Bender - The Silver 60

[Cruisertrash]

Love the Klever RTs I have. They're the 33x9.5x15 size. Haven't experience them on ice yet, but they've been fantastic on everything else: dry pavement, rock, sand, snow, rain. Fairly quiet on the highway for such meaty lugs. 10/10 would recommend. Got them from ColoradoLand tire out near Ken Caryl, the owner is a big Cruiser guy who I've met at Solid Axle Summit a few times.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

Love the Klever RTs I have. They're the 33x9.5x15 size. Haven't experience them on ice yet, but they've been fantastic on everything else: dry pavement, rock, sand, snow, rain. Fairly quiet on the highway for such meaty lugs. 10/10 would recommend. Got them from ColoradoLand tire out near Ken Caryl, the owner is a big Cruiser guy who I've met at Solid Axle Summit a few times.

Are you happy with that size in general? It just looks right for these older trucks.

 

[Cruisertrash]

Are you happy with that size in general? It just looks right for these older trucks.

Love the size. It’s about 32.75” actual.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

With the 80 being down the 60 is going to remain the daily for a while. One of the headlights went out a few weeks ago. Perfect time to upgrade to the Koito h4 kit. Thanks @Cruisertrash! Easy install with a cup of coffee and everything works perfect including the high beam indicator.

Ready to resume night driving.

Old

New

Magic box



Love the output without going to a crazy white color temp. Looks factory.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

I have never rebuilt a 60 axle. I did the 80 a few years back, and feel very comfortable doing it at home.

Is the knuckle centering tool necessary for a good job on this one? Anyone have one I could borrow?

 

[Cruisertrash]

With the 80 being down the 60 is going to remain the daily for a while. One of the headlights went out a few weeks ago. Perfect time to upgrade to the Koito h4 kit. Thanks @Cruisertrash! Easy install with a cup of coffee and everything works perfect including the high beam indicator.

Ready to resume night driving.

Old

New

Magic box



Love the output without going to a crazy white color temp. Looks factory.

I feel the same way about the headlight color temperature. It looks right. All the LED kits are way too white and don’t suit these vehicles at all. I’ve spent two solid years looking for a high output LED headlight package - or even just bulbs - that are in the 3500-4000K color range and they just don’t exist. I wonder if it’s a technology limitation of the LEDs themselves.

Anyway, thanks for the order and I’m glad you got the blue light on the dash too!

 

[Crash]

I have never rebuilt a 60 axle. I did the 80 a few years back, and feel very comfortable doing it at home.

Is the knuckle centering tool necessary for a good job on this one? Anyone have one I could borrow?

If you don’t replace the shims and keep track of their installation location you are good without the centering tool. Shims rarely go bad. If you do decide to replace them then you will need an 8” caliper.

 

[Cruisertrash]

Second this. Three knuckle jobs under my belt and never needed the tool. I did borrow one and use it the first time - it told me the existing shins were dead on. I stopped looking after that.

 

[MDH33]

If your knuckles are leaking oil, I would recommend using the centering tool. Never know who was in there ahead of you and if they reassembled correctly. Made this mistake on my 40 and I get to re-do after less than 1000 miles...

 

[KC Masterpiece]

If your knuckles are leaking oil, I would recommend using the centering tool. Never know who was in there ahead of you and if they reassembled correctly. Made this mistake on my 40 and I get to re-do after less than 1000 miles...

Any 60 owners watching this thread happen to have the knuckle tool? For $230 from trail tailor I would rather pay round trip shipping and some cash to borrow one.

 

[fyffer]

Any 60 owners watching this thread happen to have the knuckle tool? For $230 from trail tailor I would rather pay round trip shipping and some cash to borrow one.

