1972-1978 Dodge Dana 70 Identification

Not all Dana axles have the model number cast on the housing. It can be very difficult to tell a Dana 60 from a Dana 70, as they have nearly identical covers with exactly the same bolt pattern. One way to tell if you have a Dana 60 or Dana 70 is...

Many Dana Axle have the model number cast somewhere on the cast iron differential housing.

Starting around 1965, Dana started using metal tags affixed to the differential cover by two of the cover bolts. Each tag has a Bill of Material Number (BOM) stamped on it and it is affixed to the axle before it is shipped from the factory. The photo...

ID Your Dana Closed Knuckle Front Axle Ball Type. Dana-Spicer produced closed knuckle front drive axles from 1941-1979. These axles have a Ball welded to the outer end of each axle tube. The Ball is open at the outboard end and the top and bottom...

Dodge first used the 4500 pound rated, closed knuckle, Dana-Spicer Model 70 front axle in the 1958 "light civilian" W300. The new W series Power Wagons® were sold concurrently with the military inspired WM300 3/4 ton 4x4. Dodge used the 4500 pound...

You will often see a 4x4 beam-type front axle referred to as a "Closed Knuckle" or "Open Knuckle" axle. What does this mean? In simple terms, the steering knuckles are the parts that pivot at the ends of the axle beams when you turn your steering wheel...