2002 Dana 60 axle questions

[Phil Stuart]

oops! wrong forum

Why did DC do away with the vacuum shift fork assembly for axle engagement in 4 wheel mode?Saw a post a few days ago and got to looking under my truck today and behold there's no more shift fork system just a solid axle all the way across. Seems to me that the whole assembly and driveshaft will be turning all the time now!And there is also a vent hose attached to the top of the axle cover now. That was not on 2001 models. Why the changes I wonderAre they getting that cheap:{



Phil

 

[Un-Hemi]

Yeah, they are getting that cheap, but it's stronger without the disconnect in it anyway.

 

[Phil Stuart]

I wish it just had the old lockout type type hubs Turn 'em and your set.



Phil

 

[BV]

Axles turning

Even with the CAD the axles still turn all the time since there are non unlocking hubs

 

[1tuffram]

So how does the front axle connect and disconnect??



Is this type of set-up suppose to be more reliable, stronger... . ??

 

[Un-Hemi]

I stand to be corrected, but I believe that disconnect is now handled by the transfer case.

 

[roadranger]

Originally posted by 1tuffram

So how does the front axle connect and disconnect??

It DOESN'T.



So now in DC wisedome you get to spin the front axles AND differential AND driveshaft AND transfer case gears ALL the time- REAL good for that 24 valve fuel mileage!



PLUS, now you can't disconnect 4x4 while in low range for slow speed manuvering of heavy 5ers etc.

You put it in low range now, and you'll get steering wheel pull and driveline lockup on dry pavement.



I can't see as it's stronger, the '02 axles are rated for the same weight as the '01 disconnects.



Just DC getting cheaper and cheaper. :-{}

 

[Bratton]

In fairness to DC, with my old '93 CTD, I never noticed any difference in mileage with hubs engaged or disengaged. Living in snow country I'd run all Winter with them engaged. I never had a problem with any front driveline components until 216,000 miles when both U-Joints at axle end had to be replaced. With all the torque these turbodiesels make it shouldn't make a perceptible difference in mileage I'd think. It may not be bad for the driveline to be turning either, it's not under load and it keeps things lubricated. My . 02. BD

 

[Bratton]

Oops, I forgot, I did have to replace the hubs at 150,000 with Warn Hubs. As I recall those hubs were about $160 for the pair. Maybe if you don't have hubs they can't fail on you either!BD

 

[Phil Stuart]

Can't use the 2wd low kit

You all brought up some very good points here. I just thought of this, those of us with 2002 4x4 can't use the 2wheel low kit at all,this bites!!!!Must be that the driveline disconnect is in the Xfer case 'cause I see no other means of connecting/disconnecting front driveline



Phil

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Beats me _ nevuh understanded that setup anyways. If the right axle is uncoupled, and the transfer case shaft (the pinion) is stalled, aren't there times that the intermediate shaft is getting counter-rotated by the left axle shaft?? Isn't that ' a bad thing'?? I always though you didn't want a diff cage doin that kin of stuff!! Or is it somehow mandated that the front pinion shaft will never be stalled. And no - I ain't crawling under to look underway - that WAS a Darwin award!!!

 

[JHansen]

Anybody that wants to swap their 2002 non-disco axle for a 2001 with disco can form a line to the right and enter their name in the draw-I'd swap in a heartbeat! Don't like it, don't want it, can't use it! 1 more thing to go wrong at -40C when I need to get somewhere-I do not trust vacuum motors/lines/shift collars... ... . Can you tell I really don't like my vacuum disco?



Serious about the swap though.....



Jason

 

[Dave MacArthur]

Jason-

Check this site out:



http://www.4x4posi-lok.com/dodge_page.htm



No more vacuum disconnect problems.



Dave.

 

[JHansen]

Yeah I've seen the Posi-Lok before Dave-thanks for the link anyways. I'm going to be making upgrades in the future that'll require me to keep the front end solid all the time-at that time I'll fab a plate to keep the sliding sleeve slid over permanently until I either (a. ) build myself a real front axle, (b. ) pay someone like Dynatrac to build me a real front axle, or (c. ) get hold of a 2002 bare housing and start from scratch. I have been to the dealer already and priced out the housing-it wasn't cheap but probably cheaper and for sure easier than starting from scratch. I want to upgrade to a selectable locker and real D60-sized inner axle shafts at the same time so it'll all get done in one fell swoop I guess.....



Jason