[CJDave]

The most recent issue of FOUR WHEELER magazine had an article on rear axles that was kind of interesting. The new pickups have become so beefy in terms of carrying capacity and also horsepower that the rear axles have been upgraded from the beefy Dana 70 to the Dana 80 and to a new axle by GM. These diesel-powered pickups are getting so big that the drivetrains resemble what used to be ton-and-a-half trucks.

ANYWAY, as a part of the article, they included a table that listed various axles and gave the specs on each one. I HAVE TO SAY that the junkyard-available GM-Saginaw 14-bolt STILL looks like a good choice for anything near medium-duty service; that is where high GVW is not combined with the sledge-hammer-and pipe-wrench-on-the-shaft kind of low-RPM torque that a diesel might deliver. Ring gear size; the extra pinion pilot bearing; and the axle housing itself makes the 14-bolt stout enough for most off-road applications. Another good choice.......harder to find........but one whose torque rating far exceeds the 14-bolt.....is the Ferd full-floating 10.25-inch Viston (was Sterling axle division of Ford) out of their bigger diesel pickups. HOWEVER.......you need keep focused on the "unsprung weight" thing when you find yourself getting REALLY nutzo

in your thinking about swapping massive rear axles into lightweight vehicles like Jeeps.

 

[jeepgod]

ive noticed the same thing also.. you can almost throw those 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton ratings out the window.. and i never really knew how good that 14 bolt was till i tore into mine... its a really nice axle to work with... one thing people need to keep in mind also.. is gear and locker availability for these axles.. most of them large ford ones have limited gears available.. compared to the dana's... but im sure after time thing will be just as upgradeable.. right now.. i am waiting on ARB to come out with their air locker for the 14 bolt... should be out this spring...

 

[JEEPN]

I just saw that article today. I am still an advocate of the Dana axles, but it's probably because I have more experience with them. To me a D60/D70 combo would be hard to beat. But, since I am not running huge tires, my D44's are just fine for what I do. I was amazed at the sheer beef of those new axles though, I wonder when they are getting into the Rockwell area of strength.