Got me sum AXLES!!!!!!!!!!

[AZRockRunner]

Well, I have finally purchased me a bigger set of axles and now want a few opinions from the jeepin community.
I got a D44 Front 5 lug from a 77 ford with weld on perches.
a 14Bolt FF with LS and 410 gears but I also got an open carrier with it.
I am running 36" tires and probably will be for a long time since these are newish.

So, I can trade my 14 bolt to my buddy for his D60 with 4:10 gears and a detroit that gave up and has been tightly welded into a locker. Axle also has Chromo shafts and drum brakes.

My concern is weight and pumpkin size of the 14 bolt. The D60 is smaller and lighter and MORE than strong enough fir 36" tires. My buddy that would be trading me the D60 has been trying to convince me to run a 14 Bolt and NEVER worry about it again.

So, I know either way I will be converting the front to 8 lug and hopefully chromo shafts and probably running 488 gears, but what about the rear axle.
Trade for D60 Chromo or shave and drag the 14 Bolt?
Also, the D60 has nice thick HD diff cover already.

Lata

[A7XJ]

I would run the 60 and never look back. If you really want beef I have an early 90's single wheel dodge dana 70 layin around. Seriously though with only a straight six the 60 is plenty of axle.

[AZXJ]

Is the 60 narrower then the 14B ?

[themud]

Brian this is a tough call even for me 60 rear for our rigs more than strong enough especially with alloys and just 4.88 gears go disks and dump a ton of weight shave it and be almost to a 44 for clearance.. Or do a stock 14 bolt and dump the drums and not a damn thing else except shave the crap outa it... I think your choice is easy as you said yourself 36's are what your running for a while do the 60s and disks and youll be fine but IF and thats a big IF 37 or bigger are in the future near or far just do the 14bolt and call it good and deal with dragging the damn thing EVERYWERE...


If it were my rig Id go the 60 as I think 35 or 36s are perfect on a fullbodied xj any bigger and your going to have to trim too much or run rediculious lift heights to clear em... That being said Im going to get alloys for the front of my rig and run rear stock shafts if I break those Ill go alloy in the rear as well but with alloys all around and 35s I should be more than good my next tire will be a 36 irok, tsl sx or 35 creepy as Im tired of cutting sidewalls....

Ps you need to cruise on up and check out how my front 44 turned out its sweet and does damn good on the trail and I LOVE THE 5.38 GEARS THEY ROCK....

Next project ram assist parts are being researched as we speak...

[bigazxj]

Is the 60 narrower then the 14B ?


the 14bff is a srw axle,67 wms

the 60 is a 70s model ford,65 wms

one could always swap c&c wheel hubs onto the 14bolt and get it at 64 wms,it uses the same shafts,but the brake mounting flange is in a different location,ruff stuff makes a bracket for c&c hubs on a srw axle

brian knows my position on rear axles without a 3rd pinion bearing.

if it was me i would build a 9in with full float outers easy enough to do
the 60 would make a nice donor for its shafts/spindles use the spiders you pull from the front 44 you are building to make a 30 spline lincon locker for the 9in.weld the spindles you hack off of the 60 to the 9in housing to accomadate the alloy shafts from it reuse the wheel hubs and throw some disk brakes on it done. high clearence/full float/3rd pinion bearing all the requirements of a decent rear axle. might seem like alot of work for a minimal gain over the 60 but in the end ,it is a worth while axle that can be reused on a future project

[AZRockRunner]

All GREAT points. I am leaning torward the 60 but I would love to hear more opinions.
JJ, that hybrid axle sounds AWSOME but a little OUTTA ME SKILLZ!!!!!!

[cdhowell]

Do the 60, more junk yard support if you are away from home. Custom is cool, but having parts close by is a way better option.

[themud]

Do the 60, more junk yard support if you are away from home. Custom is cool, but having parts close by is a way better option.

Thats why I left my axles full width so I can find shafts anywere I just didnt plan I getting the damn white elephent of dana 44's... but I have spare shafts with new bearings already so all it well.... Just need to find alloys for the front and Ill be good plus hydro steering...
themud

[Capt. Nemo]

Do the 60, more junk yard support if you are away from home. Custom is cool, but having parts close by is a way better option.

Or, you build the axle right the first time and don't have to worry about having to source spares from the JY's.

If the 60 isn't already a 35 spline, then all you are really getting is a glorified D44 - larger ring gear with the same diameter shafts. If you plan on going 35 spline, then spend the extra couple hundred bucks and buy chromos. In our XJ's with stock HP motors, 35 spline chromos are good until at least 38's, probably 42's for a rear axle.

I'm a little biased when it comes to axle choices having run a truHi9 in the past. I don't think I would run anything low pinion again after seeing the benefits first hand and saving hundreds of dollars on expensive driveshafts that other people have demolished in the same spots.

[AZRockRunner]

There not 35 spline shafts but they are Chromo already. I am not really worried about breaking them with 36 - 37" tires with a stock drivetrain the way I wheel. I dont use the skinny pedal much, I kinda like to go slow and use finess to climb. But I am sure that with a stock drivetrain that the standard spline chromo shafts would hold up to a little throttle now and then.

[James98XJ]

Are you sure they arent 35 spline? I thought they were.

[archangel]

Chromo yes....35 spline no... Found out when I snapped one on the Gap....

And in case anyone was wondering, the 60 in question is my 60... :rtm:

[James98XJ]

I stand corrected!

[Capt. Nemo]

There not 35 spline shafts but they are Chromo already. I am not really worried about breaking them with 36 - 37" tires with a stock drivetrain the way I wheel. I dont use the skinny pedal much, I kinda like to go slow and use finess to climb. But I am sure that with a stock drivetrain that the standard spline chromo shafts would hold up to a little throttle now and then.

Sounds to me like there's not any reason to "upgrade" and that your current axles are suiting your wheel style and terrain just fine.

[AZRockRunner]

Well that wasnt very helpful of an opinion!!!

I am not sure what me NOT hammerring on my current setup has to do with upgrading or not. I am looking for stronger axles so that I can continue to wheel the harder trails and not worry about breaking. Yes my current axles are holding up fairly well but we ALL know that 36" tires are bigger than a D44 / D30 should be wheeled in the rocks.
I wheel light footed due to my current setup but still I dont see hitting it hard JUST CUZ either way.

[Capt. Nemo]

Well that wasnt very helpful of an opinion!!!

Alright, ya got me there... :D

D60. Lighter housing, the tubes aren't known for twisting (seen it happen on 14B's), more ground clearance, the drum brakes are lighter, and it already has chromos.

[AZRockRunner]

SMACK ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL
And I am going to Disk brake the D60 also so it will help the weight a bit also.

[jeep pox]

how goes the new axles and the heep? :cheers: You get that thing fixed?

[AZRockRunner]

Jeep is running and wheeling GREAT. I have temporarily fixed the Dana Tirdy in front with another gear set.
The front D44 is sitting in the front yard and getting ready to be cleaned off for the truss and coil kit. I ended up with the D60 Chromo axle for many reasons and will start getting them ready over the summer. I am thinking about building another jeep out of my SPARE 91 2 door instead of just swapping axles but we will see what happens.

Lata

[jeep pox]

2 door full width would be SaWeEt!!:guitar: