Ford axle opinions - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

jeeperjoe · 09-08-2005, 08:37 AM

Looking to find the weakness of some axles I'm considering. My current crawler is running 14bolt/D60 GM axles. Am about to start a new project and found a killer deal on 1988 F350 axles. D70 rear, D60 front. What are the problems different than my GM axles? Necked axle shafts? Weak knuckles? Anything? I beleive the Ford 60 is a driver side pumpkin, right?
Just want to know before I resume search for some GM axles. The huge size of the 70 worries me as I'll only be running 39.5s and the 70 seems like over kill.
Thanks for any guidance.
Joe

Tide612 · 09-08-2005, 08:25 PM

Nothing can be overkill. I have a mustang that i run 35 spline axles in with 600 hp and 675 tq. That is not overkill it is precaution.

CSP · 09-08-2005, 08:52 PM

The same issues you currently have with the 14B/D60 go along with the D70/60 combo. A14B hangs lower than a D70, doesn't it?

The Ford 60 will be reverse cut, meaning stronger R&P since you're using it up front.

jwjeep1 · 09-09-2005, 07:07 AM

Yeah, Drivers drop RC dana 60. Unshaved the 14 bolt hangs lower than a dana 70, but not by too much. If you're running a 14 bolt on something now with similar sized tires you won't really notice much of a difference. I've got a buddy running that same 60/70 combo on 39.5s and he loves it, no worries about overtaxing the axles.

jeeperjoe · 09-10-2005, 04:02 PM

Thanks for the input guys. The front Ford 60 was my real concern because of the spring pad distance. Quite a change between 31.5 centers and just over 36 inch centers. I'll give it a shot I think, especially since the HP Ford 60 can only be a good thing. Thanks for the little push I needed to make a decision.

kpj · 09-10-2005, 04:20 PM

The D70 uses the same diff cover as a D60, so it can be clearanced to come close to the 60 overhang. The Ford HP60 uses 5 bolt hubs as opposed to the GM 6 bolt hub's. :shrug: The Ford needs unique stub shafts if you plan on upgrading to 35 spline outers. That isn't really a problem now because there are companies with them ready to be bolted in. Not to long ago, you needed to machine .600" off the end of a Chevy 35 spline stub shaft to make it work it on a Ford, or swap your ford outer's over to GM stuff. Not an issue anymore.

Ken

CSP · 09-11-2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpj

The Ford HP60 uses 5 bolt hubs as opposed to the GM 6 bolt hub's.

Huh? Bolts for what?

chuck911jeep · 09-11-2005, 07:48 AM

The only problem is with the front reverse cut D60...You cannot go lower then 5.38. But maby isn't a problem for you....right now

Capt. Nemo · 09-11-2005, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSP

Huh? Bolts for what?

I'm thinking he's talking about the spindles???

Wicked_S10 · 09-11-2005, 08:45 AM

I thought the 1988's had a Sterling 10.25" rear? I parted an 88 F350 out last year and it had a sterling not a D70. Anyhow, the sterling is a tough axle too, but there are fewer locker ad gear ratio choices for it than the Dana axles.

Later,
Jason

kpj · 09-11-2005, 12:48 PM

Yah, what Cap'n Nemo said. 5 bolt spindles.

jwjeep1 · 09-12-2005, 07:21 AM

Wicked, you never can tell until you peak under there... My buddy and I just parted out an 80s Chevy dually with a dana 60 front and a HD70 rear, I would have figured looking at the truck it would have been a 14 bolt... guess you just always have to look.

09-08-2005, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
jeeperjoe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34132 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 24	Ford axle opinions Looking to find the weakness of some axles I'm considering. My current crawler is running 14bolt/D60 GM axles. Am about to start a new project and found a killer deal on 1988 F350 axles. D70 rear, D60 front. What are the problems different than my GM axles? Necked axle shafts? Weak knuckles? Anything? I beleive the Ford 60 is a driver side pumpkin, right? Just want to know before I resume search for some GM axles. The huge size of the 70 worries me as I'll only be running 39.5s and the 70 seems like over kill. Thanks for any guidance. Joe

09-11-2005, 08:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
Wicked_S10 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Member # 14848 Location: Midland, Mi Posts: 1,750	I thought the 1988's had a Sterling 10.25" rear? I parted an 88 F350 out last year and it had a sterling not a D70. Anyhow, the sterling is a tough axle too, but there are fewer locker ad gear ratio choices for it than the Dana axles. Later, Jason __________________ 2006 JCORF Buggy, 60's,Locked F&R,42" TSLs,EFI460,C6,Atlas5.0 Comp Case 1988 Bronco,in progress

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09-08-2005, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tide612 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Member # 51963 Posts: 536	Nothing can be overkill. I have a mustang that i run 35 spline axles in with 600 hp and 675 tq. That is not overkill it is precaution.

09-08-2005, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
CSP Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Member # 1533 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 2,779	The same issues you currently have with the 14B/D60 go along with the D70/60 combo. A14B hangs lower than a D70, doesn't it? The Ford 60 will be reverse cut, meaning stronger R&P since you're using it up front.

09-09-2005, 07:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
jwjeep1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17777 Location: Rifle, CO Posts: 177	Yeah, Drivers drop RC dana 60. Unshaved the 14 bolt hangs lower than a dana 70, but not by too much. If you're running a 14 bolt on something now with similar sized tires you won't really notice much of a difference. I've got a buddy running that same 60/70 combo on 39.5s and he loves it, no worries about overtaxing the axles.

09-10-2005, 04:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
jeeperjoe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Member # 34132 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 24	Thanks for the input guys. The front Ford 60 was my real concern because of the spring pad distance. Quite a change between 31.5 centers and just over 36 inch centers. I'll give it a shot I think, especially since the HP Ford 60 can only be a good thing. Thanks for the little push I needed to make a decision.

09-10-2005, 04:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
kpj Rock God Join Date: Sep 2001 Member # 6920 Location: Amesbury, MA Posts: 1,815	The D70 uses the same diff cover as a D60, so it can be clearanced to come close to the 60 overhang. The Ford HP60 uses 5 bolt hubs as opposed to the GM 6 bolt hub's. :shrug: The Ford needs unique stub shafts if you plan on upgrading to 35 spline outers. That isn't really a problem now because there are companies with them ready to be bolted in. Not to long ago, you needed to machine .600" off the end of a Chevy 35 spline stub shaft to make it work it on a Ford, or swap your ford outer's over to GM stuff. Not an issue anymore. Ken

09-11-2005, 07:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
chuck911jeep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 39709 Location: snowstorm area Posts: 24	The only problem is with the front reverse cut D60...You cannot go lower then 5.38. But maby isn't a problem for you....right now

09-11-2005, 12:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
kpj Rock God Join Date: Sep 2001 Member # 6920 Location: Amesbury, MA Posts: 1,815	Yah, what Cap'n Nemo said. 5 bolt spindles.

09-12-2005, 07:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
jwjeep1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Member # 17777 Location: Rifle, CO Posts: 177	Wicked, you never can tell until you peak under there... My buddy and I just parted out an 80s Chevy dually with a dana 60 front and a HD70 rear, I would have figured looking at the truck it would have been a 14 bolt... guess you just always have to look.