QK4618 Dana 44HD, Dana 60, Dana 70 Large Closed Knuckle Bearing Kit

QK4618 Dana 44HD, Dana 60, Dana 70 Large Closed Knuckle Front Axle Bearing Kit is a direct replacement for Ford Dana 44HD and Dana 60 Closed Knuckle Front Axles, but it will also work on Chevy, Dodge, GMC, International, and Jeep (See Tech Note 3). QK4618 has the parts you need to replace the Knuckle Bearings on both sides of vintage, heavy-duty 4x4 truck with a Dana 44HD, Dana 60, or Dana 70 closed knuckle axle with 12 bolt knuckle ball seals. Kit includes 4 QU50600 Timken® Knuckle Bearings, 4 QU50601 Timken® Knuckle Bearing Cups, and 2 QA4765 shim kits. QK4618 kit is for both sides of axle. USA Made.

Also available: TK50785 Torque King® Bearing Only Kit

Need More Info? Use the handy Links below to access over 40 years of Dan's product and vehicle specific Tech Notes to easily get the information you need for your vehicle's repair, maintenance, or upgrade project!

Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
Maintenance
Shims
Replacing Upper Bronze Bushings with Bearings
Does NOT Fit Standard Dana 44 and Smaller Axles
Applications

Tech Note 1: Maintenance
With a Closed Knuckle axle, the axle universal joints and king pin bearings are lubricated by very heavy oil or a viscous grease that will flow when the axle shafts rotate. A large multi-piece seal is bolted to the backside of the steering knuckle to keep lubricant in and water out. On poorly maintained closed knuckle axles or axles equipped with lockout hubs that are rarely used in 4x4, the upper king pin bearing and axle universal joint can suffer from lack of lubrication. The Ball Seals will usually weep some lubricant especially when standard gear oils are used as a lubricant. Submersion of the axle under water or condensation from temperature changes can cause moisture to build up inside the enclosed ball and lead to corrosion damage and part failures.

Tech Note 2: Shims
Shims are used between the King Pin Caps and Steering Knuckles to set your Knuckle Bearing/Bushing turning preload. More shims decreases preload, less shims increases preload. King Pin Caps are shimmed to put the specified turning preload on the bearings. The amount of turning preload varies by vehicle and year but the value is measured by a beam or dial type torque wrench (refer to the vehicle manufacturer Service Manual for your specific model specification). Too loose can cause poor steering or "Death Wobble", too tight will lead to rapid bearing failure, broken parts, and possible steering loss.

Tech Note 3: Replacing Upper Bronze Bushings with Bearings
Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, IHC, and Jeep all used Dana 12 bolt closed knuckle axles. These axles, which except for Ford, originally used QU40327 Bronze Upper King Pin Bushing instead of QU50600 Bearing, can use this Kit if the Knuckle turning preload is set at 9-15 Lb. Ft. (12-20 Nm) without QU40189 Ball Seal or steering rods installed on knuckle. Also See QK4616 for our King Pin Bushing and Bearing Kit which includes two QU40327 Bushings.

Tech Note 4: Does NOT Fit Standard Dana 44 and Smaller Axles
If you have a Dana 25, Dana 27, Dana 30, or Dana 44 front axle with 8 bolt ball seals, see QK4617.

Applications:
Chevy/GMC:
K20, K25 3/4 ton trucks with the optional Dana 44HD closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Dodge:
W200 Power Wagon with the optional Dana 44HD closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
W300 Power Wagon 4x4s with Dana 70 closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
W600 Power Wagon 4x4s with Dana 70 closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978

Ford:
Closed Knuckle Dana 44HD and 12 bolt ball seals:
F-250 with Heavy-Duty Model 44HD Front Axles: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
Closed Knuckle Dana 60 and 12 bolt ball seals:
F-250 Crew Cab: 1974, 1975

IHC:
3/4 ton 4x4s with the optional Dana 44HD closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
4x4s with Dana 70 closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982

Jeep:
M715, M725, M726 Military 4x4s with Dana 60 closed knuckle front axle and 12 bolt ball seals: 1967, 1968, 1969

For Jeep M series trucks there may be a different lower bearing needed. You will need to check your lower bearing size to be certain that this is the bearing kit you need. Please call to check the size against what we have before ordering.