d70 vs 14 bolt rear axles

[Walter B.]

Hey Mac,

Of the 70 models we have here the duallys measure in at 74 inches and the SRW come in at 70 inches. These are Gm axles built by Dana I quess you could call it a "Dana 14 bolt"

HTH

Walter B.

 

[Loose_Nuts_Enterprises]

Again, not trying to be argumentative, but I stand by my thought process. With a 37-39 inch tire, MOST wheelers will not break a 30-spline rear 60. To take it a step further, if you ARE breaking axle shafts in that tire-size range, you may need to take a better look at your driving abilities rather than your equipment.
dion

30 spline Dana 60 axles are the exact same diameter as the Dana 44, 1.31 inches. If that's your argument, why bother with a 60? How many D44 r&p's have you broken?

Dan

 

[BrettM]

Again, not trying to be argumentative, but I stand by my thought process. With a 37-39 inch tire, MOST wheelers will not break a 30-spline rear 60. To take it a step further, if you ARE breaking axle shafts in that tire-size range, you may need to take a better look at your driving abilities rather than your equipment.
dion

30 spline Dana 60 axles are the exact same diameter as the Dana 44, 1.31 inches. If that's your argument, why bother with a 60? How many D44 r&p's have you broken?

Dan

but the D60 is full-floater with a much stronger gear-set

 

[Loose_Nuts_Enterprises]

but the D60 is full-floater with a much stronger gear-set

I was just putting in my $.02 about the axle shaft strength debate. Full floaters are cool. Just ask Fullsizexj how strong the floater 30 spline shafts are.

Dan

 

[Blatant]

I see I'm being assailed by the "bigger is always better at any cost" crowd, so I'm taking my puny D60 rear and running along home ;-)

Why bother with a D60 rear? Well, uh, how many full-floating, 8-lug, full-width D44s do you seeing in abundance for $150 or less? Yep, that's what I thought ...

As an aside, I didn't know we were having an axle shaft debate. As far as I'm concerned, run whatever the hell you want. It's your rig. I just hate to see folks fall into the "must upgrade now" trap when they've never even broken a part on the junk they're running now.

I've proven over the years that you can run extreme rockcrawling trails with reasonable tires (38.5 SX) on a Lincoln-locked 30-spline rear 60. I'd argue it's due to my superior driving skills, but anyone's who's been with me on a trail knows that ain't true.

To the original poster: Good luck with your choice and sorry your thread got hijacked.
d

 

[ZachMan]

I've got a rusty complete 1978 F350 D60 rear. I'll sell it for $100, but shipping would be a b$tch.

 

[SeanP]

just a point of correction: I am running 5.38s in my D60 ford front.

 

[Goatman]

Personally, if I were running 38x12.50 TSLs (which are a smallish tire), I would run a regular 30-spline dime-a-dozen 60 in the rear. You should be able to pick that axle up for $150 every day of the week.
Dion

Oh, so now 38's are SMALLISH ? And 44's are average size ?

This isn't a "big jeep" forum, it's an XJ forum. What are you running?

30 spline D60's have been known to break with 37" and larger tires. I know two guys on here broke them, and those are two that I saw. If anyone has to go cheap, and spare axles for those are cheap, that's on option. But, if you're putting in a D60 or 14b so you can be reliable, 38's on 30 splines isn't what I would call reliable, at least in the rocks. Mud and dirt......that's another story.

 

[SeanP]

Oh, so now 38's are SMALLISH ? And 44's are average size ?

Yeah. The penis-envy ego-based rig building sure seems to have gotten out of hand. My rig worked very well with 31s and a rear locker. Wheeling was fun at that level. 38s are NOT small tires and I would venture to say are the upper limit for sheet metal based XJ's.

I wheel this past weekend in a YJ with open front, 5 sp, 4.10s, and 35s. It was challenging and fun as hell. I think I might build Marni one of those next.

 

[REDXJ4FUN]

OK i'll hijack alittle forget the FF60 and just find any 60 you can cut the ends off weld some 9in outers on it and run some 40spline shafts. I've been looking at this lately but the fact i'm going to end up with a 60 front on the mj kinda kills the whole deal but if all your running is 5 or 6 lug it would be sweet. and not to bad on the walet.

 

[macgyvr]

As stated, if both are dually axles, you're going to run into width issues vs. a full-width front 60. Strengthwise, it's a toss-up. The Corporate axle will be a bit easier to set up R&P.

Personally, if I were running 38x12.50 TSLs (which are a smallish tire), I would run a regular 30-spline dime-a-dozen 60 in the rear. You should be able to pick that axle up for $150 every day of the week.
Dion

I just sold a 30 spline d60 cause i wanted to run a 14 bolt or d70....

i'm going to run a spool or welded so locker choice and cost isn't really involved in my decision...

i'm running 38s for now...42s are always a possiblity....

what's the width difference btw the d70 dualie vs 14 bolt dualie vs a reg non dualie axle and are they mods i need to make to the dualie axles to run single wheels....

mac 'have watched too many d60 30 splines splinter' gyvr

 

[Goatman]

Yeah. The penis-envy ego-based rig building sure seems to have gotten out of hand. My rig worked very well with 31s and a rear locker. Wheeling was fun at that level. 38s are NOT small tires and I would venture to say are the upper limit for sheet metal based XJ's.

