Thick-wall nodular iron cover that shields a Dana 60 ring gear and locker from impact, with a magnetic drain plug to catch wear metal.
A bent or cracked differential cover on a Dana 60 usually shows up as a gear oil drip on the driveway, a cover that weeps at the bottom bolts no matter how many times you reseal it, or a dent that ended up close enough to the ring gear to leave a shiny rub mark. This is the Yukon Hardcore YHCC-D60, a thick-wall nodular iron cover that bolts on in place of the stamped steel cover on Dana 50, Dana 60 and Dana 70 housings. It fits front and rear axles in standard or reverse rotation, so it covers everything from 1994-2002 Ram 2500 fronts to Ford Super Duty, E-Series vans and older GM 1-ton trucks.
On a Dana 60 the cover is more than a lid. The ring gear spins inches away from it, oil flung off the gear runs down its inside face, and on a front axle it is the lowest thing in front of the tires. A stamped cover flexes and dents. A cast cover adds stiffness at the cover flange, where the bearing caps sit. Yukon builds this one from nodular iron with a black powder coat, a stainless accent plate and stainless cover bolts. The photos show a fill plug on the face and a drain plug at the bottom, and Yukon lists the drain plug as magnetic. The inside is contoured to move oil, which helps heat leave the axle when you tow.
If the leak is at the pinion seal or the axle seals, a new cover will not fix it. Our guides on cover leaks, gasket versus RTV and pinion seal leaks show where to look first.
Count the cover bolts. A Dana 60 uses a 10-bolt cover with an uneven, asymmetrical shape, and the axle housing has "60" cast into it. Yukon lists this same cover for Dana 50 and Dana 70 housings. Then measure clearance. Yukon notes the cover stands 3.35 inches tall from the gasket surface to its highest point and says to verify clearance to the steering linkage, which matters most on front axles with a tie rod or drag link running across the diff.
Yukon's fitment list covers Dana 50, 60 and 70 axles in Ford F-250, F-350 and Super Duty trucks (1999-2015 Super Duty listings), Excursion 2000-2005, E-250 and E-350 vans, Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 1994-2002, Ram vans, and Chevrolet and GMC C/K 30 and 3500 trucks and vans going back to the 1960s. If your truck has been axle-swapped or you are not sure which axle you have, read the tag on the cover bolt or send us the year and VIN. You can find the gear sets, overhaul kits and lockers that pair with this cover in our hard parts section.
Drain the axle first. Remove the old cover, scrape both the housing face and the new cover face down to clean metal, and wipe them dry with brake cleaner. Run a thin, even bead of RTV around the inside of the bolt holes, then set the cover and run the bolts down in a criss-cross pattern so the flange pulls in evenly. Let the RTV cure before filling. Fill through the fill plug with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil until it reaches the bottom of the hole, and add friction modifier only if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip. While the cover is off, look at the gear teeth and the old oil; if you find chunks, the Yukon 30-spline open spider gear kit or a Dana 60 front master overhaul kit belong on the bench at the same time, and a Dana 60 housing spreader makes pulling the carrier much easier. Read the magnet at every oil change. Fine gray paste is normal, chips are not.
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Yes. Yukon lists it for standard and reverse rotation Dana 60s, which covers rear axles and high-pinion fronts, plus Dana 50 and Dana 70 housings with the same 10-bolt pattern.
Yukon says the cover is 3.35 inches tall from the gasket surface and asks you to verify clearance to the steering linkage. Measure your current gap before ordering, especially on a lifted or modified front axle.
Yes. It comes with stainless cover bolts, a fill plug and a magnetic drain plug. Bring your own RTV or a cover gasket.
Yukon does not advertise extra capacity for this cover. Fill to the bottom of the fill hole with the axle level and you will have the correct level.
No. A Dana 44 uses a different 10-bolt cover. This one fits the Dana 50, 60 and 70 bolt pattern only.
Use 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil. Add friction modifier only if your axle has a clutch-type limited slip.
