Identify Dodge Dana 70 Closed Knuckle Front Axle IDN-131

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 Dana 70 for all W-300 Power Wagons® and some specially equipped W200 Power Wagons® from 1958-1974. The closed knuckle Dana 70 with drum brakes was replaced by a 4500 pound rated, disc brake, open knuckle Dana 60 for the 1975 model year. It is quite possible a few early 1975 model year Dodge W200/W300 were built with the closed knuckle Dana 70, but 1974 is the last year Dodge lists the 4500 pound Dana 70 in Dodge Parts Books.

The short lived 2 ton W-600 medium duty chassis cab truck replaced the W500 1-1/2 ton 4x4 in 1972. Like the W-500, the W-600, at first used the Rockwell FDS750 front axle when it was introduced, but for 1974, two axles were offered depending upon the chassis Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). The 6000 pound rated, closed knuckle Dana 70 was the "light" axle and the heavy axle was a Rockwell 7500 pound rated FDS75.

The Dana 70 equipped W-600 was only built from 1974 to 1977 when Dodge ceased making medium duty trucks. The last few W-600s made were sold as 1978 models.