Late model dana 70's

[JeepsAndGuns]

So in my search for a dana 70 for the rear of my cherokee, I have come across a couple questions. My brother has a '01 ram 2500 4x4 CTD and I was helping him put brakes on the rear of it. I got to looking at the axle and it is a 70u (smooth bottom, like I have been looking for) and sparked my intrest. Because up to now the only truck I knew to have them were early 80's F250's with the diesel. Only thing I wonder about the one in the dodge, is what bolt pattern it is? Is it the standard 8 bolt or the metric one? I dont really know a way to measure because I heard they are real close, (plus I didnt have a tape measure) The only other question is, can you put disc brakes on this axle? It is diffrent from older model axles I have seen, as the drums on it just slide over the hub and is held on by the wheel. So I am thinking that might make it hard to put a disc on it since every kit I have seen is for the older models where the rotor is held on by the studs from the back side of the hub. The back side of the hub is not machiened, so you couldnt put a disc on it that way without going to a machieme shop first. So I am thinking it might be harder to use a axle out of that year truck. It might be more work and money than I want to spend. I emailed one seller on ebay who makes dana 60 and gm 14 bolt rear disc bracketts asking the same question, currently waiting for a reply.

[KaiserMan]

I'm pretty sure they still use teh 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern. They use the standard 9/16-18 studs. I don't see why you couldn't put disc brakes on this axle. Just have a shop machine the back of the hubs nice and flat (this has to be done on the closed knuckle axles when converting to discs, don't see why you couldn't do this to a D70 hub), put you rotor on and add some longer studs with a longer splined area and you should be good for that part.

[crazydog]

Yes the Dodge's have the 8 on 6.5" bolt pattern.

If you are looking for disc brake packages, there may be others, but I remember looking at these before.

http://www.egrbrakes.com/index-main.htm

They are not cheap by any means, but I have heard good things from some people that have put them on.

Another thing to think about on the Dodges is that rear disc brakes were available from the factory on 2001.5 and up. If you can find one of those axles, you would be set. Only problem would be that Dodge guys like to upgrade there older axles to the disc brake ones.

[J10Mike]

Check this link. I didn't see a Dodge D70 disk brake conversion kit listed. But, I thought he had them not too long ago.
His name is Paul Bowman and he worked with me to create a prototype disk brake conversion for the Jeep D60.

http://stores.ebay.com/HARD-ON-OFF-ROAD

Or, you could send him an email at: [email protected]
He's good folk and a former FSJ owner.

[JeepsAndGuns]

First guy emailed me back saying his kit wouldnt work because of the way the drum attached, so no go there. J10Mike, I just emailed they guy you speak of, so we will se what he has to say.

I did find something interesting out about this axle. When we did the brakes yesterday we found a leaking wheel seal, (had to order the seal) so we put that on today. While thst shaft was out I measured it and it is only about 1.25 in and only 32 spline. I thought the 70's were all 1.5 in 35 spline? Its still a pretty beefy shaft, but it not 35 spline like I thought it was?? But the shaft is pretty loose in the spindle and I measured the spindles ID and it is 1.6, so 1.5in shafts sould fit. So I am thinking I might go back to looking for the older models out of the ford, mabey they will have 35 spline shafts. Plus I am not likeing the prices I have been hearing from junk yards whe I call looking for a axle from the dodge....lol But it does open up my options when looking for a axle, if I can fine one cheap.