I wheel this past weekend in a YJ with open front, 5 sp, 4.10s, and 35s. It was challenging and fun as hell. I think I might build Marni one of those next.

Sean, nice to hear that you went wheeling recently. Did you remember how to do it?

 

[XJoachim]

I just sold a 30 spline d60 cause i wanted to run a 14 bolt or d70....

i'm running 38s for now...42s are always a possiblity....

what's the width difference btw the d70 dualie vs 14 bolt dualie vs a reg non dualie axle and are they mods i need to make to the dualie axles to run single wheels....

mac 'have watched too many d60 30 splines splinter' gyvr

If you sold a 30 spline 60 why would you get a 30 spline 14 Bolt? If you're already thinking of 42s i think there is no choice for you. Get the 70, you can't get enough beef and choice of gears for 42s.

The difference in dualie to single wheel axles is mostly the length of the studs and dualies may have left hand thread studs at the drivers side. That's all in difference (except width). My dualie 70 has about 64" width, i can't see a dualie axle being wider than a single wheel axle.

One advice though, if you get a 70 go at least 5.86 or higher. I'm running 5.86 now with 39.5 Boggers and plan on regearing to 7.17

 

[Goatman]

If you sold a 30 spline 60 why would you get a 30 spline 14 Bolt?

The 30 spline D60 has a 1.31" diameter and the 14b has a 1.5" diameter. Spline count is important, but diameter is more important. No question the 35 spline 70 should be slightly stronger than the 30 spline 14b, both with 1.5" diamenter shafts, but the difference isn't much.

 

[XJoachim]

Right, it has a 1.5 dia. at the splines and 1.45 dia. at the flange but they neck down to 1.35 not far away form the splines which is the dia. for the complete length of the axle shaft. So they are not really stronger than a 30 spline 60.

 

[Blatant]

If you read what I wrote carefully, I said the particular tire the poster is running is a "smallish 38"; meaning that tire runs a little smaller than the average 38, more like a 37.

I'll be running 37s on my rig when it's built. I ran 38.5 SX on a welded 30-spline 60 in my last YJ and it survived for the years I owned it on most of the upper-level AZ trails. Far as I know, the guy who bought it is still running the same axle.

(shrugs) This wasn't meant to be a pissing contest. I've got the direct experience that I make my build judgments on. Beyond that, you guys run whatcha like.
d

 

[BrettM]

30 spline 60s very rarely have problems on 38.5 SXs, and the 38s he's talking about are a fair bit smaller, narrower, and lighter.

however, if you think 42s are in your future, then you need to think a little different. If I was considering ever going larger than 37s, I would definitely be looking at a hybrid axle, probably 9inch center with 14b ends, search for SeanP on that one.

 

[macgyvr]

30 spline 60s very rarely have problems on 38.5 SXs, and the 38s he's talking about are a fair bit smaller, narrower, and lighter.

however, if you think 42s are in your future, then you need to think a little different. If I was considering ever going larger than 37s, I would definitely be looking at a hybrid axle, probably 9inch center with 14b ends, search for SeanP on that one.

the whole point of this post was i have access to very inexpensive d70 or 14 bolt...not in looking at hybrid axles, i want to run something that i dont have to modify or have to have custom shafts availible to run...

i'm definately leaning towards the d70, and goatee hit the nail on the head in why i sold the d60, since both the 70 and 14bolt have 1.5 diameter shafts...i've seen too many 30 spline 60 shafts break on the trail and am learning from others mistakes....

thanks for all the advice... just wait for more questions reguarding big axles under my jeep...

mac 'cutting the back off tonight' gyvr

 

[hpi_jeep]

i didnt read the entire post so this might have already been mentioned.

but not all d70's are 35spline. i have 2 d70's that are 32 spline, still 1.5" shafts though.

FWIW one is a DRW and one is a SRW.

 

[Goatman]

If you read what I wrote carefully, I said the particular tire the poster is running is a "smallish 38"; meaning that tire runs a little smaller than the average 38, more like a 37.

I'll be running 37s on my rig when it's built. I ran 38.5 SX on a welded 30-spline 60 in my last YJ and it survived for the years I owned it on most of the upper-level AZ trails. Far as I know, the guy who bought it is still running the same axle.

(shrugs) This wasn't meant to be a pissing contest. I've got the direct experience that I make my build judgments on. Beyond that, you guys run whatcha like.
d

OK, I understand....not looking for a pissing constest. All we can each do is throw out our experiences and observations and let the reader draw their own conclusions.