorry..
In '91 Ford changed how the brake calipers attached to the knuckles. Prior to '91 the knuckles had slides on them. The caliper clipped on around the slide. After '91, Ford went to a bolt on caliper. On a D50 the slides were built into the knuckle, and on a D60 there was a part like the picture I posted above that had the caliper slide on it.
I googled looking for pictures, and the old knuckles looked like the one on the right:
That's a Dodge knuckle on the right, but that is what a old D50 knuckle looks like.
Since Ford moved the caliper mount on the knuckle I don't see what the longer boss could do. They probably just didn't re-tool the spindle because it would have cost more.
I compared the spindles against the knuckle thickness and it looks like the Dana 50 spindle would be flush with the inside of the knuckle and the Dana 60 spindle would stick out about a 1/4" inside... I'm thinking if I just shim that axle dust boot a little it would work fine. I don't see any other purpose for it...
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
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From: Dongola, IL
I don't think that you are going to hurt a thing to interchange them, I know of it being done all the time. FWIW, the D60 ones are harder to remove when they rust up because of that extra surface area on them.