Military Axles?

[Bill_L]

So today while trying to finish off my lift install with the dual steering stabilizer it turned out that the Skyjacker kit would not fit even though it is listed to fit on the 1/2 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.

We called up Skyjacker and they said something about Dodge installing a Military axles on some of the new trucks which means you have weld not bolt on this kit.



Has anyone heard anything about this? If so what in the heck are these axles?

Are they a Dana 60? 70? something bigger? Any ideas?



Thanks



Bill

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

A good buy on WW2 military surplus?

 

[Bill_L]

Anyone? Help!

What are these things? The stock is a 60 and a 70/80 combo in the back right?



How can I decode these things? I know that there are a couple of different tags on them.



Should I go to a gear shop and ask them about it?



Bill

 

[JHansen]

Does the front axle have a central axle disconnect (that big stupid cast piece 1/2 way down the passenger side axle tube with the vacuum motor on the rear)? Others on the forum with 2002's have reported axles without it-although they were still D60's (I think anyways) and I can't see how that would keep the kit from fitting. Is it the steering stabilizer part that doesn't fit? And what keeps it from fitting?



Trying to think of other ideas here-but it's getting late and my brain has already fallen asleep.



Jason

 

[Bill_L]

I do not recall seeing the axle disconnect there. I know what you are talking about since my 01 Off Road had all that vacuum crap on it.



The issue was that the dual stabilizer kit uses a couple of really large U bolts to go around the axle and connect to a plate that the dampers mount to. The U bolts are made to fit over axles that come on all the 1/2 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. The tube on this axle has a larger diameter which means the bolts will not fit over it.



Maybe it is just a larger version of the 60?



Bill

 

[JHansen]

I know exactly what you're talking about-I have the dual stabilizer kit sitting on the floor beside me awaiting install on my 2001 . I haven't tested it yet for fit-sounds like I should maybe. Could you source bigger U-bolts and redrill the plate-or is there enough meat? May have to weld tabs to the plate as a last resort to allow the U-bolts to fit. I'm out the door to work right now-maybe at dinner I'll pull mine out and have a look.



Gonna have to make a road trip to my local dealer to look at a 2002 when it warms up..... the CAD/weenie axle shafts are my biggest bone of contention on my truck. May have to save my pesos to buy a new housing for my truck if I like what I see



Jason

 

[Bill_L]

Well since it would not bolt on Skyjacker recommended tack welding it to the axle. I do not think that the plate would have had enough room for larger U bolts to fit.

 

[JHansen]

So did you end up welding it on Bill? Kinda poor if a guy's gotta take it back off-but if there's no other option I guess you're kinda stuck.



Jason

 

[tcourse]

Could it be that DC changed vendors for front and rear diff?

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by tcourse

Could it be that DC changed vendors for front and rear diff?

Or, could it be that Skyjacker doesn't know what the hell they are talking about... ... based on my previous experience with skyjacker that's where I'd put my money.



Brian

 

[Opz01]

Bill_L



I too went with the Skyjacker dual steering stabilizer kit. The U-bolt on one side was too small in diameter and wasnt long enough either. I used different ubolts from Ace hardware. Which is cheaper than sending the kit back back! Then I put edlebrock stickers on the shocks. By the way your steering pump may start making a little noise after install... But they do work!



Opie

 

[Rob Thomas]

Yea, I used different U -bolts too,and it works fine,no problems now. One would think skyjacker would take a tape measure out to a specific truck before producing a kit for it.

 

[Bill_L]

Well since other people have had this issue would someone like to answer the question of which axles are these? Are they a version of the 60 in the front still? Is it the 70/80 in the back?



It would be nice to know before heading down to a gear shop.



Bill

 

[Rob Thomas]

They are 60's in front, and some are 70's in rear,others are 80's like mine. If you have an automatic it's probobly a 70.

 

[mimprevento]

Axles

Dana 60 in front Dana 80 in rear with 4. 10 LSD- I think all 3500s have the Dana 80 regardless of Auto or Manual