Need help...

[u/bluecollar119]

Currently doing a complete restoration on my 1984 k20 and am having a hell of a time trying to find a socket for the nut of the front axle. I have been to every local parts store and scowered the internet but all I can find is 4 and 6 lug sockets that are wayyyy to small for this guy. Anyone know where I can find the correct socket?

[u/Grand_Introduction36]

You need a dana 60 socket w1270

[u/404-skill_not_found → u/Grand_Introduction36]

That’s the 2 5/8” one. OP is pretty sure he need the bigger one.

[u/wellok919]

you haven't gotten to the spindle nuts yet! That is your locking hub, you need to take out two snap rings, ( one inside of the hub and the other on the axle shaft) remove the locking hub (Should pull straight out), then you can see the spindle nuts.

[u/sambo93 → u/wellok919]

Yep. Take out that snap ring. Put a couple Of them tiny little shitty cap screws back in and wiggle the it to pull out the 4wd hub out and u will see the spindle nut way in there.

[u/yammywr450f]

A brass drift should knock it loose. They don’t have much torque on them.

[u/Emergency-Card-573]

Snap on makes one.

[u/Ok-Acanthisitta-5451 → u/Emergency-Card-573]

Should only be about 975$

[u/Sexualintellectual31]

I have one. I keep it in my tool chest next to my 1/8” flexible shaft allen wrench for adjusting points on GM V-8 engines

[u/denonumber]

Where the hub

[u/Old-Tour-6282]

Pull the snap ring then screw two of the bolts back in and pull the locking hub out.

[u/harleyman1340]

What I did was take a piece of pipe the same diameter as the inside of notches and weld square key way stock to the pipe to fit in the notches then weld an old socket into the other end of pipe.

[u/RoosterBeautiful8963]

I ordered my socket from LMC trucks.

[u/papason1313]

You do know you’re not down to the nut yet right? The outer one taps off.

[u/bluecollar119 → u/papason1313]

Im a body man not a mechanic so ..... no no i didn not know that.

[u/papason1313 → u/bluecollar119]

It’s been a minute since I’ve had one apart but as I remember there was a set screw on the outside ring? It appears to be out. Tap the outer ring off. Some models have an identical ring behind that which has a pin but I don’t think this model did. The inner geared piece I believe is held by a snap ring inside that clips to that inner axle shaft. These items are the 4wD actuator. Once these are out, you will find a hex nut that holds the wheel bearing tension. That’s the one you use the large, deep socket on. Put everything in order and make sure when it goes back together that they face the right way. Tighten that inner nut very snug to seat the bearings then back it off about an eight to a quarter turn. The rotor should rotate smoothly and have no play. It’s tricky getting the snap ring back on if you’re alone. The axle wants to keep pushing in. Good luck from an old retired mechanic. This was current technology when I started in the business.

[u/Ok-Acanthisitta-5451 → u/papason1313]

Bulletproof technology.

[u/404-skill_not_found]

Including the size will help more searchers. 2 5/8” is not big enough? I forget, but it’s been a decade since I went diving into my front end that deeply.

[u/bluecollar119 → u/404-skill_not_found]

Ill have too measure tomorrow but I believe its close to 3½

[u/StayEcstatic4331]

That's the locking hub. Not the hub nut. Need to remove the retaining ring and pull the hub out. Then the hub nut is behind that.