The Dana/Spicer Model 60 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp.

Dana Corp.

The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....

 and used in OEM "heavy duty" pickup applications by Chevrolet

Chevrolet

Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

, Dodge

Dodge

Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....

, Chrysler

Chrysler

Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....

, Jeep

Jeep

Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...

 and Ford. There are rear axle and four wheel drive front steering versions of the Dana 60. It can be readily identified by its straight axle tubes, 10 bolt asymmetrical cover, and a "60" cast in to the housing. Gross axle weight ratings are often lowered by the vehicle manufacturer for safety and tire reasons.

General specifications

Every Dana 60 that was originally manufactured by Dana Corp (i.e. not aftermarket) is stamped with a build date and bill of materials on the back of the passenger-side axle tube. Owners can decode the bill of materials code here.

• Ring gear measures 9-3/4".
• 3.125" diameter axle tube.
• Weighs in near 500 lbs. More or less depending on width and brake configurations.
• OEM Inner axle shaft spline counts are 16, 23, 30, 32, 33 and 35.
• 40 Spline inner axle shafts and carriers are made for after market, high performance Dana 60 axles.
• Pinion shaft diameter: 1.625"
• Pinion shaft splines: 10 and 29
• Gear ratios: 3.31:1 - 7.17:1
• Carrier break: 3.31:1 - 4.10:1 and 4.56:1 - 7.17:1
• Axle Shaft diameter
  • 1.41” Front (32 Spline)
  • 1.46” Rear (32 Spline)
• Axle spline diameter
  • 1.50” Front (35 Spline)
  • 1.50” Rear (35 Spline)
• 1480 Universal Joint (Front axle)
• Brakes measure 13.66" for 2011 F-250 & F-350 trucks.
• Brakes measure 14.53" for 2011 F-450 trucks (13,050 GVW).

History

Ford was the first company to use Dana 60 front axles in 1955. In the mid-1970s the Big Three (automobile manufacturers) all started using this axle. GM began phasing it out in 1988 in favor of Independent suspension

Independent suspension

Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...

, while still offering it in some higher GVWR trucks (V-30) until 1991. Dodge used a Dana 60 up to 2002. 3rd Generation Dodge Rams dropped the Dana 60 in favor of a lighter, reverse cut AAM axle. Ford still uses the Dana 60 front axle. Manufactured in both Kingpin

Kingpin

Kingpin may refer to:* Kingpin , the pivot in the steering mechanism* Kingpin , a Swedish metal band from the mid-1980s* Kingpin , a satirical chess magazine...

 and Ball joint

Ball joint

In an automobile, ball joints are spherical bearings that connect the control arms to the steering knuckles.More specifically, a ball joint is a steel bearing stud and socket enclosed in a steel casing. The bearing stud is tapered and threaded. It fits into a tapered hole in the steering knuckle. A...

 variations, "standard" and "reverse cut" rotation variations and open and limited slip variations. The housing material is Gray iron

Gray iron

Gray iron, or grey iron, is a type of cast iron that has a graphitic microstructure. It is named after the gray color of the fracture it forms, which is due to the presence of graphite...

 in early axles and Ductile iron

Ductile iron

Ductile iron, also known as ductile cast iron, nodular cast iron, spheroidal graphite iron, spherulitic graphite cast iron and SG iron, is a type of cast iron invented in 1943 by Keith Millis...

 in later axles. GM and Ford Dana 60 axles utilize locking hubs

Locking hubs

Locking hubs, also known as free wheeling hubs are an accessory fitted to many four-wheel drive vehicles, allowing the front wheels to be manually disconnected from the front half shafts....

. Dodge Dana 60 axles utilized locking hubs until 1994 when a Center Axle Disconnect

Center axle disconnect

A center axle disconnect system or CAD is an alternative to locking hubs. CAD systems are typically used in front drive axles on four wheel drive vehicles. A CAD system works by having an axle shaft split into two pieces. One piece is connected to the carrier, the other connected to the wheel...

 (CAD) system was adopted. However model year 2002 Rams phased out the CAD system leaving some 2002 Dana 60 axles permanently locked in.

Big Three variations

• GM / Chevy versions are passenger side differential drop, standard rotation gears, kingpin knuckles and 35 Spline axle shafts.

• Dodge versions were passenger side differential drop, standard rotation gears, kingpin knuckles and 35 spline axle shafts in early models. The 2nd Generation axles were drivers side with ball joints. 30 Spline axle shafts were used instead of 35 splines, except 2000, 2001 and 2002 models which were equipped with 32 spline axle shafts.

• Ford versions are drivers side differential drop, reverse-cut gears, and kingpin knuckles up to 1991. The later axles have ball joints. Ford Dana 60 axles mostly feature 35 spline axle shafts.

Dana 60 aftermarket

The Dana 60 front axle has a great deal of aftermarket/third-party support, including many upgrades. Stronger axle shafts, Universal Joint

Universal joint

A universal joint, universal coupling, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion...

s and ball joints are widely available. As well as a large selection of traction control devices such as Locking differential

Locking differential

A locking differential, diff-lock or locker is a variation on the standard automotive differential. A locking differential may provide increased traction compared to a standard, or "open" differential by restricting each of the two wheels on an axle to the same rotational speed without regard to...

s and Limited slip differential

Limited slip differential

A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...

s. Axle shafts, Universal joints and carriers made from chromoly steel

41xx steel

41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers . Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often referred to as chromoly steel or CRMO...

 are even available. High capacity differential covers are available that increase the amount of oil the differential holds. These covers also feature Heat sink

Heat sink

A heat sink is a term for a component or assembly that transfers heat generated within a solid material to a fluid medium, such as air or a liquid. Examples of heat sinks are the heat exchangers used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems and the radiator in a car...

s that help keep the axle cool.

