24 Valve Engine and Drivetrain Discuss the 24 Valve engine and drivetrain here. No non-drivetrain discussions please. NO HIGH PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION!

How can you tell if a Dana 70 has posi, locker, or open diff?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-19-2009, 01:56 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
nate_88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Port Ludlow/Ellensburg, Wa
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How can you tell if a Dana 70 has posi, locker, or open diff?

Just like the title asks, how can you tell if a Dana 70 has a posi, locker, or open diff? I'm getting tired of the one wheel spin and have a burnout contest coming up in September . I'm thinking about going to a junk yard and finding another rear end with a posi or locker to swap out. What should I look for? TIA!
Old 07-19-2009, 03:27 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Fishin2Deep4U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: The Great Northwest!
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have he one wheel peel, you'll have to pull the cover off and take a look. It will be obvious.

Dave
Old 07-19-2009, 10:22 AM
  #3  
Cummins Guru
 
BigIron70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Sunny Southern California Land of Fruits and Nuts
Posts: 4,191
Received 64 Likes on 44 Posts
Jack both rear wheels off ground. Place shift in neutral and spin one wheel. If the other wheel turns opposite direction you have open case diff. If your looking for used diff with posi check magnet on cover for metal buildup. If excessive pass on that one. These diff's had problems with bearing race spinning in housing. Check end play of posi unit and gear backlash first. If excessive most likely race has spun in housing.
Old 07-19-2009, 11:03 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
nate_88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Port Ludlow/Ellensburg, Wa
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by BigIron70
Jack both rear wheels off ground. Place shift in neutral and spin one wheel. If the other wheel turns opposite direction you have open case diff. If your looking for used diff with posi check magnet on cover for metal buildup. If excessive pass on that one. These diff's had problems with bearing race spinning in housing. Check end play of posi unit and gear backlash first. If excessive most likely race has spun in housing.
Thanks guys. How do I check backlash and play of the posi? I've never messed around with differentials so I'm pretty much a newbie to this department
Old 07-19-2009, 06:20 PM
  #5  
Cummins Guru
 
BigIron70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Sunny Southern California Land of Fruits and Nuts
Posts: 4,191
Received 64 Likes on 44 Posts
With prybar between posi and bearing cap pry posi unit one side then other there should be no play. Backlash is play between ring gear and pinion gear. This should be between .004 to .007 with increased mileage this will increase also but should not go over .010 or gears will be noisy. If when removing cover the fluid is black and smells burnt steer clear of this one posi clutches are burnt out.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
GlennRMK
Performance and Accessories 2nd gen only
25
04-09-2009 12:52 PM
jmccart
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
8
07-10-2007 11:46 AM
jmccart
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
1
07-07-2007 12:46 PM
canucktrucks
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
10
11-18-2004 07:08 AM
Extreme Diesel
Performance and Accessories 2nd gen only
7
12-02-2002 11:20 AM



Quick Reply: How can you tell if a Dana 70 has posi, locker, or open diff?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:27 PM.