Dana 60 front axle toasted.

[84 M1008]

I was doing some PM on my newly acquired truck and discovered that the front axle is pretty much done. The pinion is flopping around and the universals joints on both knuckles are shot. So should I rebuild it or roll a complete surplus axle under the truck? The labor alone to rebuild it will most likely cost a fortune .

 

[4WDKC]

from what i have seen online people want 1000-1200 for the D60 front.. is your labor going to be more than that? Not to mention they aren't easy to find either.

 

[84 M1008]

I found a few surplus takeout's for $1500 complete. I also found rebuilds for $2800.

 

[4WDKC]

I found a few surplus takeout's for $1500 complete. I also found rebuilds for $2800.

$2800 what the hell is in that kit?

 

[84 M1008]

Lol, old gears checked for run out with new bearings and seals with a $2500 paint job I would imagine .

 

[4WDKC]

Lol, old gears checked for run out with new bearings and seals with a $2500 paint job I would imagine .

sounds to me like you could save $2700 then by replacing the bearings yourself and rattle canning it.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think if it were me, being a D60, I'd rebuild what I had. Yeah you might spend $1000 to do it, but then you know what you got and know it's good.

 

[HotRodPC]

This is pretty much why I decided for now I'll just stay 10 bolts. Everyone seems to think they're junk. Granted, they are nowhere near as tough as D60, but they can tolerate light to moderate use. Since noone wants them, I'll keep the one in the truck and the 2 spares I have so if I break a housing, a carrier, an axle, stub shaft, knuckle, whatever, I have spare parts close by for the right price.

 

[rpcraft]

A 10 bolt is fine if you are doing is daily driving and mall crawling like so many do. The upside is you can thrash them and blow them up and there's ton of them out there to swap back in and go have more fun.

 

[HotRodPC]

A 10 bolt is fine if you are doing is daily driving and mall crawling like so many do. The upside is you can thrash them and blow them up and there's ton of them out there to swap back in and go have more fun.

Exactly. Trash'em and bolt in another. People give'em away. Daily driving and trail riding, they're OK. Rock Crawling and Deep thick mud pitts are a not so much.

 

[HotRodPC]

But many times, Used Dana 60's have been rode hard or high mileage. So you spend $1000 to get a used one not knowing it's history and end putting another $1000 in it to rebuild it. This is why I suggest OP just to build the one he has, even if it needs gears. Gears, bearings and seals kit, New kingpins and U joints it'll be like brand new again and then he KNOWS he has a good one.

 

[crazy4offroad]

Probably have $550 in ring & pinion set and installation kit which includes all the bearings. The axle joints are not that expensive, $16-$20 each. If you don't know how to set up a ring & pinion and not confident in yourself to do it a good shop should charge around $300 If you have the axle pulled for them already where they can do it in their shop and not consume a bay. There will likely be some other consequential items you'll come across, brakes, wheel bearings, tierod ends, kingpin rebuild, etc. It could push the envelope close to the price of a reman axle.

 

[HotRodPC]

Probably have $550 in ring & pinion set and installation kit which includes all the bearings. The axle joints are not that expensive, $16-$20 each. If you don't know how to set up a ring & pinion and not confident in yourself to do it a good shop should charge around $300 If you have the axle pulled for them already where they can do it in their shop and not consume a bay. There will likely be some other consequential items you'll come across, brakes, wheel bearings, tierod ends, kingpin rebuild, etc. It could push the envelope close to the price of a reman axle.

So how much can you buy a reman axle for and where from? And is that outright or core charge needed too?

 

[84 M1008]

Most any of the surplus military vehicle outfits offer take out as well as rebuilt axles. Boyce Equipment offers a rebuilt Dana 60 for approximately $3300.00. I searched today for a take out but after reading some of the input here, im more than likely going to get mine rebuilt.

 

[HotRodPC]

I would too. I'm pretty sure you'd be ahead of the game and KNOW exactly what you have if you did it or had it done to yours and by someone local if you didn't do it yourself, that's more apt to honor their warranty. Normally on an axle, if it's not howling when you get it back, or not howling within a few hundred miles you can pretty much be assured it was done right and will last a good long time.