Have a 1970 F250 2WD with Dana 60 rear end. (# 603195-5 / DOTA-AS) With a 373 gear.
Been driving it for more than 2 years and just did a complete brake job all the way around 7 months ago including EVERYTHING brand new. (Shoes, Wheel Cylinders, Adjusters, Spring kits, Drums, Wheel bearings and seals)
The rear end began making noise so I decided to change the gear oil in it.(Again)
Imagine my suprise when I discovered the ring gear is missing 4 teeth and the pinion is missing 3. It had been fine just 7 months earlier when I checked it during my brake job showing only a moderate to normal gear wear. The oil was kinda dirty so I changed it at that time.
I work at an automotive dealership and am quite meticulous about the work that I do on my truck so I am sure that I did not drop anything inside while I was doing the brake job. Also nothing had seemed to have fallen apart prior to the brake job either. In fact, the old brakes werent all that bad. Only minor wheel cylinder leakage is what caused me to replace everything in the first place. (Yes, I tend to go overboard)
All I can figure is that my ring gear and pinion decided to eat itself due to my driving like an idiot. (Driving like Joe Grab-a-gear)
Anyway, whats done is done and I now need a ring and pinion gear for my truck.
After much searching and reading I decided that it would be easier for me to just swap out the entire rear end (re-using my new brakes) rather than learning to set up an ring and pinion set for the first time. My research has shown me that setting up a new ring and pinion requires precise measuring and some special tools that I do not have access to.
So, I located a used rear end some 250 miles from were I live. ($230. price tag)
In my excitement I inspected it and was satisfied that it was a suitable replacement checking length, mounting pad and shock mount bracket condition and position. The replacement axle seemed to be an exact match so I began the job of removing my old one and installing the replacement one.
All went well. Less than 2 hours later I had the replacement axle in place and was ready to install my brakes and be done. I had simply removed my backing plates (brakes and all) for ease of swapping them to the replacement rear end.
Doh! The bolt patern on the backing plate flange didnt match up! It was so close that you couldnt tell without actualy trying it, but still no way to make them work.
No big deal I thought. The replacement rear end came with backing plates so Ill just transfer all of my hardware over to them. A little extra work (Another 45 minutes) but worth it to finish fixing my truck.
That done, it was time to slide the drums on, slide the axle shafts in, bleed out the brakes and go for a ride. (I was getting happy again!)
Thats when I discovered that the spindle tubes were slightly smaller than the spindle tubes on the origional rear end and my brand new bearings, seals, and drums wont work on this rear end. I was so mad I could spit! Mad at myself of course. For not checking every single detail before continuing the job.
A quick check of the tag on the replacement rear end revealed a # of 602910-5 / C8TA-NG. Completely different from the one I had just removed. (#603195-5 / DOTA-AS)
Now Im screwed and probably stuck with a rear end that I cant use unless I locate and buy all new brakes that will work on that rear end. Obviously, I dont wanna do that so Ill begin looking for another replacement rear end and be more carefull about what I accept as a replacement this time.

So, as a caution to all. DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING before you takle a job like this!
I hope my little rant will be helpfull to others so they wont have to learn the hard (and expensive) way that I just did.

Sharkdance

 

Sharkdance, you'll love this forum as it has great people on it, no ego snobs. On my 68 CS it have 1 3/4" spindles with tapered collets on the axle flange, later was straight hole flanges and 2" spindles. I have 2 1/2" x 12" shoes all around. Question, i'm looking for the bearing nut lock washers with 1 3/4" bore, as the old ones tabs are about to fall off. Carl......o&o>.......

 

Can you move the punkin - (ring and pinion) as a unit from the new rear end to the old? I don't know about the 3/4 ton, but the 1/2 ton's are very interchangable.

 

"Can you move the punkin - (ring and pinion) as a unit from the new rear end to the old? I don't know about the 3/4 ton, but the 1/2 ton's are very interchangable."

Me thinks the 1/2 ton has a Ford 9" semi-float rear end under it. If it does, then you are right. Carrier and all can be swapped easily.
But the 3/4 ton has a 9 3/4" Full-float rear end by Dana/Spicer. (Dana 60)
Ive been researching how to set up a replacement ring and pinion in one of those and discovered that it takes special tools and a certain amount of expertise to set one up successfully.
I might try anyway. Especialy if I cant find a way to make the rear end I just purchased work any other way.










Hey Beemer Nut,

"you'll love this forum as it has great people on it, no ego snobs."

Thanks, Yup, your right. Im lovin this place. Have encountered nutn but good info and friendly folk here so far.

"On my 68 CS it have 1 3/4" spindles with tapered collets on the axle flange"

I think thats the axle I am trying to use. Need to do an actual measurement to verify.

"later was straight hole flanges and 2" spindles."

I think thats the axle that is currently under my truck. Right now Im trying to find a bearing set that will allow me to use the 1 3/4 spindle axle with my existing hubs, drums and brakes.

"I have 2 1/2" x 12" shoes all around"

As do I, which tells me that if I can find the bearings I might be able to swap my brakes over to the backing plates that came with the 1 3/4 spindled axle.

"Question, i'm looking for the bearing nut lock washers with 1 3/4" bore, as the old ones tabs are about to fall off."

I work at a dealership, so if thier out there I may be able to find them. Will look in the next few days and post back if I find any.

Sharkdance

 

I got it fixed!!! Yahoooooo!!!

Had to buy another rear end from Dixie Auto Parts in Pompano Florida. But it was an exact match to my old one.

The place in Bonifay Florida wouldnt take back the wrong one so I have an extra rear end now if anyone needs one.
Turns out its out of a 68 F250. Nothing wrong with it except I couldnt use it under my 70 due to different brake and spindle tube sizes.

Even my wife is glad I got my old truck back up and runnin again. She said Im hard to live with (Actualy she used more colorfull words) when my truck aint runnin. Can you believe that? LOL
Anyway, took me 1/2 the day to do the swap and it all but whipped my a** but after it was done I broke out into a song and dance I had just made up on the spurr of the moment in my back yard.
My wife swears I had just lost it. Watching me from the back door dancing and singing while Im all dirty and greasy in the back yard (I got my truck back! I got my truck back! I got my truck back!)
I guess women just dont understand. LOL

Sharkdance

 

I'm glad to hear another success story.

 

when my truck is down i am moody and a grouch. even worse when i spend all day cussing at it cause it dont want to be fixed. i am sure you all know what i mean. last week the carb issue really got to me as i wasted a whole saturday trying to get that autolite from my 360 work well on my 390. finally bought another new carb meant for a 390 and now i only worry that something else is going to go wrong.