Which Dana 60 Do I Have? A Quick and Easy Way to Figure It Out

Do you have a Dana 60 axle, but you’re not sure whether it’s built for a GMC/Chevy/Jeep, Dodge, or Ford vehicle? Let this guide shed some light!

There are three major variations of the Dana 60 axle used in the 1960s to 1980s. GMC, Chevy, and Jeep are all basically the same. Dodge and Ford are different. While you can look up the serial number on a Dana 60 to figure which axle it is, there’s a pretty simple trick for telling if the axle came out of a Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, or Jeep. Just look at the backing plate bolts.

Do you have a Dana 60 axle, but you’re not sure whether it’s built for a GMC/Chevy/Jeep, Dodge, or Ford vehicle? Let this guide shed some light!

There are three major variations of the Dana 60 axle used in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s:

• Dana 60 axles on the GMC, Chevy, and Jeep are all basically the same
• Dodge and Ford Dana 60 axles are different

While you can look up the serial number on a Dana 60 to figure which axle it is, there’s a pretty simple trick for telling if your Dana 60 came out of a Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, or Jeep: Look at the backing plate bolts.

How Many Bolts are There?

First, you want to the number of bolts are holding the drum backing plate onto the axle.

• If there are 7 bolts, then you have a GMC/Chevy or Jeep Dana 60 axle. These axles are all exactly the same.
• If there are 4 bolts, then you have either a Dodge or Ford Dana 60 axle. These two axles are not identical.

So, 4 bolts = Dodge or Ford, 7 bolts = everything else. Simple enough.

But what about the Dodge and Ford Dana 60 axles – how can you tell them apart?

Dodge Or Ford Dana 60? Check The Bolt Pattern.

The way the four drum backing plate bolts are arranged will tell you whether your Dana 60 axle came from a Dodge or a Ford.

• Are the 4 bolts arranged in a perfect square pattern? It’s a Dodge Dana 60
• Are the 4 bolts in a slightly rectangular pattern? It’s a Ford Dana 60

NOTE: The patterns are really hard to tell apart, so you’re going to have to measure. The Ford Dana 60 bolt pattern is only about 1/4″ out of square, so it’s nearly impossible to eyeball.

Not Sure Whether You Have a Dana 60 or Dana 70 Axle?

Before ordering a brake kit, you want to be sure that you have a Dana 60 axle. Sometimes people believe that they have a Dana 60 axle while they really have a Dana 70 axle. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to tell which axle you have.

The original factory axles in a Full Float Dana 60 always have 30 splines or less. If you pull an axle shaft out of your Dana and it has 33 or 35 splines, then you probably have a Dana 70.

NOTE: We say probably because it’s possible that your Dana 60 could have upgraded axle shafts installed by a prior owner with more than 30 splines. However, you can usually tell if the axle shaft is original or not.

You Need To Know Which Dana 60 You Have To Buy Parts

Even though all three variations are the same type of axle, they’re still designed differently. You would have a hard time installing a Ford Dana 60 axle on a Jeep, for example. The caliper mounting bracket and the wheel bearing seals are different for each type of axle. To avoid waiting and incurring extra shipping costs it always pays to know exactly which type of Dana 60 axle you have before ordering any extras, like one of our Dana 60 disc brake conversion kits.

Get the Right Brake Conversion Kit for Your Dana Today

Once you know what kind of Dana axle you have, you can pick the right disc brake conversion kit for it. That means installation will go smoothly. If you’re looking for a high quality disc brake conversion kit, look no further than Lugnut4x4’s disc brake conversion kits for Dana 60 axles and Dana 70 axles!

Converting to disc brakes with a Lugnut4x4 kit comes with a number of benefits, including:

• Better braking performance
• Easier maintenance
• More consistent braking
• Less unsprung weight
• Less rotational inertia

There are a lot of good reasons virtually all modern vehicles use disc brakes. You can read about each benefit in more detail here.

Got any questions about examining your Dana axle or converting to disc brakes? Feel free to get in touch with us!