dana 60 front end

[9312valve]

The front in my 93' W250 has got a lot of wonder and is very losewhile traveling down the road, any other experiences of this would be great, i'm afraid of losing a ball joint or tie rod or something so i've parked it until i can feel a little safer on the road, any places to buy parts, or quates on complete front end rebuils would be very helpful, thanks

___________________

93' CTD, add-a-leaf, tuned pump, asa intake, fuel pin, still no gauges, stacks in the works, the youngin

 

[DEdds]

No fear my friend your problem should be easily fixed. check a few things and get back to me. crawl under the truck and start by looking at the tie rod ends. while the truck is parked unlock the streering wheel and have someone turn the wheel while you check the inner and outer tie rods and drag links for play. Also check the steering box bracket that mounts to the frame. inspect the bottom of this plate for cracks. Also check the rag joint on the steering shaft going into the box as it is a weak link from the factory. all these thing I have had to fix and will cause the truck to jump around and wonder. Now to the dana 60. Check the knuckles for play. Start by jacking one side of the truck at a time just enough to place a large (4ft or longer) rock bar or pry bar under the tire and lift up on the bar. if the bushings in the king pins and they are pins not balls on our trucks are worn out the knuckle will rock or move. sometimes they will pop. there should be zero up and down movement of this knuckle. all are easy and fairly cheap to fix. let me know what you find.

 

[AVerHage]

I had the same problem, but a BORGESON steering joint with U-joints and no couplers solved it

 

[DEdds]

Yep, the borgeson is a good way to go if that is your only problem. they are one tough steering shaft.

 

[Ctdchris]

The Borgeson shaft is always a good part to replace, as is rebuilding the king pins. If you have the time I would rebuild the king pins regardless. Its not a real hard job, or an expensive one, just a time consuming one. I doubt you have a single "problem", more likely all this stuff is just worn out. Fix as much of it as you can. TREs, king pings, Steering shaft (like was said earlier) is where i'd start if i were you.



Chris

 

[9312valve]

I've looked into it and my front end is very tight , where the steering joint goes into the steering box is loose and has play, so i will order the borgesen steering shaft thanks for the help.

 

[AABEN]

9312 how meny miles do you have on your truck?

 

[9312valve]

my truck just rolled over 316,100 miles, and i love it

 

[DEdds]

Awh yeah, she's just gettin' broke in.

 

[Ctdchris]

Its been said (i have no personal experience) that the stock steering shaft will stay tight anywhere from 20-30k miles, and that's it.



So 316k is a little over its lifespan



Chris

 

[DEdds]

Just for the record I was meaning the truck. 9312valve not the shaft.

 

[9312valve]

yea i knew what you meant but i'm back driving it now so its all right oh and could you tell me the clearance to adjudt the valves too, that would be great.

 

[DEdds]

Intake clearance 0. 010 in

Exhaust clearance 0. 020

For the best results adjust the valves when the motor is stone cold.

 

[cerberusiam]

For the best results adjust the valves when the motor is stone cold.

Nope, don't want to do that. Valves are adjusted with the engine warmed to operating temp. You adjust them cold they will go tight as they warm.



The . 010 and . 020 are fine but a lot of motors react better with a little tighter setting. I set mine to . 009 adn . 018 and get a smoother idle and faster revving.

 

[DEdds]

exactly if you adjust the cummins cold you get . 009 and 0. 018 warm

 

[cerberusiam]

exactly if you adjust the cummins cold you get . 009 and 0. 018 warm

You can get from . 002 to . 004 of difference in EACH valve lash going from cold to warm. Not every valve and its components will vary the same amount either.



You cannot set valve lash cold and expect it be within spec and stay that way. It will vary from truck to truck and mileage will make a difference also. Setting the lash warm gives the optimum setting at which it will stay for the bulk of the operating time.

 

[DEdds]

If you say so.

 

[Firstgenfanantic]

No fear my friend your problem should be easily fixed. check a few things and get back to me. crawl under the truck and start by looking at the tie rod ends. while the truck is parked unlock the streering wheel and have someone turn the wheel while you check the inner and outer tie rods and drag links for play. Also check the steering box bracket that mounts to the frame. inspect the bottom of this plate for cracks. Also check the rag joint on the steering shaft going into the box as it is a weak link from the factory. all these thing I have had to fix and will cause the truck to jump around and wonder. Now to the dana 60. Check the knuckles for play. Start by jacking one side of the truck at a time just enough to place a large (4ft or longer) rock bar or pry bar under the tire and lift up on the bar. if the bushings in the king pins and they are pins not balls on our trucks are worn out the knuckle will rock or move. sometimes they will pop. there should be zero up and down movement of this knuckle. all are easy and fairly cheap to fix. let me know what you find.

Where is a good source to find all these steering replacement parts? I know where to get a Borgeson steering shaft, but I'd like to know where to get everything else. Does anyone have part#'s for the 4x4 steering items?