Rebuild my D60 FF,or buy D70 SRW and rebuild?

[E350]

Originally Posted by smoothpilot

I went the SRW Dana 70 route on Fat Gal. She routinely tows a 12,000 flat bed trailer w/ tractor. This load destroyed the original differential. It appears that the limited slip components failed first and the resulting steel bits took out the differential gears.

Yup, that's why I "love" limited slip. To make you feel a little better, that was the same explanation that Ford gave me when they paid for the rebuild of my semi-floating axle under the 7-year/100K extended warranty in 2007. Five years after I ordered the van new. Sure I towed a tandem one yard mixer loaded with ready mix a few times up Highway 50, but nothing like "routinely" towing 12,000 lbs.

Thanks for coming back and posting. My guess is that I will be keeping a look out for a full floating axle like yours some time in the future...

[rebar]

Originally Posted by smoothpilot

Searching http://www.partshotlines.com or http://www.automotix.com ought to turn up a suitable axle. There are enough dead cube vans around by now that finding a donor shouldn't be too hard. Expect to pay $700 to $800 for the axle and springs.

This was one modification that I have been totally satisfied with.

Terry

Thanks Terry..

But give the search a try.. All I can come up with is a D702U, which from what I understand only has one larger pinion bearing over the D60FF I have.

I gave up looking for a D70HD. larger pinion head bearing and the Dana 80 sized carrier bearings.

I have a 70" dodge D80 that's going in, hopefully..

My D60FF will be for sale soon.

[JoeH]

I couldn't find a D70 in Arizona and went with a full float D60. For you guys that tow I can see the need for the bigger diff and ring gear on the D70 and slightly greater load capacity; otherwise, the FF D60 is probably just fine as a replacement for the semi-floater for most of us.