I am in the market for an axle to push my 5.13s and 37s and since i have a heavy foot i need some overkill. Which would you guys say is best. 60=FF, lighter, more locker options. 14=heavy as a Kmart shopper, gears are easier to set up, 35 spline, bigger gear. I know a good deal about the two but cant decide on which would be a better deal in the long run. And yes, i have read #4 and 16.

unless you find a 35 spline 60 get the 14bolt. the 14bolt is only 30 spline but it has 1.5"+ shafts so it is very beefy.

Have you considered the D70? I think it's a better option to the 14bolt. I know not as many locker choices, but just as strong or stronger with a little more clearence. The only down side would be availibility.

I have been thinking about this decision for a good while now and I have decided on an Eaton rear. Drop out third and as long as you are ok with a Detroit it has all the locker choices you need.

Ron

Originally posted by toymaniac
Have you considered the D70? I think it's a better option to the 14bolt. I know not as many locker choices, but just as strong or stronger with a little more clearence. The only down side would be availibility. i belive the 70 has more locker options than teh 14bolt.(if im reading your post correctly) has teh same availibility as a 60 or damn near close to it. jiMMy

ok, i was wrong about the spline. anyway i dont think i can fit my 15" rims on a D70, at least with the 14 bolt i can get one with the 11" brakes.
Edit: What about Sterlings, they are pretty damn big too, at least i can Lincoln Lock that one.

i dunno about teh single wheel 70's but you can get a duallie 70 and it will work! jiMMy

Go D60FF I don't know why so many people think that the 30 spline dana 60s are worthless, you have to buy a locker for it so why not just pick up a 35 spline Detroit or ARB and then get a set of Dana 70 shafts (they are 35 spline and fit into a 60) at a junk yard. you can't go wrong this way!!! you will never break a 60 with 37s unless you have a blown big block and a full size!

the 70 is still a much better choice than the 14 bolt... the 14 bolt uses cast Iron shafts and tubes.


I have dana 60's for my trucks, wouldn't go any other way.

Originally posted by CWToyota
Go D60FF I don't know why so many people think that the 30 spline dana 60s are worthless, you have to buy a locker for it so why not just pick up a 35 spline Detroit or ARB and then get a set of Dana 70 shafts (they are 35 spline and fit into a 60) at a junk yard. you can't go wrong this way!!! you will never break a 60 with 37s unless you have a blown big block and a full size!

the 70 is still a much better choice than the 14 bolt... the 14 bolt uses cast Iron shafts and tubes.


I have dana 60's for my trucks, wouldn't go any other way.


The tubes in the 14 bolt arent cast.
As for the shafts, they are plenty strong, and dirt cheap to replace if you do happen to break one.
The 14 bolt has the D60 beat hands down though in the expensive to replace department ie. Ring and pinion.
When I used to mud bogg race, it was as regular as the morning paper to see a D60 or two blow up a ring and pinion behind big horsepower full size rigs, but in two years of competitions I only saw 2 14 bolts let go, and one guy who broke one told me he thought it straight water in it for about a year of wheeling, behind a 500 hp big block Chevy.
Lets face it the D60 and the 14 bolt (or sterling or D70 for that matter) are not gonna have many axle shaft failures, and they are quick repairs if they do.
So the thing I would consider the most important factor is the strength of the ring and pinion assembly, and the 14 bolt or the D70 win that hands down over a 60. I preffer the 14 bolt over the D70 because of the extra pinion support bearing, and ease of set up (although Gearman does my gear set ups nowadays, so I dont know why that would really matter), and also the affordability of the detroit ($300, and the fact that the C&C versions are perfect width(63") if your not going full size.
In any case they are all damn good axles.

Originally posted by CWToyota
the 70 is still a much better choice than the 14 bolt... the 14 bolt uses cast Iron shafts and tubes.


.

how many 70's have you seen :nuke: ?
how many 14 bolts have you seen :nuke: ?

i have seen 30 spline ff 60's :nuke: shafts and i have never seen a 14bolt :nuke: . i have seen 14bolts under full sizes getting the crap beat out of them with big blocks and they took it all and kept going. i see lots of ford and dodge guys swap in 14bolts. not that ii think the 14 is a better axle than the 70 but they are more common and cheaper. i think the 70 and 14bolt are equal in strength.

