Rear Axle Upgrade?

[SierraTango]

I recently just had the passenger side hub on my '93 1ton completely give out, I've never seen anything quite like it. When I got out of the truck I could hear oil leaking out like hot lava splattering to the ground. Took the wheel and axle hub apart to find..... nothing.... there was absolutely no wheel bearing left except for maybe a third of the race and the rest looked like sand. Quite impressive for lasting that long before quitting.

So after that small narrative, my 1ton had a Dana 70U axle behind it and I would like to just find a completely built axle replacement, something ready to just be swapped in.

However I have had no luck in searching for a complete axle that I could purchase.

Does anyone possibly know where I could find one? Something built not just pulled from some donor, talking brand new and preferably with disc brakes on the rear.

Would any other axle besides the Dana 70 be a good or better replacement?

 

[NIsaacs]

This might work.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrSbnmDYkJV9a8Aa71XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdmF2cnRiBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxMAR2dGlkA0IwMDE4XzEEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1430442755/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.differentials.com%2fdana-crate-axles/RK=0/RS=nGYjlwBUO0boB_DbAAPtBM4iuJ0-

Or this.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrSbnmDYkJV9a8AUr1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyanJtNmdpBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDQjAwMThfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1430442755/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.crateaxle.com%2fproducts%2fdana-70-axles/RK=0/RS=ak9_WvT6RtHaPDN7ERxPjv0HkK4-

Nick

 

[DVolk]

check out car part for parts , , i would just put new bearings and seals in what you had , i blew my Dana 70 up it ran out of oil had no signs of leaking , to me id , just drain the gear oil make it all looks good in side , if you do this , buy a speedi sleeve with the seals if if the spindle surfaces look good as it will fit tighter since ive done this i got no more leaks also silicone the out seal on the axel to hub area to keep ot water and sand etc , or you could find a dana 80 but you have to weld on nerw spring perches

 

[SierraTango]

Awesome thanks Nick.

Donovan, I noticed with those crates I'd have to put the perches on them. I'm thinking new gears might be appropriate too, as the gear oil is pretty shiny...

 

[Shadrach]

We upgraded my buddies 93 W350 to a Dana 80. He wanted to stay with drums but if you get 1 from a 201 or 2002 you can get rear discs. David

 

[SierraTango]

Shadrach would a rear from an 01 or 02 fit correctly behind a first gen?

 

[NIsaacs]

i would just put new bearings and seals in what you had

Based on the OP's description of the failure, I would say the spindle and hub are junk. A good take out Dana 70HD, GM 14 bolt or even an AAM axle might be an option if some conversion work is ok.

Nick

 

[SierraTango]

Nick, completely agree with axle upgrade or complete swap. I will find some of the pictures I took of the damage and share the intriguing failure.

 

[Simplysmn]

car-parts.com
this should help out

 

[Shadrach]

Shadrach would a rear from an 01 or 02 fit correctly behind a first gen?

It should because the Dana 80 we used was from a 98. Measure where the spring saddles are as well as the width from backing plate to plate. Since you have both trucks it shouldn't be hard to figure out. Also the springs are different widths. Watch out for dual vs singles. If you go with rear discs you will also need to change your master cylinder and if you are going to do that then upgrade to the hydra boost system. One thing always leads to another ...and another...and another... just ask RSchwarzli :-laf

David

 

[NIsaacs]

Here is an '08 dually axle.

http://showlow.craigslist.org/pts/4982375670.html

Nick

 

[RSchwarzli]

One thing always leads to another ...and another...and another... just ask RSchwarzli :-laf

David

Slippery, slippery slope I tell you.

 

[SierraTango]

I'm not too familiar myself with how to figure out which axles from different years which may work for a swap out.

Can anyone help with that if you know of other years that are exactly the same or can be swapped without issues?

 

[Simplysmn]

All the first gen 1989 to 1993 axles will fit as long as you keep same Ratio front n rear second gen to 97 I believe will fit with some mod's after that I'm not sure .

 

[SierraTango]

That's good to know, thank you.

 

[cerberusiam]

Finding an SRW D80 is going to nigh onto impossible, expensive if you do. SRW and DRW axles are different so it is not simply changing things.

Probably better off swapping an AAM in and adding the hydro-boost. You will have to run different wheels on the back to align the wheel track. The AAM axles are quite a bit wider than the D70's. The 80's would require a different wheel to align track also