I picked up a 14 bolt rear axlefrom Big Rob's boss yesterday. Its an 80s Chassis cab dually, with a wms-wms of 63"-64", and has the mosterouse dually drum brakes.
I want to get it swapped in this week, but have a few questions.
I read that the carrier break for the 14 was at 4.10 and lower. I havent opened it up yet, but Im assuming its 4.10 gears, I need to got to 4.56 gears. Will I need a new carrier, even though Im installing a Detroit? I have heard that the reason the Detroits for the 14 are so cheap is because it is not a typical full carrier type for this monster.
Also has anyone got detailed dimensions for the disk brake caliper mounting plates, to convert to disks.
Thanks for the help

And Big Rob, thanks for everything. I owe you a few <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/beer.gif" border="0"> , you came through big time.

no you can get a thick gear set and use the carrier you have now. i did this with mine and it had 3.73 gears and i went to 4.56 <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

FYI, you most likely have 4.56 gears in that 14 bolt yuo picked up. Might want to check it out <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

Squash

Not necessarily. 4.10 was standard, 4.56 optional.

No worries though, like GATO said, you can get a thick ring gear. Precision Gear makes them. www.precisiongear.com (http://www.precisiongear.com)

You are correct, the Detroit does not replace the carrier for the 14FF.

Its been a few years. But I picked up the 4.56's, Detroit, all the bearings and the yoke for 250.00 from Boyce. You might call them to see if they offer this still. <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

my cab and chassis dually rear came with 4.10's.

Originally posted by high5:
<STRONG>my cab and chassis dually rear came with 4.10's.</STRONG>

mine was from a motorhome and it had 4.56's...

For all you 14b guys, can you put disks on the huge dully drums that come of the 63in. wide ones. I got one today and i am stoked but those drums look waaaayyy too heavy.

No way i could get lucky enough to actually have matching gears. I opened it up today and started stripping off the unnecessary bracketry. Its in great shape, but I counted 41 ring gears and 10 pinion gears so that adds up to 4.10 to me.
The dually drums are massive but they came right off, it looks like the brakes were recently serviced, before they retired it.
The dually drums put the backing plate to far away to use for the disc conversion, so I assume I just need to fabricate a new backing plate, and a caliper mounting plate to bolt to it.
I sure do like the simplicity of the full floater axle assembly, you couldnt ask for an easier assembly to remove an axle shaft. I had both side axle bearring and brake assemblies, disassembled in a bout 20 minutes.
Here are afew pics
http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-554179-MVC-021S.JPG
http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-554189-MVC-022S.JPG
http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-554198-MVC-002S.JPG

Originally posted by COMPLAINE:
<STRONG>For all you 14b guys, can you put disks on the huge dully drums that come of the 63in. wide ones. I got one today and i am stoked but those drums look waaaayyy too heavy.</STRONG>
dont be a puss, my d7 dually drums are HUGE. should help it flex if not one day i will find some disks. jiMMy

yep that is the cab and chassis version. those deep hus are a deap give away. they are fun to move around too!

Sure are makin a nasty mess in that purty garage <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

Now, since the hub sticks out farther on the narrow 14 than it does on the wider 14 do they share the same axle shafts (length)??????????

Yes they do have the same axle lengths.
It is just the mounting surface that is moved.

Originally posted by Tankota:
<STRONG>Yes they do have the same axle lengths.
It is just the mounting surface that is moved.</STRONG>

Cool, thanks. Not that I'll ever hatch a 14 bolt axle but its good to know.