Axle Choice.....

[MuddinXJ]

i know this has been discussed a thousand times but im gona bring it up again because i could not find what i want. i searched here and PBB.

im wanting to run 37" or 38" tires with about 7"-7.5" lift. i know that i should go D60 front. but what to get it from. also on the rear i have a guy that can give me a SF 14-bolt for 200. is it worth it? i want to be able to run all the big name trails out there no problems. if these axles are overkill for this size tire then should i look at a d44 f/r combo or d44 front w/ 60 rear combo? please help me. would like to keep it about no more than 65" WMS. any help or references you guys can give me would be appreciated. Beezil can i talk to you about this more at NACfest?

 

[CRASH]

A D-44 is at its limit with 37" tires, with alloy shafts and CTM's.

38's, especially 14.5's will kill a front 44, even with alloys and CTM's.

Ditto for the rear 44.

If you really want 38's, I would be thinking D-60's front and rear.

CRASH

 

[MuddinXJ]

crash what do you think i should get them out of. i was thinking about get dynatrac 60s f/r and having them set the way i want. but dont really wana fork out 2500 bucks for 1 axle. they can get kinda pricey. anyone else wana comment.

 

[CRASH]

If you could find Dynartack 60's for $2,500, that would be a very good bargain.

A front 60 with brackets, ARB, gears, etc will run you $5,000, minimum. More if you opt for a bling-bling center section.

You will not find a 65" wide front 60 out of anything. Fords are 69" wide, so they will ned to be trimmed.

You can find rear 63ish" wide 14 bolts and 65" nine inch axles all day long under FS trucks.

CRASH

 

[XJoachim]

If you think 2500 $ are pricey you maybe better don't get deeper into this. Even if you get the axles they need new bearings, gears, locker, brakes ....

I've built my front and rear myself and believe me, both are well beyond that

 

[MuddinXJ]

well i just want some axles that i can build probably over the next year and get everything ready to bolt it underneath my truck when the axles are finished. i mean 2500 is my budget right now(per axle). i will have a bigger budget by the time summer is over. so d60s are about 65" wide out of a FS truck. ty for the help

 

[Big Red]

A f-350 rev dana 60 front and either dana 60 rear or 14 bolt ff should hold up to 38's and beyond. You should be able to find them pretty regularily in the Midwest, due to the salt and the rust factor. I see alot of them on ebay around Detroit & NJ. The 14 bolt is really easy to find and cheap, but the rev dana 60 from a f-350 comands a high price around $1K or more complete. Why do you need tires that big? What trails do you want to go on? Anything in OK? Those guys run 44's and 2-1/2 rockwells, etc. The Badlands in IN doesn't require that big of a tire. Just wondering, I'm from Chicago, moved to Cali 1-1/2 yrs ago and know there wasn't a whole lot of wheeling out there.
Troy

 

[MuddinXJ]

well rockport has alot of trails with big rocks. i will be making frequent trips to Moab. hit the Rubi a couple times. maybe Fordyce. and then some of the bigger stuff at badlands. im only really wanting to run 37s max. but if i get a good deal on 38s i would run those.

 

[nickr]

A f-350 rev dana 60 front and either dana 60 rear or 14 bolt ff should hold up to 38's and beyond. You should be able to find them pretty regularily in the Midwest, due to the salt and the rust factor. I see alot of them on ebay around Detroit & NJ. The 14 bolt is really easy to find and cheap, but the rev dana 60 from a f-350 comands a high price around $1K or more complete. Why do you need tires that big? What trails do you want to go on? Anything in OK? Those guys run 44's and 2-1/2 rockwells, etc. The Badlands in IN doesn't require that big of a tire. Just wondering, I'm from Chicago, moved to Cali 1-1/2 yrs ago and know there wasn't a whole lot of wheeling out there.
Troy

IMHO the 14-bolt is a ground clearance hog. I would stick to 60's if not d44s and 37's or less. Your main concern is ground clearance when it comes to rock trails. If you run big axles such as the 14 bolt and a smaller tire such as the 37 or 38, you are sacraficing ground clearance.