I am sure that one is great, but I had no problem with a Maddox Race and Seal driver set MD10-1 a few years ago. I also used OTRAMM video on Mud as a Great reference for rebuilding them a few years ago. Noticed that there is a very slight grease around the knucles after the wipers (nothing bad just irritating), but I believe that is very common. Bought a SLEE spindle grease tool just for that reason. my2cents

 

[Crash]

I am sure that one is great, but I had no problem with a Maddox Race and Seal driver set MD10-1 a few years ago. I also used OTRAMM video on Mud as a Great reference for rebuilding them a few years ago. Noticed that there is a very slight grease around the knucles after the wipers (nothing bad just irritating), but I believe that is very common. Bought a SLEE spindle grease tool just for that reason. my2cents

A little grease is okay. Runny, chocolate shake looking goop is bad and a sign of inner seal failure whether it's from an old seal giving up to time or from misalignment of the axle within the seal. I thought someone in the club had one that was available for loan. Been a few years since the topic came up so this might be out of date info.

 

[Crash]

Any 60 owners watching this thread happen to have the knuckle tool? For $230 from trail tailor I would rather pay round trip shipping and some cash to borrow one.

What sort of leakage are you currently seeing from the knuckles?

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

i've rebuilt countless front axles.... never ever needed a centering tool. never even knew they existed till i got an 80..

 

[KC Masterpiece]

What sort of leakage are you currently seeing from the knuckles?

Normal "needs a knuckle job" leaks. Birf soup leaking out. Very very minor in 2wd.

I already have a complete kit from Kurt and zinc plated hardware to keep things looking fancy. Since I am going in there anyways I am going to swap out the rotors. I have both OEM and Marlin axle seals, not sure which I am going to use yet.

@Notyourmomslx450 funny I thought the tool was only needed for the pre80 axles. The 80 axle does not use shims for the trunion bearings.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

@Notyourmomslx450 funny I thought the tool was only needed for the pre80 axles. The 80 axle does not use shims for the trunion bearings.

right?!?!

 

[RDub]

When I did my 60 the shims were the same on each side and what was considered typical factory for size and location. I’m not saying that means they were right, but it gave me confidence to move forward without the centering tool. There was grease/gunk all over the outside of the knuckle castings and on the exposed part of the knuckle balls, which is why I did the knuckle rebuild. The grease inside was ugly but not the soup that happens when the oil seals are really leaky. So I again felt confident in putting the shims back the way they were without checking with a centering tool. The one mistake I made was using a Valvoline moly grease that someone recommended without me researching first. Turns out that particular grease is known to separate quickly unless constantly agitated. So now I get clear-ish drips of an oily liquid on the tips of the lower knuckle bearing studs once in a while that doesn’t smell, look or feel like gear oil. Just my two cents. When I get home I will check which grease I used and post up so others don’t use it.

 

[fyffer]

A little grease is okay. Runny, chocolate shake looking goop is bad and a sign of inner seal failure whether it's from an old seal giving up to time or from misalignment of the axle within the seal. I thought someone in the club had one that was available for loan. Been a few years since the topic came up so this might be out of date

Just Dark and sticky stuff.

Normal "needs a knuckle job" leaks. Birf soup leaking out. Very very minor in 2wd.

I already have a complete kit from Kurt and zinc plated hardware to keep things looking fancy. Since I am going in there anyways I am going to swap out the rotors. I have both OEM and Marlin axle seals, not sure which I am going to use yet.

@Notyourmomslx450 funny I thought the tool was only needed for the pre80 axles. The 80 axle does not use shims for the trunion bearings.

Got an OEM rebuild kit, but there were Marlins in there.So that’s what it got. Actually as I recall looked a little beefier as well. Keeping the OEM in the rig god forbid, any trail repair along with my FSM.

 

[RDub]

The grease I used and do not recommend is Valvoline Full Synthetic Moly Fortified Grease, PN VV986. Sometimes also called Syn Power.

 

[KC Masterpiece]

The grease I used and do not recommend is Valvoline Full Synthetic Moly Fortified Grease, PN VV986. Sometimes also called Syn Power.

Funny you should say that. That is what I used on the 80 knuckles, and have used for all of my driveline grease service on the 60 and 80.

This last tube I just opened over the weekend had some separation. Like fancy organic peanut butter. I just gave it a good stir and put it in the grease gun.