Rear axle dilema

[DJForrestA]

Okay here is my dilema. I have a 60 up front that is 69 inches with 4.56 gears. I have a Dana 70 out back that is 74 inches and has 4.88 gears. I also have a 14 bolt with 4.56 gears that is 67 inches. Either way I'm gonna need spacers. I could swap on the dually hubs up front but then I'd be 77 up front and 74 in the rear. I could swap in the 14 bolt not have to regear the front. If i go with the 14 bolt I won't be able to use my hummer wheels because they won't clear my hi steer arms up front. Any recomendations? I'll be remounting the spring perches under the frame in the back so I have to change some stuff on my rear axle either way. I just like the 70 and how hi the pinion is and how it doesn't hand down as much as the 14 bolt. But I really am not stoked about regearing this front axle either because I'll have to pay to get it done as I haven't the tools or the know how. Would it be easier to regear the 60 front to 4.88 or the rear to 4.56's.

[ih4ever]

if your worried about width issues between the front and back all chevy rear axles are slightly wider then the front... i heard that 3/4 ton vans have a 1.5 inch wider side to side. about 69 inches wms to wms instead of 67... but then you would be wider in the back of course

[BLK Scout 800]

if your worried about width issues between the front and back all chevy rear axles are slightly wider then the front... i heard that 3/4 ton vans have a 1.5 inch wider side to side. about 69 inches wms to wms instead of 67... but then you would be wider in the back of course

I think it is the opposite..... the front is wider by 2'' not the rear :flipoff2:
To answer the orignal question....How big are your tires ? I ask cuz with your runnin gear I asume 38+ and I think the 4.88's would be better for you...So I think I would re-gear the front....as for the spacers it's only 1'' each side in the rear so no big deal right???? :flipoff2:

[MochaMike]

What's your biggest issue? Cost or quality?
Quality being gears or pinion clearance.

If it's cost, I'd get rid of the Hummer rims or get new arms (is that possible?) & run the 14 bolt rear.

Otherwise, regear the front & narrow the 70.
Forget spacers.

PS-If you toss the 4.88s, let me know.

[TERRA-IZER]

GM Van 14 bolts are 70" wide.

[crazy4ih]

If i go with the 14 bolt I won't be able to use my hummer wheels because they won't clear my hi steer arms up front.

I dont get it...What does using the 14b rear have to do with hummer rims clearing your front hi-steer arms? :confused: It sounds like you are going to use the 60 front either way, so do the hummer rims not fit the front now? I'd just run the 14b rear you have, shave it for added ground clearance, slap some disk brakes on it while your at it and get new high steer arms for the front. Sell the dana 70 and combined with the money you save not having to re-gear, may cover the cost of the high steer arms or disk brakes.

As for the front being 2" wider than the rear, who cares. Its only 1" per side. Arent stock scout II dana 44's set up the same way? (wider in front?)

Anyways, thats my $.02

[ih4ever]

see i told you van axles are wider in the rear then the front Blk scout 80 :flipoff2:

and all stock chevys have wider front then rear do to some steering stabilizer theory...

[DJForrestA]

I guess cost is an issue. I hate to buy parts twice. The benefits of running the 14 bolt are I don't have to regear and I can run standard 4.5 in backspacing rims and run 15 or 16 inch wheels and get cheaper tires. I'll be running 37's. I'm running 37's but they are the old OZ muds and while they have lots of tread they are beginning to weather crack. If I keep the 70 I have to use the hummer wheels because it is so wide. I'll need the 7.25 inch backspacing. I'll have alot more tire options and cheaper ones with 15 or 16 inch tires than the 16.5's. I think the 70 is beefier but either one should be enough beef for 37's. Plus I eliminate the expense of regearing the front which is another 300 plus with labor. The 70 has a powerlock and I'm not sure if the 14b has anything. 14b is 4.56 already. The hummer wheels won't clear on the back now. Basically I'm perfect width wise now with the hummer wheels on back and chrome 4.5 inch backspacing wheels on the front. I'm running the 74 inch 70 now.

[crazy4ih]

I guess cost is an issue. I hate to buy parts twice. The benefits of running the 14 bolt are I don't have to regear and I can run standard 4.5 in backspacing rims and run 15 or 16 inch wheels and get cheaper tires. I'll be running 37's. I'm running 37's but they are the old OZ muds and while they have lots of tread they are beginning to weather crack. If I keep the 70 I have to use the hummer wheels because it is so wide. I'll need the 7.25 inch backspacing. I'll have alot more tire options and cheaper ones with 15 or 16 inch tires than the 16.5's. I think the 70 is beefier but either one should be enough beef for 37's. Plus I eliminate the expense of regearing the front which is another 300 plus with labor. The 70 has a powerlock and I'm not sure if the 14b has anything. 14b is 4.56 already. The hummer wheels won't clear on the back now. Basically I'm perfect width wise now with the hummer wheels on back and chrome 4.5 inch backspacing wheels on the front. I'm running the 74 inch 70 now.

Run the 14b, 15-16" wheels of your choice, get new tires, lincoln lock the rear and be done with it! Your over-thinking this one. After that, if you still want to use the d70, save up the $, narrow it, and re-gear your 60. But in the mean time, at least you'd have a rig to wheel instead of a project with 2 different wheels, and different gearing front and back....