Dana 70 poll

[RDBuck]

Been noticing quite a few polls about rear-end problems with the Dana 70. I had to completely rebuild mine- ring gear,posi,bearings, everything was shot. ( 130,000) It is beginning to seem that the rear-end on the 1st gens are as prone to failure as the Getrag. Wondering if it is related to the posi rear-end only or diesel only or if the automatics protect the rear-end more than the manuals?

Intead of spending $1500 to rebuild the 70 ,maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to put in an 80. I think they went to the 80 for a good reason!!

 

[dieselgirlanddan]

RD

I hope mine keeps doing good, But I have'nt had no problems with my dana 70 rearend (350,000)Oo.

Still going strong

Who knows maybe I got one of the good ones!!

 

[nmanalo]

RD, I installed the 80 in my truck after launching the 70. I thought about rebuilding it, but for the cost I just put in the bigger 80. I think the manuals are harder on the rearends than the automatics, no fluid cushioning due to no torque converter ??? Don't quote me but the 80 has an 11 1\4 inch ring gear and the 70 has a 10 1\2 inch ring gear.

 

[paccool]

RDBuck, $1500 sounds high unless they are doing all the wheel bearings and brakes. Had mine rebuilt for $800. That included all new clutch pack in the limited slip, new ring and pinion, all new carrier and pinion bearings. I replaced the wheel bearings a short time before the rear was rebuilt so they didn't need to be changed.



Oh yea, I took it to a rear end shop, not the dealer.

 

[Mel Fuelling]

At 193,??? the Dana 70 in my pickup broke a LSD clutch plate

due to some pretty hard use and wear from the previous owner

and the clutch pieces broke a tooth out of the pinion gear. I took the axles out, rear drums/hubs off, brake backing plates off, brake lines off, disconnected driveshaft, and removed the axle

u-bolts, loaded the bare axle housing in another pickup with a

tractor loader and took it to one of the best two R & P setup shops in the Omaha metro area; Ryan's in Council Bluffs, IA.



They steamed the housing, checked the axle tubes for straightness in a lathe, installed new LSD plates, ring & pinion gears, bearings, and shimmed and set clearances for around $1,050. 00. I felt fortunate that my housing wasn't damaged.



So far I am pleased with their rebuild. I hope that with Mag Hytek, LE 607, and a little tlc, I can get at least 400k out of

this rebuild.



I have read that there is very little real world difference between

the Dana 70 & 80, the 80 is stronger in some dimensions, but

not in all???? I just hope my Dana 70 hangs in there!



The same shop rebuilt my Getrag at 195k. They put a new input

shaft and a bearing kit. Said the syncronizers were fine. The rebuilder said that they have seen some Getrags come in with 90w in them instead of 5w30(the tight bearing clearances get hot with 90w), and if you would pull the pto cover about every 50k and check the counter shaft for endplay, keeping it to a minimum that they'll last a lot longer. He advised me to fill the oil level about 1. 5" overfull so that the mainshaft bearings get more than splash lube, that it may last longer.

 

[CToney]

Air Intake & Dana 70

Mel I'm curious about your additional intake with the stock airbox. How do you have it. By the way your truck sounds like you did it right. It must be a sweet ride.



On the DANA 70 in my old truck I had crown, pinion, bearings, and posi done at 246,000kms/ 150,000, mi. Bought the truck with the rear worn. Made lots of noise but ran ok. Fixed it for around $1250CDN. Big thing with dana axles is use good oil and change it regularily.



Drop me a line Mel.



Thanks CR Toney

 

[Dfeland]

If you "only" get 125,000-150,000 out of a rear end by any engineer's standard that is pretty good life. Go to the dealer some time and see how many 80's there are laying out back that are junk. Mine currently has two. It's all in how much weight and horsepower you have in front of the thing is going to determine how long that it lasts. Mine has 132,000 on it and yes I have all the parts to rebuild it in my garage but it makes no noise does not get hot and the LSD works perfectly, so someday when I get a wild hair I will do it. :--)

 

[Lil' Dog]

My 89 had around 200K miles on it when it needed a rear end fix. The posi clutches were gone and the carrier bearings were a little pitted. Howled at about 50 MPH. The whole thing replaced, clutches, pinion, ring, and all bearings inside the wheels with labour (drive in drive out) was $1200 Cdn at a local gear centre. $1500 Us sounds pretty steep.



This one howls the same and may need some TLC soon. I hope its not all the same parts.



J-eh

 

[JFitzgerald]

14 bolt?

Mine has some play I can hear at times when shifting, but no problems yet at 119K. When mine goes, I plan to investigate replacing it with a 14 bolt GM full floating axle instead of rebuilding. These have a much better reputation than the D70, at least from what I hear from fellow truck and off road people. One thing that convinces me is that lots of truck pullers use them. I believe you can get them with 13x3" brakes too. Wouldn't be a direct bolt-in, I know, but should be possible. Oo.