TRUCK: 1991 DODGE W250 5sp Diesel 4x4

Alright... EVERYTHING I have found online says I need this special socket to take my front end apart. I go ahead and get my manual lockouts off and there is a HEX NUT screwed onto the axle. What is going on here? I do NOT see a place for the special socket to go on, and there is a piece of metal behind the hex nut that is bent onto it to stop it from turning....

Can anybody tell me what size that hex nut is and why my front end is different than anything else I can find about an 1991 Dodge Diesel??? It looks like it's a factory truck, but this has me scratching my head!

Thanks

 

There are special star washers with tabs all the way around to bend over flats on nut.

 

Yeah. That's what I have behind my nut... Is my nut 2 9/16ths? Seems like that's what I'm finding but I think it's bigger than that... I'm just trying to figure out my nut size on the dana 60 and it's a hex not a special one. Thanks.

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...0&postcount=11

 

My truck had the same nut from the rear on the front. Don't know why, but some mechanic decided to do it. The prblem was that there really wasn't anything detaining that nut and there was no good way to set bearing load. If there is anything other than the double locking nuts, with the pin is not correct. Mark I bought a complete kit to put it on correctly, the outer nut requires around 180 lbs torque, IIRC

 

This is what you should have...Mark

 

Oh I know that's what I'm supposed to have but obviously I don't. Jacked up front end today for first time since I bought the truck and can move tire at top probably an inch so need to get the wheel bearing replaced ASAP.

 

Does your truck have allen head screws holding the lockouts on or 9/16" head bolts?

If it has external lockouts they use the sharp cornered 2-9/16" nut. It is possible someone swapped them or something too.

 

My truck does have the allen head screws holding the lockouts on... is that from the factory?

 

Well with an attitude like that, I'm sorry I tried to help...Have a great day

 

I am sorry I offended you. It's just frustrating looking everywhere online for two hours and everything that I can find says I am supposed to have that special socket and special nuts and when I open it all up it's a hex nut and I have no clue what size it is supposed to be. Thank you for your posting though- I may well change it to that style if that's what it's supposed to have. Thanks.

 

Thats ok, my point is that if it is a 4x4 dana 60 THE ONLY safe way to have it is with the double nut stock set up. The tool is Here I see it says 6 prongs, but below it says 4...Mark

 

Can you tell me why I have the hex nut instead? Some stupid mechanic who was too lazy to buy the correct tool got the hex nut for the rear axle and put it on the front axle? I don't even like the way the tabs bend onto the nut- looks like a good way to break a tab off and destroy the bearings if it gets into them!

 

That is what I think. I was just like you, I would read how to set preload and it made no sense with what I had. I am the 2nd owner and I asked the original owner, still a neighbor, and he knew nothing about it. Who knows why people do these things, but trust me, a properly setup stock system will NEVER loosen on it's own...Mark

 

My truck is only supposed to have 100k on it but it was beat to death on some farm in Nebraska and I swear the thing was run through the river twice a week throughout it's life.. the rear axle was dry when I got it and I think the front axle is dry as well, haven't redone my front diff cover seal yet but haven't used 4x4 much either. Something else that's interesting... on my passenger side my nuts are 3/4" socket to remove, on my driver's side they are 7/8" socket to remove... haven't had both tires off at the same time to figure out why. One side of the lockouts says MM and is all cast, the other side doesn't have a mark on it and the twisty thing is plastic. Stupid truck.