i need a little advice regarding axles for my sas. you may have read my intro and saw the pics of my truck after the crash but if not then here is the link.... https://www.ranger-forums.com/member-introductions-12/long-overdue-intro-pic-heavy-132341/

i just purchased a 99 passat for a dd so i have plenty of time to build the truck how i want it. i plan on running either a 6 or 8 inch fiberglass one piece front clip to replace all the damaged steel and i want to run 37x12.50x17 kevlars on 17x9 classic locks. now heres my dilemma..

last spring when my truck wasnt all smashed up, i picked up some early bronco axles. i got a small bearing 9 banjo housing, a big bearing big drum 9 with a tapered housing, and a 44 front. i was going to run those because the width is so close to stock. now that i plan on running glass i have been looking at full width axles. i found a drw 14 bolt with 4:56's for 200 bucks at a junkyard that i was thinking of picking up. the wms is 63.5 on it and i could make it 4 inches wider with a set of srw hubs. then i was looking for a 78-79 ford d60 front but i came across a complete 78 f250 with a ff60 rear and hp44 front. the guy is asking 200 for the entire truck minus the rear end. he also has a 250 plow truck that has a 60 under the front but he wasnt willing to part with that =(

do you guys think i should run the eb axles anyway, even though they will be too narrow and possibly be goofy looking... or purchase the f250 and try to convince the guy to let me have the 60 for another 50 or 100 bucks... OR buy the 14 bolt and hold out for a 60 front like i really want.

id like to dd the truck on and off along with the passat when its all done and then eventually turn it into a mostly trail truck with 42's or so. id prefer not to build the drivetrain a hundred times, at least in the axle department.

so let me know your opinions, im open to many options including ones i didnt think about. and for the record i have read just about every sas thread i could find on this site as that is the whole reason i joined so please dont just tell me to search. thanks in advance for the help guys!!!

 

FWIW, I ran an 8 lug converted high pinion D44 and a FF Dana 60 in my old 86 F150 mud truck and had absolutely no problem with 39s. I'd run them.

 

i run mostly woods trails and rocks, thats the only reason i am considering tons. well that and either a v8 or 4bt swap someday. do you thing that with 500lbs-ft and 37's the 44 will be able to hold up? i know a ff60 will, im just cautious about the 44.

 

It will if you leave it open or use a L/S. You might need a set of Chromo's but other than that you shouldnt have a problem dude.

My mud truck had a built 302 in it and I have a lead foot in the pits.

 

hmmm, i may pick up that f250 then. i can always use the transfer case and start putting together a doubler. do you know if all dana 44 carriers interchange? i got both an open diff and a trac loc when i bought my eb44.

 

Not sure on that one. Check the spline counts. Here's my old baby

 

nice looking for a mud truck. ive always loved those wheels!!

 

anyone else have an opinion on the matter? im kind of leaning towards the 14 bolt and waiting for a kingpin 60. that way i can just upgrade them IF i happen to break anything and the weight of the axles will help with droop and cog. any thoughts?

 

14 bolts are "boat anchors" (as people call them..) lol. you'll probably want to shave the 14 bolt. and a kingpin 60 isn't going to be cheap. $1000+ plus for ones that need rebuild most of the time..

 

yeah, they weigh a little over 450 with disc brakes. and 60's can be found much cheaper than that. from what ive found so far. just nothing close enough to me. although i know of a completely rebuilt one about 5 minutes down the road with 4:56's for 1500

 

true, they can be. but for one that's not complete and total junk, they're pretty steep. I was contemplating a 14 bolt rear on my jeep the other night, but I'm rethinking the idea. I haven't heard anything bad about them though, other than weight, and ground clearance. I found a 44 and 60 combo that I've been looking into. I think a 44 would hold up fine, and would be much cheaper than a kingpin 60 IMO.

 

whats making you rethink the idea of a 14 bolt? how well do d44 ball joints hold up to a heay foot, rocks, and 37's?

 

the fact that the pumpkin is giant. I haven't completely shot the idea down, I just don't feel like having to shave it if I feel like it's a burden. as long as you aren't bouncing off rocks going 40mph, I don't see why a 44 wouldn't hold up. I guess to me, anything will hold up if you're wise about how you drive, and treat it. well, anything other than a d35 44 up front is really the only option if you don't go with a 60.

found you a built king pin 60
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1058673

 

a shave kit from ballistic is only 250ish and fairly simple to do. and under an xj or ranger stock parts should hold up decent. thats what draws me to it.. and i found one for 200 bucks with 4:56's

id have to sell a kidney to buy that 60!!!! and the pumpkin is on the wrong side.
this is the one i was talking about
http://maine.craigslist.org/pts/2951939680.html

 

if you break anything on a 14 bolt under a ranger or xj without being on like 42's, something is wrong haha. I can shave it, that's not a problem. I'd just rather not lol. yeah 14 bolts are cheap which is nice. I've been considering sterling 10.25/10.50's too, but I would go with a 14 bolt or 60 before those lol. $1750 for a front axle is still pretty damn hefty. if it had a locker, and was like $2000, hell yeah. if you don't mind shaving the 14 bolt, I would say that's your best bet. and if you have the funds, throw a 60 up front and be done. it takes no more work than a 44, its just a bit more expensive.

edit: if I were you, I'd browse pirate looking for axles. they usually have some pretty good prices on there.

edit again: lol, after researching some things about the 14 bolt some more, that'll most likely be my choice unless I find a good deal on a 60.

 

well i bought the 14 bolt today. its got 4:56's and an open carrier. gonna go pick it up tomorrow. now i have to keep looking for a d60. or i might see if the guy in the link i posted will hold on to that one for a little bit for me until i can come up with the cash. i also found a good front section of frame today!!!

 

weld it up :) haha. I'm on the hunt for a 14 bolt now too. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress.

 

ill prolly just leave it open until i can afford an arb or some other selectable locker. you wont have to look for long, just about every junkyard around is bound to have 5 or more. one with 4.56's is hard to find though. all military 14 bolts came with 4.56's and detroits in case you didnt know. http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ble/index.html this is the most useful site i found. for a jeep your probably going to want a cab & chassis rear end as they are the narrowest at 63.5 inches. good luck in your search.

im going to start a build thread either this weekend if i get my cab off or next weekend if i get the new frame but its not going to be a very fast build. just a heads up.

 

I've been reading all kinds of stuff on pirate about axles in the past few days, I love that site! lol. I actually want a wide stance, so width isn't a big issue to me. thanks man. I'll keep tabs and look for your build thread.

 

a c&c 14 bolt with srw hubs measures roughly 67.5 wms-wms. thats only 2 inches narrower that a 78 ford hp 60, thats a perfect match in my book. the srw 14 bolts are up closer to 70 inches and ones out of vans are the widest. the 2 hubs are interchangeable BUT there is a bastard srw hub from later axles that wont fit. there are some threads on pirate about them. this is the reason i got an older axle.

 

If you don't want to swap another axle in the front later I wouldn't settle for a D44. There is nothing wrong with balljoint D60's. Hell you are looking at a balljoint D44...For the rear a FF D60/D70/10.25/14B are all very strong very good axles 35 spline shafts in anyone of them is strong enough for 42's.

Also not all military 14 bolts are 4.56 and detroits I can show you hundred upon hundreds that are not, ones still in service in fact.