Front Axle Woes!

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May 21, 2016 | 05:22 PM

KsHighboy

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Front Axle Woes!

Bought a 76 highboy for $550 for the front and rear diffs. The rear diff in my 67 f250 4x4 was bad so I swapped it in after adding disc brakes and cleaning it up. Went to take the front diff out of the 76' today and took it to the car wash. Began cleaning on it and after no king off 2" of grease I see something that looks out of place. The long tube has been broke loose from the pumpkin and they have welded the cast to the steel tube. So, after this caught my eye I began to look closer. The long tube is bent up and back. At this point I'm done with this front end. I will prob keep parts I can use such as hub assembly, caliper brackets and such but the search is on again for a disc brake front axle. Wondering if I should just go ahead and go for a D60 HP at this point. Wondering how the pinion angle would work on my 67.

May 22, 2016 | 01:55 AM

GaryKip

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From: Lind, WA- Eastern WA

post some pics.

May 22, 2016 | 08:08 AM

orich

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From: **** hole San Jose ca.

Those can be re-tubed if you can find a loco shop that can do it.

As these disc brake axles are not cheap and getting harder to find in any condition.

So you found out way your good deal for the pair of axles did not turn out so good.

I've found that when finding a disc axle most have been sitting for a number of yrs,
and will end up needing a complete rebuild.

My cheap PnP=junk yd. was $175 until, I pulled it all a part. Needed new axles all bearing, new hubs, new inner axle seals, needed to rebuilt calipers, Needed new spindles, And to top it off needed to switch ring & pinion gears to my 4:10s.

Oh then had to pay a shop to R&R the whole axle unit into my truck.

So the cheap PnP $175 axle ended up around $1400

All These axles units are like a can of worms as you don't know what your dealing with until you pull it a part.

We sometime forget how old these classic trucks really are:

And any axle unit from the cold country like the snow fighters in the F350 D60 will need a complete rebuilt if someone has not done it already.

So good luck & Happy hunting for a cheap good working D60

Orich

May 22, 2016 | 09:50 AM

KsHighboy

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I'll try and get some pics of it.

Orich, I know full well that when you find one of these old axles it will need to be rebuilt. I new this axle was gonna need everything, bearings, seals, u-joints, etc and was willing to do all that but the axle tube being bent kinda sealed the deal. Buddy of mine just had his axle retubed and it was several hundred dollars to have it done around here. I never figured on finding a D60 "cheap" as I know they bring some money. I just figured since I was back to looking again I would try and find one instead of a D44.

May 22, 2016 | 10:39 AM

orich

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From: **** hole San Jose ca.

Yea theirs always a deal popping up now & then but waiting and finding one is a waiting game, while the project sitting on the back burner.

You may want to pull that 44 apart and see if it's worth re-tubing.

or not..
Orich

May 22, 2016 | 03:24 PM

KsHighboy

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I didn't pull the cover and look at the insides. I know the rest of the diff needs everything. I will keep it around and consider retubing it if I can't find another diff.