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Whats the strongest rear axle 10.25 or 14 bolt ?

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9.6K views 24 replies 19 participants last post by  bmaresh  
#1 ·
which is stronger and more practical the rear Dana 60 massive 14 bolt or the 10.25 just curious. <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0">
 
#5 ·
This is a pretty good argument. Stock I would give the nod to the 14B then the sterling then the 60. Hopped up I would go with the 60 because you can go up to 40 spline but not with the others that I know of and axles are what most of us break.
Other things to consider gear options
60 up to 7.17
14 up to 5.13
10.25 up to 4.56
Ground clearence has to go to the 60
Price? 60 and 14B are about the same
Outter hubs are better on 14B's because 1.5" axles fit in them with no problems where most 60's up until 1980 or so don't fit unless you drill them out.
Locker choice goes to the 60 hands down. You pretty much only get a detroit for the 14B and not too much for the sterling. I would be willing to bet that there will be more and more stuff for the sterling because it is a good axle though.

[ 10-31-2001: Message edited by: 66CJdean ]
 
#6 ·
Not that I would ever worry about breaking one do people actually break the 14 bolt very much? my buds got one on his YJ with a v8 and 39 boggs. I know you can break anything as Avalanche proves while running 2 2/2 ton axles, but do the 14 bolts and rear 40 splined 60 ever break that much?
 
#11 ·
Stock: 10.25 shafts are the strongest (1.5" x 35 spline), 14-bolt r&p is strongest, d60 is easiest to find parts for.

Modified: d60 and 10.25 are about the same as far as r&p and shafts. (Not much modification is available for a 14-bolt or 10.25.) 14-bolt is slightly weaker in shaft strength compared to a d60 modified with 35 spline shafts. (Barely enough to worry about.)

Most practical in stock form is the 10.25 if you don't consider availability of lockers, r&p's, and parts. Taking that into onsideration, 14-bolt is most practical, unless you want to go lower than 5.13's.

Just my $0.02.

J. J.
 
#12 ·
Originally posted by Dustball:
<STRONG>Just to mod 66CJDean's gearing info-

Ford's 10.25 can go as low as 5.38 from Randy's R&P or 7.17 from Ford and you can get a Detroit, Lockright, or an ARB for it.</STRONG>
Thanks for the update. I knew they would be bringing stuff out for them sometime. How about the ones that come in the new 1/2 tons, Expeditions and Navigators?
 
#13 ·
Umm, let's see, looking at Powertrax's application guide for Lockright availability-

Excursion- 10.50" axle, none
Expedition- either an 8.8 31 spline (4.6L engine)- P/N 1822, or an 9.75 34 spline (5.4L engine) axle, none
newer F-150's have the same specs as the Expedition

What I do notice is that the lockright app number for the 10.25 axle is not listed for the 10.50 axle. I don't know if the 9.75 axle listed above is a newer version of the Dana 60.

Looking at the Powertrax No-Slip, they are available for the 10.5, the newer 8.8 (same P/N as the old 8.8), but not for the 9.75.

Looking at the Detroits, the 8.8 apps are the same from '87-present but there is nothing available for the 9.75 and there is a Detroit for the 10.5 (P/N 225SL-56A) which is the same for the earlier 10.25 axles. Keep in mind, all the 10.25 axle locker apps are for the full-floating version, none available for the semi-float.

I can't find much info on available gear sets but the 10.5 has three options from Ford- 3.73, 4.10, and 4.30. Only one gear option I can find for the 9.75 from Ford which is 3.31, then the new 8.8 Ford options are 3.31 and 3.55. This is all I could find in 20 mins.

Hope this helps some.
 
#14 ·
Time for the pisser!

Go for an Eaton. Largest ring gear at 12.25". With the pinion load bolt - they are rated at 17K lbs!!! Their shafts are the largest at 1.55". They are full floating and have a drop out 3rd. 69 to 72 had a detroit option and you can swap 14 bolt crap into them if you can't find one with a detroit or don't want to weld it. Just my humble opinion. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">
 
#15 ·
I still say a school bus rear axle is the best <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> . No, seriosly, I hate questions like which axle is the best. Most of us all run different set ups , we all like different set ups. I say pick whats best for you, not what others tell u to run. I guess when people say whats better, this or that, well do you mean in stock form? Just like you guys mentioned above, each axle can be modified to make it better than the other, and vice versa. Com awn Pugh, I hope you just asked this out of pure curiosity of the 2 and not because of what BigarseYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> told you to. He still thinks Im <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> for not running a 14bolt. To each his own Ive seen that plow work before. I still say D60 is plenty strong for most people, small upgrade to 35 spline shafts, spool it and your done if you need that!!!
 
