Dana 60 Differential Carrier Bearing Kit 706047XR

A steady growl or hum from the front or rear axle of a Super Duty, a 2500/3500 Ram, an older HD Chevy or GMC, or a built Jeep running a Dana 60 is one of the most common reasons people go looking for carrier bearings. So is a ring and pinion job where the old side bearings came off the carrier rough or pitted. Motive Gear 706047XR is a two-side carrier bearing kit with Koyo tapered roller bearings for the Dana 60 standard and reverse rotation, Dana 61, Dana 70 and Dana 70U, and it replaces the earlier 706047X kit.

What the carrier bearings do in a Dana 60

In a Dana 60 the differential case does not float on the axle shafts. It is held in the center section by two tapered roller bearings, one on each side, pressed onto the case journals and running in cups that sit in the housing bores under the main caps. Dana uses shims between the bearing cone and the case rather than threaded adjusters, so the thickness of the shim stack on each side decides two things at once: where the ring gear sits against the pinion (backlash) and how hard the bearings are loaded (preload). The housing is spread slightly to install the carrier, and when it is released the bores clamp down on the cups. Once those bearings wear, that clamp and that position are gone, and the ring gear starts to move away from the pinion under load.

Symptoms that point to worn carrier bearings

• A rumble or hum that rises with road speed but changes little between throttle and coast, unlike pinion bearing whine that comes and goes with load
• Noise that is louder in a sweeping turn as weight shifts onto one side bearing
• Backlash that will not hold a reading, or a gear contact pattern that wanders between checks
• Glitter or flakes on the cover magnet, and a bearing that feels notchy when the carrier is turned by hand with the axles out
• A new ring and pinion that started quiet and began to whine soon after, because old carrier bearings were pressed back on and lost preload

Heavy towing and big tires are where Dana 60 and 70 bearing wear shows up first. For the common failures on each version, see our Dana 60 front axle problems guide and the Dana 60 rear axle guide.

How to confirm before you buy

Raise the axle, put the transmission in neutral and spin each tire while listening at the center section; a rough carrier bearing growls on both sides, while a wheel bearing is loudest at one hub. With the cover off, set a dial indicator on a ring gear tooth and pry the carrier side to side: any side play means preload is gone. Our carrier bearing noise guide walks through telling carrier, pinion and wheel bearing noise apart. If the pinion also has in-and-out play, a full Dana 60 and 61 rear master overhaul kit covers both sets of bearings in one order.

Fitment

The kit is cataloged for Dana 60 standard rotation, Dana 60 reverse rotation, Dana 61, Dana 70 and Dana 70U, in either the front or rear position. The same kit shows up in vehicle catalogs from mid-1990s Dakota listings to the 2003 Ram 3500, which tells you it follows the bearing size, not one vehicle. The bearing size commonly listed for it is the 387A cone with the 382S cup. Dana 60 carriers were not all built the same, so pull one old bearing and read the numbers on the cone and cup, or send us your axle tag, year and VIN before you order. This is a carrier bearing kit only: it does not include pinion bearings, a pinion seal, shims or ring gear bolts. Browse the rest of our axle and transmission rebuild kits for those parts.

Install notes

• Mark the main caps left and right before removing them; they are machined with the housing and must go back in the same place and direction.
• Spread the housing to lift the carrier out. A Dana 60 housing spreader is the right tool; prying the carrier out damages the bores and the shims.
• Pull the old cones with a split puller that grips behind the inner race, such as the clamshell carrier bearing puller, and keep each side's shim stack together and labeled.
• Press the new cones on with a driver that only touches the inner race, and never reuse the old cups with the new cones.
• Revolution Gear lists .006-.010 in backlash, 110 ft-lb on the ring gear bolts and 80 ft-lb on the bearing caps for both the Dana 60 and Dana 70. Check the contact pattern on drive and coast before buttoning it up.
• Fill with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil to the bottom of the fill hole, and add friction modifier if the carrier is a clutch-type limited slip. A fresh nodular iron Dana 60 cover is worth considering if the stock cover is dented or leaking.

Does 706047XR fit both front and rear Dana 60 axles?

Yes. It is listed for the Dana 60 in either position, standard or reverse rotation, plus the Dana 61, Dana 70 and Dana 70U. Reverse rotation front axles use the same carrier bearing size as standard rotation.

What is the difference between 706047X and 706047XR?

706047XR is the current Motive Gear number with Koyo bearings and it replaces the earlier 706047X kit. Both are carrier (side) bearing kits for the same Dana 60/61/70 bearing size.

Does this kit include pinion bearings or shims?

No. It contains the two carrier bearing cones and their cups. Reuse your shims if they are in good shape, or buy a master overhaul kit if you also need pinion bearings, a seal, a crush sleeve and new shims.

Can I replace carrier bearings without changing the ring and pinion?

Yes, if the gear teeth are not pitted or chipped. Keep the original shim stacks on the correct sides, and recheck backlash and the contact pattern after installation, because new bearings are slightly different in width from worn ones.

What gear oil should go in after the job?

Most Dana 60 and 70 axles take 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil depending on the vehicle and use. Add friction modifier only if the carrier is a clutch-type limited slip. Check the axle tag or the vehicle manual for the factory recommendation.