The front axle consists of the following components:

The Dana 70 monobeam front axle has an open knuckle design. Other than the unique parts for front-wheel drive these axles are mechanically identical to Model 70 rear axle assemblies. It is a full floating axle design. The axle shafts are retained by the front wheel spindles. It is equipped with an open differential which has a set of four gears. Two are side gears and two are pinion gears. Each side gear is splined to an axle shaft so each axle shaft turns when the side gear rotates. The pinion gears are mounted on a differential pinion shaft, and the gears are free to rotate on this shaft. The pinion shaft is fitted into a bore in the differential case and is at right angles to the axle shafts. Power is transmitted through the differential as follows: the drive pinion rotates the ring gear. The ring gear being bolted to the differential case, rotates the case, the differential pinion, and as it rotates the case, forces the pinion gears against the side gears. When both wheels have equal traction, the pinion gears do not rotate on the pinion shaft because the input force on the pinion gear is equally divided between the two side gears. Therefore, the pinion gears revolve with the pinion shaft, but do not rotate around the shaft itself. The side gears, being splined to the axle shafts and in mesh with the pinion gears rotate the axle shafts. If a vehicle were always driven in a straight line, the ring and pinion gears would be sufficient. The axle shaft could be solidly attached to the ring gear and both driving wheels would turn at equal speed. However, if it became necessary to turn a corner, tires would scuff and slide because the differential allows the axle shafts to rotate at different speeds. When the vehicle turns a corner, the inner wheel turns slower than the out wheel and slows the front axle side gear (as the shaft is splined to the side gear). The front axle pinion gears will roll around the slowed front axle side gear, driving the front axle side gear wheel faster. If the front axle were to be equipped with a limited slip or locking differential this would create a torque steer situation due to the offset of the differential housing and having the left axle shaft longer than the right axle shaft.

The front axle is equipped with manual locking hubs. When actuated the locking hub locks the hub and wheel and tire assembly to the halfshaft. When released, the axle shaft is disengaged from the front disc brake hub and rotor and the wheel rotates freely on the front wheel spindle. The manual locking hubs must be engaged and disengaged by hand. To engage the hubs for 4-wheel drive, grasp the locking bar in the center of the hub and rotate it clockwise to the LOCK position. The arrow on the locking bar must line up with the marker on the hub at the LOCK position. To disengage the hubs for the 2-wheel drive, grasp the locking bar and rotate it counterclockwise toward the FREE position until the arrow on the locking bar is lined up with the marker on the hub at the FREE position.