All good points, but the 14B is just to damn big. Ya I know give it a shave, bla bla bla. IF it wasn't for the huge rock plowing center section it would be the choice. But you mention 37's. That thing is going to be a major rock magnet. But then again you mention 37's unless you're running a blown big block you're never going to hurt a "small" 60.

Dana 70 is the axle! The 60 cover is interchangable and you can trim the housing down to the cover and then viola. It's a D60 on steriods.

The other option if you can't find a 70, is a HyBrid 60/14.

As for not fitting wheels over the drums? Convert it to discs, it's easy.

Originally posted by evilfij
I have been thinking about this decision for a good while now and I have decided on an Eaton rear. Drop out third and as long as you are ok with a Detroit it has all the locker choices you need.

Ron

Word my man! That's what I'm about to run. Beefier than the 14 bolt :D:D

go 14 bolt, what other locker is there besides the detriot and welding it up. personally im a big fan of the ford 10.25 but no one else seems to be. i have a 14 bolt in my jeep but the next project is getting the 10.25. i have a 30 spline d60, a 14 bolt and a 10.25 all in the yard i should get my ass out there, pull the shafts and take a pic for yah. of coarse then youd want a 10.25 :)

14 bolt

Just an FYI-
I took the large lip off the bottom of my 14 bolt and smoothed the lines. It is now within 1/4" of the clearance I have with my HP60. There is also still ~3/4" of housing there for strength.

I love that axle:)

I left the drums and I can still lock up the tires (due to a $15 master cylinder upgrade)

I got my 14 bolt set-up with a Detroit, 5.13's, good brakes and bearing hubs for $700:eek: :eek: . I don't think you can beat that affordabilty factor:D

The 14 bolt is way cheaper, and it's stronger than a 60.
It is also EASY to set-up the gears. Once you see how a gear set-up is done it a 14 bolt (with a screw driver ) you will wonder Dana chose the PITA method they use.

And whether you go 60 OR 14 bolt - shave that pig! It is easy, and worth it (especially if you only run 37's).

Do the shaving now, or you will have to take it apart all over again later...

Phil

my next day off i'm going t otrun around some junk yards. THe only reason i would pick the 14 bolt over the 60 is gear set up and strength. I'm sure with 37 MTRs i'll never blow either one up but i always fuk something up so i want to be safe. I may look into the 60/70 hybrid thing and shave it. WOOHOO time for metal in the eye :smokin:

Get the 14. They are more plentiful and cheaper than the D60's and D70's.

I can and have gotten plenty of 14's for anywhere from free to $125. Never paid higher than that for one.

I have only seen one D70 and it's still under the bus. :flipoff2:

All the D60's I have come across have the crappy 10 splines or something like that. :confused:

14's are easy to build and set up. Cheaper, too. Also the fact the pinion is supported by 3 bearings instead of two like the 60 and 70 make this axle pretty much stronger than a 60 but more comparable to a 70.

I would still pick a 14 over a 70 any day. :smokin:

Get either a D70 or 14 bolt. If you need more gear and locker selection you get the D70.

The 14 bolt does have the extra pinion bearing but if you have seen the pinion bearings from a 60 compared to a 70 you wouldnt even think about that extra bearing. The 70 pinion bearings are fawking HUGE!


To me its whatever you can get the cheapest. I had a 14 bolt but it worked out better for a buddy so he bought me a 70.

Pass on the 60 unless you want to have 14 bolt/70 outers put on that housing. Or you can have the spindles bored out to fit 35 spline axles.

I say get BOTH! 14 bolt in the rear and D60 in the front:flipoff2: Really though like Slut said, whatever you can get the cheapest. It was the 14 bolt for me. I got a shaved 14bolt , 5:13, locked up with disks, all for under $550. Works for me.

Originally posted by whatdaphuk
ok, i was wrong about the spline. anyway i dont think i can fit my 15" rims on a D70, at least with the 14 bolt i can get one with the 11" brakes.
Edit: What about Sterlings, they are pretty damn big too, at least i can Lincoln Lock that one.

