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Front Dana 60 problem...

1BADCJ8

1BADCJ8

Legacy Registered User
Silver Member
City
Silver City
State
NM
I may have asked this before but I cant find it -

Any way, on my front D60 the driver side hub constantly tries to lock in. It will not stay in the "unlocked/free" position. Its worse on bumpy roads but now it does in on the street also. I turn it to unlock and it spins until I can hear it rapidly clicking and sometimes even tries to lock in and that's not good at any speed. The Passenger side is perfect no problems at all.

I have taken the hub off, turned it and put it back together. I even bought a new set of Warn Premiums and replaced that side - Still does it.

Has any one had this issue and how did you fix it? I'm about to go out and pull the whole hub off and see if its burred or something. I just can image why the shaft is trying to spin the hub. Its done it since I got it but has gotten worse... So I gotta do something, any help would be great.
 
OK so I got it all apart and the bearings and hub are spot on... The axel shaft on the driver side however has about 1/2 inch play back and forth. I can tell that when it slides all the way out the stub is sticking part way into (bout 3/8's) the center of the hub loosely and turning it and the teeth that engage inside the hub to lock are bent a little (on the old hubs these were almost destroyed.

Is there something inside the Detroit locker that is supposed to keep that from floating back and forth? OR something on the back of the spindle? You can see where the yoke has rubbed on the axle tube when it floats inward. On the passenger side there is barely any movement at all, maybe a 1/16 and it sits that perfect distance from the axle tube and of course does not rub it at all.
 
Sounds like you are missing the thrust washer on the back side of the spindle that goes under the spindle bearing seal.
 
That very well could be... I was told by some guys on my other forum that Warn hubs tend to do this when swapping to 35 spline outers and when it was built it was built with them.

Have you heard of that? Any one else maybe? I hate to pull the hub off since it is still set and spinning as it should but I suppose I would have to in order to check that thrust washer...
 
The thrust washer and seal set the end play for the outer snap ring. If it's moving 1/4" then you're missing parts or your outers are incorrect in length.

Sent from my SCH-I545
 
That's good to know because its moving 3/8's to a 1/2 inch easy...

With this in mind though what is to keep it from going in farther? The yoke is for sure rubbing and goes in and rubs (not real bad, but does) on the start of the tube... I'm just tired of riding with it always locked or jumping out all the time to turn it back. The other half's car is in the shop so I'm having to drive it to work and back...

Good note the new engine and tranny are awesome...
 
The snap ring should keep the inner yolk from rubbing the tube.

Sent from my SCH-I545
 
OK I just snapped to this being the "Spindle" thrust washer and not the hub seal... So this goes on the inside of the spindle where the stub goes through it... correct?
 
Yes. It goes on the stub first and then the seal on the back side of the inner spindle shaft bearing.

Sent from my SCH-I545
 
I have to get a spindle nut socket tomorrow and I will check that out. I feel pretty confident that its there but will make sure. Thanks for the assistance Errick, if it is there I was also thinking maybe I could just get a die-grinder flapper wheel also and sand down the inside of the hub 'cone' just enough so it wont turn it... I don't like the rubbing on the tube but its been doing it for a real long time now and isn't bad, you can just tell it does it.

And BTW, have any of you ever worked on a 79-93 Dodge Dana 60? Is that not the strangest caliper set up ever? Took me a couple minutes to figure that one out :-).
 
Usually if things are correct, you should have to put a prybar in the knuckle to get a little pressure on the spindle shaft to put the snap ring on. I'll bet that over half of the front ends out there are missing the thrust washer or if they do have them, they are on backward. Shoot, most people have no idea that there is a bearing and seal in there that needs to be serviced.

I've never had a chance to work on a Dodge 60 fortunately........
 
Well I assure you are not missing anything with the way the Calipers go in and out, what a pain in the butt!

Well I took it all apart and everything was/is there. I had to replace the V seal and that is it. The thrust washer and bearing seal were both dang near new looking. The thrust washer had a very small amount of a rubbed look that's it...

So I did what someone on my other board did and I ground down the end of the stub shaft a bit, of course leaving plenty to get and hold the ring spring. I took a ride after and went fast(er) down a wash boarded road and it didn't even try to turn out. So at least for now its good, hopefully it will stay that way.

Eric thanks again for your assistance and idea's, very appreciated.
 
mysunnshine said:
You probably could get away with two thrust washers.
Click to expand...

I actually thought about that... But if I couldn't get the ring spring in I'd have to take it all apart again, so I went with the grind job thinking it had to come apart again any way, but after the other half drove it to work today it still has not tried to turn... :thumbsup:
 
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