Alright guys, this is a piggy back off my front end breaking thread but I figure this info may be useful in and of itself so I am starting a new thread.

Is the gear set out of another OEM (Dodge or Chevy) for a Dana 60 the same/ interchangeable with my super duty front diff?

Here's why I ask: my front end is completely shot. A inner wheel bearing failure led to the axle not being supported as it passes thru the hub after the u joint, the extra load caused the carrier bearings to fail then that unsupported load on the spider gear caused it to crack and drop the axle on the diff end (passenger side so its the long $500 shaft thats completely FUBAR now.

This failure caused something to go wrong inside the diff (spider gear pieces binding teeth or something) but the spider basket cracked and the pinion is all chewed up, causing the driver side short axle to meet essentially the same demise as the passenger side.

Now all my carrier bearings are shot, diff is shot, and axles are trashed. The cheapest I have found a junk yard Dana 60 with 3.73's is $1900 without steering knuckles, wheel bearings, etc.

Jegs has a complete rotor to rotor dana 60 with 4.30's for $3500... but both of these are out of my price range.

When I asked for a ford super duty front gear set and stuff nobody wants to pull them out of the $1900 axle, so I cant get used gears. However I have found an abundance of Dodge and Chevy trucks with Dana 60's in the front and rear depending on the year of the truck. I'w wondering if I could go grab one of those gear sets, order up all new carrier bearings, and overhaul my front axle?

The snow is coming and my truck does not move in snow deeper than 4 inches without 4x4. I need a cheaper fix... that is if it doesnt get repo'd before I find one

Is anyone here knowledgeable about this sort of thing? If so assistance is much appreciated!

 

The short answer is maybe.

Just because they are all called DANA 60 differentials does not mean all parts are interchangeable. You could drop a GM or Dodge DANA 60 differential into a Ford case and use it IF the axle spline count is the same, but I don't think they are.

 

And some are reverse rotation, some are not.

 

Well I guess do I pull my gear set out and then go truck to truck trying to match them? Anyone have pictures of their front diff apart (where I can count splines,teeth, bolt holes on back of ring gear, etc.)?

 

I doubt your gonna have luck finding everything to match up, and finding someone taht will sell parts out of a complete axle. Keep looking for a complete assembly, one will turn up. Even a dana 50 out of 99-02 would work for the right price I would think.

 

theres some dana 60 in the classifieds here on fte site

 

There is not a Dodge or Chevy front Dana 60 gearset that will work for your application unless you can find one with a reverse bevel gearset. Chevrolet never made one-I don't think Dodge ever did either. You need to find your Spicer Bill of Material # off of the front axle to obtain interchange info. Look for a 6 digit # followed by a dash then one or two more numbers.This identifies your axle in great detail.

 

Corret, so in short about the only thing thats gonna swap over would be the carrier assembly.

 

SO MY TRUCK IS OFFICIALLY OFF THE REPO LIST! I actually recieved a bill in the mail for a $100 repo charge because the repo man couldn't find it! But with a little help from the family my truck is 100% paid thru christmas (until I start work again).

So, if it's not getting repo'd fixing this front end is of the utmost priority. I was hoping yall would be able to help me dig up some information, I dont know where to find.

BTW when repairs start I will post very detailed pics and leave any insights I find.

I have a dana 60 in my truck, and I need 2 new axle shafts. I don't know the spline count or diameter... but would axle shafts out of a Dana 50 work? I have finally found a junk yarded super duty, and its a 99 3/4 ton 4x4 with a Dana 50 up front.

The cheapest I found these axles for new (for my 60) is roughly $500 and I imagine the junk yard will part with them cheaper. So if anyone can get me that spline information I'll be 1 step closer to getting 4wd functional for the snow... and I'll be able to make left hand turns again

 

Have you checked out Craigslist..........there is a couple complete Dana 60's around here in TN/NC......might be something closer to you on there.........just worth a shot?

 

According to Spicer the Dana 50 Monobeam uses 1.31"x 30 spline inner axle shafts... The Dana 60 Monobeam uses 1.5"x 35 spline inner axle shafts. It looks like you will need to find Dana 60 inners for sure-Outers should be the same!

 

I agree with browntown3 , check craigslist. Also, how much to have an axle/transmission shop or local independent repair facility rebuild the axle. Those guys can be very good and a better deal than the dealership.

 

well I found a site that has a used axle shaft for my truck for $150! Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market searches all the scrap yards on the interchange... I was quoted $4800 from a ford dealership and oner of the local shops was $3700. ($2500 for axle and all the other parts plus labor)

But I found parts I need so I'm pretty happy, hell a $500 part just turned into $150, i'm set

 

I'm just curious...

if your carrier bearings went out, isn't your housing shot?

 

I dont know? I would imagine they can be changed... right?