Dana 70 problem

[amcgrath]

Just serviced my Dana 70, only to find two teeth from the pinion broken off. Out comes the ring gear to see if the right carrier bearing had eaten into the housing, it had, but not really bad. Anyone successfully had this repaired? 1st gen Dana 70's with low miles are hard to find. Anyone installed a Dana 80?

 

[ata]

The housing is not worth fixing. I would move up to the D-80. You will need the U-bolts and spring pads from the doner truck and it should bolt right in. I'm not sure about the u-joint size on the pinion yoke and the drive shaft will have to be shortened about 1 1/2 inches.

 

[mweiman]

Not sure where you are located but I have a housing that I took the gears out of that is in good shape if you are interested. I am in Illinois.

Matt

 

[amcgrath]

Thanks Matt, unfortunately I'm on the Oregon coast.

 

[amcgrath]

Thanks ata, I heard the D-80 would bolt in, and that the drive shaft would have to be shortened. I would think the pinion yoke is bigger, what I couldn't seem to find was if the center to center distance of the springs is the same. Apparently the 96-99 D-80s are the closest fit. Will add to this more as I find out details, must be a lot of 1st Gens with this problem.

 

[Bob4x4]

Just serviced my Dana 70, only to find two teeth from the pinion broken off. Out comes the ring gear to see if the right carrier bearing had eaten into the housing, it had, but not really bad. Anyone successfully had this repaired? 1st gen Dana 70's with low miles are hard to find. Anyone installed a Dana 80?

Uni-trax in Anaheim Ca has the tooling to repair the housing

 

[pwerwagn]

I put a Dana 80 from a 97 Cummins in my 93 (before it was my truck... did it for the previous owner). He didnt have the funds to shorten the driveshaft, so he insisted on just putting it together and hoping for the best. He put ~50K miles on the truck, with a lot of heavy towing, before I acquired it. The driveshaft length didn't seem to affect anything, and there was still ~1" of compression at the slip yoke at ride height.

Hope that helps,
Jeff

 

[DVolk]

Ive heard the spring pads are diffrent , u bolts can be made , at places like Potter Webster etc . Id look at craigslist theres lots of low mile free to real cheap motor homes that have 70's in a pinch a 60 in the rear will live if need be

 

[DVolk]

I forgot to add that a 14 bolt will fit and i think six states has yokes that will fit as well

 

[amcgrath]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm curious Jeff, other than the 80 u-bolts I hear are needed, did you have to do any other modifications? Still beating the bushes for options, but hopefully the 80's don't have the issues the 70's do. Ahh, the saga continues. Off to Craig's list!

 

[Bob4x4]

The most common failure as in almost the only failure is the pinion seal leaking

 

[DVolk]

Easy fix for the seal is if you change put a repair sleave on at the same time

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

amcgrath



I've got a freind who has a '91. 5 front end wrecked reg. cab D350 SRW with Dana 70 he is willing to part with. If you're interested PM me and I will give you the details. BTW it has about 120,000 on the OD.



Bob

 

[amcgrath]

Anyone put a Ford, (Sterling) diff in a 1st. gen? Found one out of a 99 F-250 with 3. 54's, spring perch's are with in 1/2 to 1" center to center. looks to be about 4" wider. Near as I can tell, about the same strength wise.

 

[DVolk]

I thought about that the yoke was the big issue and the spring perches .

Bob did that truck have a intercooled or the air conditioning parts ? , i need a core support and the ac parts , from the fire wall out

 

[HHhuntitall]

Anyone put a Ford, (Sterling) diff in a 1st. gen? Found one out of a 99 F-250 with 3. 54's, spring perch's are with in 1/2 to 1" center to center. looks to be about 4" wider. Near as I can tell, about the same strength wise.

Different bolt pattern '99+ Furd... . 8x180mm metric pattern instead of Dodge (industry standard, 8x6. 5").



The Dodge 80 will go, just have to weld on the spring pads, as stated, and check U-joint size. Aftermarket spring pads can be found for trailer axles that will work, and your stock bolts and hardware should go on with it.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Donovan



It was a front end wreck so the core support is "re-shaped" It did not have A/C so no help there. Everyone that saw it said that the engine was done - I said it will be OK. We pulled everything away from the front of the engine and it started and ran just fine. The only problem was an ear that mounts the alternator to the engine and the tension adjuster are trashed.



Bob

 

[mysteryman]

Yes. I repair them regularly .


"Just serviced my Dana 70, only to find two teeth from the pinion broken off. Out comes the ring gear to see if the right carrier bearing had eaten into the housing, it had, but not really bad. Anyone successfully had this repaired? 1st gen Dana 70's with low miles are hard to find. Anyone installed a Dana 80? "

 

[Bob4x4]

Yes. I repair them regularly .


"Just serviced my Dana 70, only to find two teeth from the pinion broken off. Out comes the ring gear to see if the right carrier bearing had eaten into the housing, it had, but not really bad. Anyone successfully had this repaired? 1st gen Dana 70's with low miles are hard to find. Anyone installed a Dana 80? "

Unitrax has done several over the years for me

 

[DVolk]

I wasted the gears in my 92 and put everything back in and she is running the spiders were junk as wast the ring and pinion so they will live again