Installing new cover on Dana 60

[Turbo Terry]

I have the Dana 60 Mag-Hytech cover and need to drop the tie-rod at the ball joint on the drivers side to install. Also I have a Rancho stabalizer on the tie-rod. Is it just remove cotter key and take nut off on ball joint and pull out or will I have trouble? What about putting it back?Just thougt I would ask before I screw up. Thanks

 

[BarryG]

Turbo Terry:

I just did this on friday. Don't know which truck you have but on my 2001. 5 where the tie rod attaches to the top of drivers side wheel assembly there was large nut just unscrewed it and hit the bolt with a hammer once and it popped right out. Had to take off the tire to get to it. Didn't have to do anything with the ball joint or the steering stabilizer. When I put it back on just about had a heart attack because went to thread the nut back on and as soon as it bit good the bolt spun with the nut. Then duh I noticed that the top of the bolt will take it was either a 3/8 or 7/16 open end to hold it while I screwed the nut down to if I remember 80ft lbs per the manual. Once the press fit bolt gets snug you don't need to hold the top of the bolt anymore.



PS. don't be a DA like I was. I jacked up that side of the truck to take off the tire, slipped a jack stand under there and left the floor jack under there. After I had everything done underneath I rolled out from underneath and jumped up and took a spirited step to get a bottle of lube and tripped right over the floor jack handle and smacked the garage floor pretty darn hard with all my weight on my outstretch hand to keep from doing a face plant and broke my friggin hand. The directions were good but didn't have a dumb a## warning in them though. LOL. My wife just laughed her arse off at me the whole way to the doctor later that night after I decided that it was more than a bump due to the increasing pain and swelling. The cover looks great even if it was literally a pain to get done. If you don't break your hand there will be no pain to do it very easy install.

 

[Turbo Terry]

I have a 99. I think they are the same? I need to find out I guess. Thanks for the imfo and sorry about your hand. I do stupid things like that all the time. No pain no gain I guess.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I don't recommend beating on the end of the tie rod stud, you can mess up the threads too easily. Best place to hit is the side of the plain arm. If you must hit the end of the tie rod stud, screw the nut on upside down first so it takes the force. I did not remove the tire, just turned for a left turn. Two whacks with a 3 lb hammer on the plain arm and the tie rod came right out. Don't grease the taper fit when reinstalling.

 

[Speedo]

Dana cover

Terry, what Joe said is the easiest way to remove the tie rod end.

What you are doing is flexing the metal in the arm so that the

tapered hole is not perfectly round for just a split second during

the impact and the tapered hole will lose its grip on the tapered

end of the tie rod end.



Gus

 

[jackrea]

Dana Cover

Guys, for one that is mechanically challenged, are we hiting the tie rod or what with the hammer. Thank You. Jack

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

No don't hit the tie rod. Hit the steering knuckle "plain arm" that is attached to the wheel.

Thread the nut on a couple turns so when the tie rod drops, it doesn't hit the ground.

happy hammering

 

[Doc Tinker]

I usually hit the side of the eye end. One or two good solid smacks with the BFH and the rod usually drops right out.



Doc

 

[Turbo Terry]

Thanks for the ideas and help.