'71 v. '78 Dana 60 interchangability

[willowbilly3]

Moving the pads would be easier than changing the r&p imo. Getting a used r&p set up into a different housing can be frusterating and almost always requires some compromise. If the side shimming needs changed, plan on new carrier bearings as you will ruin them getting them off. Then you will need another set that have had the inside enlarged slightly to get the shims set. Or else ruin the shims and bearings every time you remove them to add/subtract shims. This can take several trys sometimes. And a special puller set is almost mandatiry for pulling the carrier bearings.

To use the 78 axle; go buy a new set of pads, you may reuse your old ones if you are real good with the torch. Measure your pinion angle before taking out the old one. Bolt the new one in loosly and set the weight down on it to get the pinion angle correct. When you have it right weld the new pads on. And if you don't want to mess with all the brake lines and everything just unbolt the backing plates and tie them back out of the way and reuse them on the new axle.

[heep70]

I was told that the newer style rear D60s are different and parts can not be interchanged. I was going to do the same thing.

willowbilly3 suggested the easiest way to do the change. Remove and replace pads. I've done this with a few jeeps. Its easy and also, you can if you have a lift, reclock the pinion angle.

No. that is cool you want to used the better D60. I was hoping you would. Now, about the front axle. Which one do you want to get rid of? If it is the "Bigball" I have a home for it right here. What about the old D60?

Do either one of the D60s have a PowerLoc or TracLoc?

[Comet]

Hmmm, ok well it's worth asking. I am getting some conflicting info. here, so maybe I'll call a buddy that works at Randy's R&P.
I'm getting rid of the closed knuckle d44 in the '71 now. I thought it was the big ball, but not sure. How can I tell? What is the year of your rear? If it's compatible with the '78 parts, you can still have the 41.0 R&P.

[willowbilly3]

Look at the hub, the big part that sticks out through the wheel with the lockout hub on the end. If it is tapered it is the small one and if it is straight with no taper then it is the larger one. Also you can look on the truck id plate. I think the larger one is like 3800lb. and the smaller one is 3350 or maybe it was 3550 lb.

[heep70]

Hmmm, ok well it's worth asking. I am getting some conflicting info. here, so maybe I'll call a buddy that works at Randy's R&P.
I'm getting rid of the closed knuckle d44 in the '71 now. I thought it was the big ball, but not sure. How can I tell? What is the year of your rear? If it's compatible with the '78 parts, you can still have the 41.0 R&P.

Its the axle shafts in the rear D60 that are different. The centers will interchange in the housings, but then you run into a spline count diffence. If you want to put the center from the '78 into the '71 you will have to get custom axles made. That is what I was told and I never persude it any farther.

The 16 splines are tough. Twice a month I load a cord and half of wood 4x it out of the woods to the FS road. I also pull 50' green Doug-fir logs to my cabin. I have as of yet had a problem with my 16 spline. I worry more about busting the frontend. If you ain't going to hardcore 4x the truck, the 16 spline will do you just fine. Not trying to talk you out of the 31 spline.

What Willowbilly3 said about the differences on the D44 is the easest way to figure it out. There is a pic in my gallery of a selector from a Bigball. Note: the big allen bolts that secure it.

[Comet]

Ok, looks like mine is not the big ball (careful with the comments from the peanut gallery! )

[heep70]

I don't get it?

[willowbilly3]

I think he is refering to his front axle.

[heep70]

Yep, just messen around. :twisted: