Unit bearing re-drilling

NCJeeplover

NCJeeplover

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Location
Claremont, NC
I've found a good deal on a superduty dana 60. I've also been reasearching these axles a little and seem to like them pretty well. My main drawback is the metric bolt pattern. I have a lot of money in my rear 14 bolt and wheels. I know there are several company's that sell them already at whatever bolt pattern you need, but the cheapest one I've found are 350 a piece! Two of those would be way more than the axle it's self! Does anyone know anywhere around here that would redrilling the unit bearings? And if so, how much would it run? Just checking on things before I purchase anything.
 
Call Chris at Marsfab. I am pretty sure he can do it for you. If not just about any machine shop can drill them for you.
 
I've been thinking about something lately. I thought it would be neat to have a jig to redrill these unit bearings. That way I don't have to pay every time I need it done. Would it be crazy to think I could take a wheel adapter and put drill bushings in the 8x6.5 holes and use it that way? Could it be that easy?
 
That is doable, so long as the jig centers up on the center bore nicely. You also have to consider the hassle of knocking the studs out and pressing them back in (not that big of a deal really), and also redrilling the brake discs with another jig or possibly the same jig.
 
I'd do a free-spin hub conversion and swap to 8x6.5 at the same time. Also, keep in mind they have 14mmx2.00 studs in them, whereas a 14 bolt would have 9/16-18 studs, unless it's a newer model with 14mmx1.5 studs. If you're like me, you want them all to be the same!
 
Croatan_Kid said:
I'd do a free-spin hub conversion and swap to 8x6.5 at the same time. Also, keep in mind they have 14mmx2.00 studs in them, whereas a 14 bolt would have 9/16-18 studs, unless it's a newer model with 14mmx1.5 studs. If you're like me, you want them all to be the same!
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As long as they use the same socket, who cares?:D
 
I think I can just knock the studs out of a wheel adapter and machine my own drill bushings to go in place of them. I had already planned on changing the studs when I knocked them out to 9/16-18 for the new holes.

It doesn't make this axle a very good deal if I have to do a free spin conversion. I could buy a nice ball joint or kingpin axle for less than the kit cost. Plus I'm not real worried about the unit bearings on a 4,000lb jeep that see's less that 1,000 miles a year.
 
I don't want the extra width of a 2" spacer if at all possible. My plan is to buy a conversion wheel spacer and machine some drill bushings to replace the studs with. I figure a 1/4" pilot hole would be fine. I can make a drill bushing out of some tool steel to press into the stud holes.
 
If you know anybody with access to CNC equipment, you can just toss the bearing flange up in a vice, probe center of the part, and draw up a program to drill an 8x6.5 pattern. I drilled out my stud holes to fit 9/16-18 studs (Ford Dana 60s used 1/2-20 for whatever reason) and I drilled out the hubs at work in a mill to make sure they were straight.

It would save you from having to make a fixture. I'm not wild about the idea of 16 holes in the wheel flange instead of just 8 though.
 
Croatan_Kid said:
It would save you from having to make a fixture. I'm not wild about the idea of 16 holes in the wheel flange instead of just 8 though.
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16 will be fine. The wheel only has 8, so you get a lot of stiffness added by bolting the two together.
 
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