Dana 60 Axle Spacer

[68BigRed]

Help......!!

Due to a badly spun bearing in my original semi-floating Dana 60 (from my '68 F100), I recently swapped in a full-floater 60 (as well as the accompanying 8-lug front setup). But I wanted to keep the PowrLoc posi unit from the original semi-floating rear (since my new full-floater had an open diff). So I scrounged up the parts to convert to the correct splines, and now have the PowrLoc in the my truck, and the open diff in the "parts truck".

Everything was great until I noticed that I had a LOT of end play in the axles of the semi-floater (now in the parts truck). I had thought that the ends of the axles would ride against the spider-gear cross-shaft, but it turns out that there's supposed to be a "spacer" that sits between the ends of the axleshafts, with the cross-shaft through the middle of the "spacer". The PowrLoc had special spacer "buttons", but of course there's no way to re-use them in the open diff. From what I've read, the bearing design was changed in the later axles, so the spacer wasn't needed. Apparently, it was only needed in the open-diff semi-floaters up through '69 or so, and I've seen very few of our trucks with this rearend setup.

I've spent a lot of time searching the web, and have talked to a couple of drivetrain places in the Palmdale area....no one has one of these or knows where to get the correct part that I need.

Here's a link to close-up view....the number on the part I need is 4294.
http://www.fordification.com/galleries/ ... ?pos=-3573
Can anyone provide any info?


Regards

[averagef250]

Why would the axles be able to move anywhere?

Aren't they held in place with the wheel bearings?

[heep70]

Why would the axles be able to move anywhere?

Aren't they held in place with the wheel bearings?

Not on a semi floater D60, not secure enough anyway.

Check with http://broncograveyard.com/ and see what they might have used and laying around.

This might be a tough item to find without buying a complete rearend.

[My427stang]

averagef250, the stock axle design used a bearing and a race like half of what you'd expect to see. Basically looks like an outer wheel bearing of a full floater with no corresponding inner.

I have an old axle, I'll get a pic later today

However, I believe you can go to a standard sealed wheel bearing like a 9 inch and not need that piece.

I have not tried it myself, but I was told you can do that. Try at your own risk.

[averagef250]

I've owned several Ford semi floater 60's and they all used the sealed wheel bearings just like the 9 inches. I always thought IH was the only company that used tapered bearings in the semi floater 60.

I've never seen that spacer piece in a ford. If it was mine I'd figure out a way to run the sealed bearings.

[My427stang]

I agree, and its an easy swap. I just have a couple of stock ones laying around from who knows where.

[averagef250]

Sounds like 5 minutes with some round stock in a lathe and a drill press would net your part.

[Jake11]

That single timken setup was truely mickey mouse. You have to
shim the end play. A PITAxx. I got's to work on some O' those.
A floater is mo better.

[basketcase0302]

I'd try these guys:
http://www.ringpinion.com/
Jeff

[68BigRed]

Sounds like 5 minutes with some round stock in a lathe and a drill press would net your part.

True....IF I had access to a lathe and some good-quality round stock. I'm thinking that the material would need to be hardened to some degree, which complicates things.

Part of the issue is that I'm in an VERY isolated location, and the nearest shop of any kind is 50 miles away......at 10mpg and $3.50 gallon, the cost of having a part custom-made would probably be less than the fuel! Hence my desire to locate one on the web (shipping < fuel)

Anyway, thanks for the inputs.

tmg

[68BigRed]

That single timken setup was truely mickey mouse. You have to
shim the end play. A PITAxx. I got's to work on some O' those.
A floater is mo better.

I agree. I am VERY pleased with my full-floater.

[RedneckTexan]

That single timken setup was truely mickey mouse. You have to
shim the end play. A PITAxx. I got's to work on some O' those.
A floater is mo better.

I agree. I am VERY pleased with my full-floater.

me too I LOVE my Dana 70.

[averagef250]

A full floater is a big benefit to a 3/4 ton and up truck that many don't realize. Semi-float rear wheel bearings don't hold up that great especially with good loads on them.

[RedneckTexan]

A full floater is a big benefit to a 3/4 ton and up truck that many don't realize. Semi-float rear wheel bearings don't hold up that great especially with good loads on them.

and also, a full-floating axle doesn't have any weight on the axle shaft, just the bearings/hubs, making it stronger

[68BigRed]

A full floater is a big benefit to a 3/4 ton and up truck that many don't realize. Semi-float rear wheel bearings don't hold up that great especially with good loads on them.

That's for sure....when I was a kid, we used to haul horses and all kinds of other heavy stuff around in that truck with the original semi-floater....my dad went through several sets of wheel bearings, wonder why! I'm MUCH happier with the full-floater, I'm not afraid to pull our R/V anymore.