Used Axle Inspection, Before Purchase

[beanious]

Hello all, I have a buddy that is selling a 14FF and a dana60 from a CUCV and I am looking for some guidance on what to look for.

I'm hoping to reduce the costs of rebuild and avoid the possibility of purchasing a boat anchor. Tube issues, loose, bent items, etc.

Can you guys please list what to check for on the 14 bolt and Dana 60?

I’m already up on what it takes to do the swap and rebuild the axles.

Thanks!

Bryan B.
71 K10 SWB, SBC, 700R4, 35” tires

[outfield]

Pull the covers and make sure the diffs are clean inside. If they have been stored outdoors water likes to get in the diff, condensation can form surface rust on the gear teeth too.
Check the u-joints and ball joints or trunion bearings on the Dana 60.
Check brakes. are the rotors reusable? can you reuse the rear drums? rubber brake lines, do they need to be replaced? this all adds up quick.
Make sure the gear ratios match!

[68Gold/white]

Bring a good magnet. Stick it in the oil swish it around some, looking for metal particles...

Of course if there's a lot of metal in the oil, you won't need a magnet........

[randy500]

Use a pry bar to pry the ring gear side to side and up and down for bearing or case problems, you need a pry bar because it's heavy, if you have a dial indicator use that while prying, do the same for the pinion.
No water is allowable in the oil and the oil should be black or brown and not milky.
Gears should be shiny all the way aruond, if black or speckled it's from rust, the loss of surface from the rust will overheat the gears and will not last lonG at all.

[cleszkie]

The 14 Bolt FF will most likely have a GM Gov-Loc clutch style posi unit. These are notorious for crapping the bed after many years of use. There is no way of really knowing the condition of the unit. Check for pieces of clutch material (fragments) in the gear oil. It is not magnetic so a magnet will not help find it in the soup. Not sure, but you may also be able to see the edges of the clutch discs in the center section. If you see a lot of chunks missing, or find a lot of chunks in the soup, could mean the Gov-Loc is dying.