leaking axle tube

[crazy4offroad]

I still think a new housing would be the best thing to do. Whoever you get to repair this one, hopefully they know the difficulty associated with welding cast iron to steel. They also need to bake or heat it with a torch to dry all the oil out of the seam. And after welding it has to be cooled very gradually or it will just crack and leak again. This will involve removing all the internals and possibly removing it from the truck altogether. If you found a housing in good shape you could have it welded beforehand and move all your parts into it.

 

[bucket]

Is it iron or steel?

 

[CSFJ]

Is it iron or steel?

Should be cast iron center, steel tubes.

 

[bucket]

I always thought the center was cast steel of some type.

 

[frankenstien]

Yeah, i dont think the local drivetrain shop here is going to do anything, i asked them about it, they recommend "a goop of silicone" I usually only get parts from them.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I figure it costs a lot to get one properly welded and trussed, you very well may be better off getting a D60. You can find hub assemblies for the 60 in any bolt pattern you want but may have to run at least 16" wheels. You can grind the mega-thick calipers and fit 15s, which is what I did but hindsight is always 20/20. I would gladly have switched wheels.

 

[CSFJ]

Yeah, i dont think the local drivetrain shop here is going to do anything, i asked them about it, they recommend "a goop of silicone" I usually only get parts from them.

"A goop of silicone" Yikes. I would have a hard time letting that slide from a "professional".

 

[frankenstien]

Well alrewdy have 16" wheels on it, and its 8x6.5, so pretty standard.

Do dana 60's from dodges work for the gm trucks?

I accept their answer, when i get answers like that from people i just know to stay away.

Their parts dept is awesome, never gotten a wrong part. Had very minium service done there but, they installed the front ring and pinion on the current axle

 

[CSFJ]

Well alrewdy have 16" wheels on it, and its 8x6.5, so pretty standard.

Do dana 60's from dodges work for the gm trucks?

I accept their answer, when i get answers like that from people i just know to stay away.

Their parts dept is awesome, never gotten a wrong part. Had very minium service done there but, they installed the front ring and pinion on the current axle

I think there was a member on here recently who had a thread that mentioned using a dodge axle, can't recall much more than that though.

 

[bucket]

The dodge D60 has a lot of minor differences, but nothing to keep you from using it in a GM truck. The two big things are the overall width is a little narrower and the spring perch spacing is off by 1/2 inch. I've heard of people just pulling the springs together to bolt it under the truck.

 

[crazy4offroad]

I think the earlier Dodge D60s were good. Had kingpins instead of balljoints like GM but I think there were minor things that made them somewhat inferior to GM, like axleshaft diameter, bearing size, spindle flange bolt count or bolt size, etc. This will have everything you need to know...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/60_front/

 

[frankenstien]

hmmmm yeah dont know, i want to do this once, as i am more efficient at breaking stuff than fixing it

might just keep my eyes peeled for a gm one, keep it simple