I was just reading a tech article in, of all places , a Toyota 4x4 site.

The article was about axle swaps and stated that the Dana 80 used in 2500/3500 Dodge trucks is not a true Dana 80, but a hybrid with Dana 70 tubes/axles/hubs and Dana 80 center-section.

It also stated that the 70 carrier was the same size as the 80 carrier, except the 70 was multi-part and the 80 was single piece.

I was under the impression that the 80s under Dodge trucks were true Dana 80s.

Which is it??

Thanks.

 

i do know a locker for a dana 70 will work in a dodge dana 80

 

I think that is correct. An 80 center section with 70 tubes and shafts. However, the Dodge Dana 80 will always have 35 spline shafts, where as some 70's, like the 70U, have 32. Also, you can get a locker for a 70 to fit on an 80 by drilling out the ring gear mounting holes. At least that's the info I have gathered.

 

From what I've heard (read), the 2500's stick shift CDI had the Dana 80 hybrid but the 3500's had a full blown 80.

 

For some reason, Dodge (or someone else?) began calling the D70HD a "hybrid".....though, that term isn't completely unfounded. The D70HD (or "hybrid") is a D70 by components and design with the exception of the carrier - it actually uses a D80 carrier and carrier bearings.....but everything else is D70 sized. The D70HD does not have interchangeable ring and pinions with a standard D70. The standard D70 has a smaller carrier that is not interchangeable with a D80. I have no idea where the single or multi piece carrier thing came from. Depending on what type of carrier is in question, either axle could have a single or 2 piece carrier.

A D80 carrier can only be adapted (by elongating the ring gear bolt holes) to fit into a D70HD.....it is physically far too large in every aspect to be interchangeable with a standard D70.

The 2nd gen 3500 rear axle is a full blown D80....it is not a "hybrid" and that is readily apparent by the size of the housing and components.

 

3500 has the big boy.

 

I just pulled a SRW 80 out of a 96 or 97. The axle tubes are way bigger than the 70's that were in the other trucks around it. Whats the explanation for that?

 

the 80's in our trucks are called hybrids due to the smaller axle tubes and hubs needed to use an 8 lug bolt pattern ...

go look at a ford 450/550 and check out one with an 80 in it, it will have a 10 lug bolt pattern, bigger hubs, axles (37 spline / ?.??" vs our 35 spline 1.5") and axle tubes ...

go out and look at the taper on the brake/hub end of your axle tubes and imagine a thicker tube with no taper ...