My Sterling's drums are 12x3". 15" wheels with 4" bs clear fine.

Sterlings do have problematic wb hub seals. If you submerge your truck a lot it might be wise to look elsewhere (ask mrlaserboy). For the dry climates I 'wheel in it's not an issue. Of course I dunno about the seals on 14 bolts and/or D70s, will they keep water out if you sit submerged for several minutes or more?

Lockers for the Sterling should be ARB, Detroit and Lock-Rite TTBOMK.

You can get 5.38 for the Sterling but not 5.13 yet (I don't think, but call Motive Gear if you really need 5.13s, they might now be avail). Watch some moron will STILL spout off that you can't get gears deeper than 4.56 for the 10.25. Sorry, no longer true.

Edit: but my vote: go for what's cheapest and strongest which will probably be the 14 bolt.

I agree with everyone else on the 14 bolt. I picked mine up for $750 dollars and it already had a welded diff, 5:13's and disk brakes. You can easily do all the above for the same price if you set up the gears your self. Go 14 bolt shave it and throw your worrys out the window.

I will be running 37's as well. Won't the 14 bolt drag like a fat man up stairs though? Does anyone have a pic of their 14 bolt clearance with tires under 38"?

looks like i got slightly different ideas of "cheap" than some of yas. ;) i got the 14 bolt in my jeep for $50,with an open diff and 3.21 gears,and since it came from a $50 parts truck that also donated body parts,and a tranny,i figure ive got about $12.50 in the one ill be puttin my my tow rig.

the 70 and 10.25 ford are all great axles,but you cant beat the availability and affordability of the 14 bolt

If your worried about size of the pumpkin go for the SF 14 bolt. Its quite a bit smaller. We run this axle in a narrowed k5 blazer and cant kill the damn thig no matter how hard we try. (and we try damn hard so we can put the ff 14 bolt we have set up into the beast)
The only downfall i can see to the SF 14 bolt is you can olny get 4.88 gear ratios in it. thats why when this axle finally gives up the FF 14 bolt will be going in.....

Would a shaved 14 bolt, shaving the lip not where you cut then welding on a new plate have the same clearance as a D60?

i had some pics of my friend's shaved 14 with 36" TSLs. i'll try to find them on my harddrive.

Does anyone sell a cheap 14 bolt spool? If so why Detriot over spool?

Nobody makes a spool for the 14 yet and detroit is the best because it is less than $300.

go with the14 bolt with a detroit its easier on tires,my 14 bolt is welded, it sucks on the street,but great on the trail.

What donor are you guys using, or what parts from the store to convert to disc?

I got a 14 bolt for $50 bucks I figure it will cost $700 to get it all finished up and in my YJ. got love 14 bolts cheap and easy and bomb proof.:skull:

will 37" even touch the ground with a 14 bolt pig ? :D

i would build a shaved FF60 with 35 spline axles and disks.

14 bolt: stronger, cheaper, easier to set up, cheaper Detroit Locker. Ignore the last comment, GM uses 14 bolts with teeny 30" tires.
Charlie

14 bolt...most come with 4.10's or some with 4.56 throw in a locker and some disk brakes....for under the price of a locker for the 60 you are done...minus the cost of the axle, beer, labor....

Chris G.

Originally posted by attachcurrie
Would a shaved 14 bolt, shaving the lip not where you cut then welding on a new plate have the same clearance as a D60?

No, it will have the same clearance as a D44 :flipoff2:
But then hey - you can shave the 60 down to the clearqance of a D30 ;)

Phil
With 60 and 14 bolt and the clearance of stock axles...

I'm surprised no one is promoting this axle. It's awesome for a Jeep, maybe not the first cloice for a 6000lb rig. These things have huge 35 spline shafts, 5 on 5.5 BC- get really fat at the flange end, are relativle light, can grind an extra 1/2 of clearance in to them which is cheap easy and important on a rig with 37's.

The other rears are great but are boat anchors and way overkill for 37's. Just another .02. Good luck!