Full floating 60?

[F250MudPatrol]

I have a Dana 60 rearend for a 1971 F250. What do they mean when they refer to this as being a full floating rearend? What are the benefits?

[AustinTom]

It means that the rearend housing supports all the weight of the vehicle as opposed to the axle shafts in a semi-floating axle. A full floating axle is much stronger and can handle much more payload either in the bed or on a trailer.

[Sharkdance]

AustinTom is correct.
A semi-floater supports part of the vehicles weight on its axle shafts.
On a full-floater you can completely remove the axle shafts and still push the vehicle around because it supports all of its weight on spindle tubes. (very heavy duty)
See this thread for some pix of a D60 (full-floater)
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... t=dana+d60#
Then compare them to some pix of a Ford 9"
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... &&start=30#

[Redcap]

Semi-float D60s do exist as well, they are rare. They are 5 lug.

[Sharkdance]

Semi-float D60s do exist as well, they are rare. They are 5 lug.

You are correct. I forgot about them.
I know Keith has one, and Ive seen pictures of them before. But Ive never seen one in person.

[72hiboy4x4]

I have a light duty Dana 60 in my '80 F-250 4x4, and its a semi-floater (no hubs, and the brake drums fall off when you take the tires off) so the 8 lug version isn't all that uncommon.

I run across the 5 lug versions every once in a while on CL portland. parts are getting hard to find, the way I hear it.

[splavin90]

I have a light duty Dana 60 in my '80 F-250 4x4, and its a semi-floater (no hubs, and the brake drums fall off when you take the tires off) so the 8 lug version isn't all that uncommon.

I run across the 5 lug versions every once in a while on CL portland. parts are getting hard to find, the way I hear it.

wow i've never heard or seen a 5 lug dana 60