#19 ·
Originally posted by Jeepmangled87:
<STRONG>which is stronger and more practical the rear Dana 60 massive 14 bolt or the 10.25 just curious. <IMG SRC="smilies/jeep1.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
As one of the other posts pointed out "to each his own"...but, the 14 bolt and dana 70 are at the top as the 14 bolt has 1 10.5 inch ring gear and the 70 has 10.54 inch ring gear..The 70 has more ground clearence than the 14 bolt and 1.5 inch 35 spline axle shafts which are practically speaking equally as strong as the 30 spline 1.5 inch axleshafts of the 14 bolt.Gearing for the 70 goes down to 7:17 and numerous lockers are available..14 bolt weighs more,less ground clearence, and you can only go to 5;13's.But, it has the extra bearing to support the pinion..The eaton 12.5 inch is plenty strong.However, the axles are coarse spline and I hear the bearings(particularly the pinion bearings) are expensive and the lockers for it are no longer produced(just weld it).nowadays somebody may have a good reasonable source on the bearings though... Next, would be the 10.25 with 35 spline 1.5 inch axleshafts and then a dana 60 that is stock oem unit with 30 spline axles 1.3 inch axleshafts..Hope this helps. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: onetonwillysands10 ]
 
#21 ·
I admit I don't know much about axles, other than I wish my front 44 was swapped for a 60 but I had a question:

How often is the pinion bearing support of the 14 an issue relative the benefits of the lower gears, lighter weight, locker options, etc. of the D70?
 
#23 ·
Originally posted by brector:
<STRONG>Time for the pisser!

Go for an Eaton. Largest ring gear at 12.25". With the pinion load bolt - they are rated at 17K lbs!!! Their shafts are the largest at 1.55". They are full floating and have a drop out 3rd. 69 to 72 had a detroit option and you can swap 14 bolt crap into them if you can't find one with a detroit or don't want to weld it. Just my humble opinion. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
I think I'll stick to my D80 with alloy shafts.
Anyone want to help my clearance that thing?
<IMG SRC="smilies/crybaby2.gif" border="0">
 
#24 ·
Originally posted by Ricktard:
<STRONG>I still say a school bus rear axle is the best <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> . No, seriosly, I hate questions like which axle is the best. Most of us all run different set ups , we all like different set ups. I say pick whats best for you, not what others tell u to run. I guess when people say whats better, this or that, well do you mean in stock form? Just like you guys mentioned above, each axle can be modified to make it better than the other, and vice versa. Com awn Pugh, I hope you just asked this out of pure curiosity of the 2 and not because of what BigarseYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> told you to. He still thinks Im <IMG SRC="smilies/rainbow.gif" border="0"> for not running a 14bolt. To each his own Ive seen that plow work before. I still say D60 is plenty strong for most people, small upgrade to 35 spline shafts, spool it and your done if you need that!!!</STRONG>
well ive seen ur plow work, ohh wait a minute u only have that monsterouse toy 8 inch, and im pretty sure the 14 bolt has never held me up in a place i could have gotten up with a 60, sorry i dont put a 60 in the back cause i think it sounds cooler than a 14 bolt, and if u have seen my plow work it is becuase u were ridn with me instead of wheeln
<IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">
and u can upgrade that 60 of yours all day long a 14 is that strong STOCK,but anyways i think he asked the quesion to people that actually have ran one ton stuff <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">
and by the way why would i tell him to ask this question <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[ 11-01-2001: Message edited by: BIGA$$YJ ]
 
#25 ·
Originally posted by brector:
<STRONG>Time for the pisser!

Go for an Eaton. Largest ring gear at 12.25". With the pinion load bolt - they are rated at 17K lbs!!! Their shafts are the largest at 1.55". They are full floating and have a drop out 3rd. 69 to 72 had a detroit option and you can swap 14 bolt crap into them if you can't find one with a detroit or don't want to weld it. Just my humble opinion. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
Found an eaton rear in the back yard of an RV rental place next to my office earlier this week.

That thing looks beefy! it's freakin' huge.

I wonder if it has a detroit....