Where to find an axle, or get mine fixed?

[dpuckett]

I got into the brakes on my 92 last week, and found that I need at the very least a new spindle, if not a whole axle. The spindle is eaten up real bad on the left side where the inner bearing rides, making some slop, and taking the seal out in the process. I havent called a differential shop up the interstate yet to see about parts and labor for just the spindle, but I'd bet it aint cheap. I found a 3. 54 axle on the west side of the state, and he is asking $750 exchange. I thought this is a little steep, but if it is in good shape... . I have looked on here, DTR, and ebay, to no avail. Where else can I look? Google was not much help. I'd like to get one around $500, but that could just be the cheap swamp rat in me, and my southeastern MO upbringing. This isnt a factory set up- I have a club cab with a 3. 54 C&C axle. I think the pickup dually axle is on the 1990, and it needs some work as well- pinion yoke is loose.



Thanks,

Daniel

 

[RSchwarzli]

Go to www.car-part.com. You will find everything you need there and more. Also, it will cost you a bit more, but you can put a Dana 80 in right away if you are swapping anyways!!!! Oo. Oo.

Robert

 

[mysteryman]

You can use an axle out of a 73 up motorhome that had dual wheels... It is slightly narrower but in a pinch it will work... . You can put your gears in it but if it is 4. 56 or 4. 88 gears you have to use a different differential carrier to put the 3. 55 or 4. 10 gears in it...

I got into the brakes on my 92 last week, and found that I need at the very least a new spindle, if not a whole axle. The spindle is eaten up real bad on the left side where the inner bearing rides, making some slop, and taking the seal out in the process. I havent called a differential shop up the interstate yet to see about parts and labor for just the spindle, but I'd bet it aint cheap. I found a 3. 54 axle on the west side of the state, and he is asking $750 exchange. I thought this is a little steep, but if it is in good shape... . I have looked on here, DTR, and ebay, to no avail. Where else can I look? Google was not much help. I'd like to get one around $500, but that could just be the cheap swamp rat in me, and my southeastern MO upbringing. This isnt a factory set up- I have a club cab with a 3. 54 C&C axle. I think the pickup dually axle is on the 1990, and it needs some work as well- pinion yoke is loose.



Thanks,

Daniel

 

[dpuckett]

WEnt to Carpart.com and got a few replies; $750 is a real bargain from the responses I've gotten so far- had one quote for $1950!!! That included shipping, but still. If I dont find anything this week, I may get the one in western MO.



Will a D80 bolt right up, or will I need new parts, like springs or yokes? Brake lines are no big deal... .



Daniel

 

[1stgen4evr]

There are folks that specialize in repair of damaged spindles but I have no idea who to contact in your area. I have seen a new spindle welded on and I have no confidence in doing that but I have to say that I knew the truck and saw it work on the farm (think mistreated) till the rest of the truck died.



If you could change out the parts (and I am sure you can) seems to me that you should be able to get just the housing for two maybe three hundred. Course that leaves a bit of wrenching to get everything changed out. I have some housings but I don't know which would be the better match for your truck. I only have a regular 3/4 ton and some dually housings and I think the C&C is different. You should also consider the corporate axle from GM. Some of these exchanges require moving the spring pads on the axle but still I expect you are able to get that done. Think outside the box a bit and see if you can beat those prices.



The problem that you have experienced is the very reason that these axles are short in the salvage yards. A bad bearing will kill a spindle and that pretty much kills the whole axle for most people. Some times it is the death of the truck due to the lack and cost of available parts.



This is the reason I advocate having a couple of spares for robbing parts.



James

 

[SGibson]

Daniel, try calling Bob, Told him of your problem, he has a bent 70 out of a rear ended crew down there.

 

[ARhine]

Pull the diff cover and check the backlash while you are at it, your axle might need more work on top of the spindle.



I have a thread from last week on here with some info. The 2nd Gen D80 axle will bolt in as far as the perches. the shock mounts and park brakes will take some fab work.

Biggest bummer is they are 5. 5" wider over all from a 1st gen rear.



I would not think a re-spindle job would be to bad.



I have some more reasearch to do, but a mid to late 80s Ford seems to have a D70 that is very similar to the width of the one in our trucks.

 

[bgilbert]

Daniel, did you see the D350 for parts for sale on DTR classifieds? Although it might be the one you're talkin about in Western MO.

 

[mysteryman]

I bought 2 ,Dana 70 HD motor home axles today. I paid 100. 00 each for them . One from the 70's the other an 82. The 82 was 1/2" narrower than my 93 D350 dually... ... Both had perfect original 12 x 3" drums on them... .



Gas motor homes from the 70's / early 80's are near worthless... You can find them at cop auctions all the time... They rarely bring more than a hundred or two..... The motor homes did have Dana hd's in them in various widths... ... Most motor homes do not rack up very many miles... .



You might want to look into this before you spend all your money

 

[zstroken]

Dpuckett, I got one from a 97 with 3. 54 gears, 127K. We might be able to trade, or I would let it go for considerable less than $750.

 

[wtfd6]

hey Daniel, there is a company up here in ohio called axle surgeons. they repaired a spindle on a buddys dump truck(semi) once. it never failed. i dont know if they are a national company or not.

mark

 

[Paychk]

Axle surgeons

 

[dpuckett]

Thanks for the ideas, guys. WHile I think of it, since I dont get on here more than twice a week or so, here are my measurements-



Leaf spring center to center on the axle is 43-1/2 inches

Backing plate to Backing plate is ~53-1/2" (THis isnt as important- I have a flatbed that I intend to keep on there, but it is for a C&C- pickup axle would look odd. )



I'm not trying to be lazy, I just dont have the time to do a thorough search on the net, and I figure someone else may be able to use information gleaned from here as well.



Thanks,

Daniel

 

[wtfd6]

wow, thanks paychk. i wasnt sure how big they were.


mark

 

[1stgen4evr]

I may be the last to know this but would like to pass it on to anyone who doesn't. The rear axle nut (Dana) is the same on the Dodge and Ford. It is the same on the 70 and 80. (I have a 70 and 80 apart right now) Dodge gets over thirty bucks for this nut. Napa has the same item for 16. It isn't listed for the Dodge at NAPA, you have to get the Ford. The NAPA part number is 635-1102. The wedge is 635-1103.



My 93 is running a nut that is eroded about 1/8 inch from the bearing eating into the nut. (I used to overload the heck out of it) It has been that way for about three hundred thousand miles without problem.



James

 

[pepecat]

hey dpuckett did you ever find your axle?

 

[dpuckett]

Yes, I found an axle that will work. You would not believe the difference in spring bolt widths on the same truck. Anyway, found a Dana 80 from a 99 with 135K in NE for $500 drum to drum, swaybar included. Oo. I am supposed to meet him in 2 weeks to pick it up. Only bad thing is the 4. 10s. I will have 2 good dually hubs with drums and who knows what else to piece out after I get it swapped.



Daniel

 

[Ggg]

I have used Axle Surgeons on a few occasions in the waste hauling business. Their work is A#1. Never had one of their repairs fail.