Dana Super 60

The Dana Super 60 is an upgraded version of the Dana 60 front axle.

Differences in the Dana Super 60 versus the regular Dana 60:

• Larger and thicker diameter steel tubes (3.75 inches diameter and 1/2 in thick)

• Larger ring and pinion which increase the contact area and overall strength.

• Larger Universal Joints which increase strength and steering angle.
• Super 60s use 1550 Universal Joints.

• Net formed spider gears for increased strength.

• All made with 35 Spline axle shafts.

This axle was used only as a medium duty unit until the
Third Generation F-450 Pick up began production. The Third Generation F-450 pick up is a light duty truck. This axle is still used in the medium duty F-450 and F-550 4x4 trucks as well.

Dana 60 rear axle

The Dana 60 rear axle was first introduced in 1955 as a full floating axle in Ford F-250's and is still used today.

• Manufactured in both full float and semi float variations. The semi float axles have GAWR
  Gross axle weight rating
  The gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.-Importance:...
  
   up to 5,500 lbs and the full float axles were rated up to 6,500 lbs.

• Full floating, 30 Spline, variants are common. 35 Spline semi-floating and full floating axles exist, but are less common.

Quadrasteer

Quadrasteer

Quadrasteer

Quadrasteer is the name of a 4 wheel steering system developed by Delphi Corporation while under the ownership of General Motors for use in automobiles. It was available as an option on GM's full-size pickup trucks and 2500 suburbans for model years 2002 to 2005, inclusive...

 was a option in 2002-2005 GM full size, single rear wheel trucks. Constant-velocity joint

Constant-velocity joint

Constant-velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or play. They are mainly used in front wheel drive and all wheel drive cars...

s were used instead of Universal joint

Universal joint

A universal joint, universal coupling, U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, or Hooke's joint is a joint or coupling in a rigid rod that allows the rod to 'bend' in any direction, and is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion...

s.

Dana 61

A variation of the Dana 60 known as a Dana 61 was made to accommodate gear ratios that allowed for better fuel mileage. This was done as a direct result of the 1973 oil crisis

1973 oil crisis

The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...

. A 3.07:1 gear ratio was common for these axles and unachievable in a regular Dana 60. To allow for the different gearing, the Dana 61 had a greater pinion offset. This offset meant that a different carrier and a different ring and pinion had to be used. The Dana 61 was made in semi-float and full-float axles for select 4x2 Ford 3/4 Ton and 1 Ton Pickups and Vans from 1974 - 1987. A Dana 61 front axle was selectively used in Dodge 4x4 3/4 Ton and 1 Ton pickups from 1987 - 1993. Although 3.00:1 and 3.07:1 gear sets are possible from a Dana 61, lower gear sets (4.56:1 on down) are not.

Dana 53

The Dana 53 first appeared in the late 1940s and is much like a Dana 60. Although all Dana 53's are semi-floating, rear axles. The Dana 53 was phased out in the 1960s by the Dana 60.

Common Applications

Front Axle

International Harvester

International Harvester

International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...

• 1975 1300 Camper Special

Chevrolet

• 1977-1991 1Ton (K30/V30)
• 1984-1988 Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle
  Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle
  The Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle or CUCV Program was instituted to provide the United States military with a cheaper Light Utility Vehicle to augment the purpose-built, but expensive, Gama Goats and M151 series "Jeeps" approaching the end of their service life. It initially provided Dodge D...
  
  

Dodge

• 1975-2002 3/4 Ton (D-600/W-250/2500)
• 1981-2002 1 Ton (D-700/W-350/3500)

Ford

• 1974-1979 F-250
• 1999-2011 F-250 (Optional)
• 1974-2011 F-350
• 2000-2004 F-450/F-550

'Dana Super 60'

• • 2005-2010 F-450/F-550 (Dana Super 60)
  • 2011 F-550 and class 4 F-450.

Rear Axle

Studebaker

• 1956-1964 E12 3/4t and E14 1t

Dodge

• 1966-1970 Coronet & R/T
• 1966-1972 Charger & R/T
• 1968-1972 Super Bee
• 1970-1971 Challenger
• 1963-1993 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500
• 1994-2002 Dodge Ram 2500 (V8 Only)
• 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10

Plymouth

• 1966 Belvedere
• 1966 Satellite
• 1968-1972 Road Runner
• 1967-1971 GTX
• 1970-1971 'Cuda

Ford

• 1955-1985 Ford 3/4 Ton Trucks
• 1955-1976 Ford 1 Ton Trucks
• 1980-1998 Ford E200/E250/E350 vans

Chevrolet

• 1964-1977 Chevrolet and GMC 3/4-ton pickups
• 1975-1987 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton pickups and Suburbans
• 1979-1991 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton vans
• 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC 1-ton vans

Jeep

• 1968-1973 Jeep J3800/J4800 Camper Truck (full float 30 spline)
• 1968-1970 Jeep J-2600/J2700/J3600/J3700 (semi float 35 spline)
• 1971-1973 Jeep J4600/J4700 (semi float 35 spline)
• 1974-1988 Jeep J20 (full float 30 spline)

External links

• http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/60_front/index.html
• http://www.akfabshop.com/alaskaoffroad/axle_tech.htm
• http://www.autohobbydigest.com/dana.html
• http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2006/04/01/hmn_feature27.html
• http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana_BOM_numbers.html

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