Anyone Running a 14 Bolt?

[mlogan24]

I'm hoping to hear from anyone running 14 bolt rears. I've read all the info on Pirate on them and know most those guys are all about using them (for a lot of good reasons), but I'd like to hear from some guys on here. I'm also to curious to hear why the 14 bolt instead of a D60 rear (or vice versa)? I've decided that I'm going to run one of the two for a cheap FF rear axle, but I'm still learning, so any info is helping.

 

[rjlougee]

I'm not running one, but have wheeled with several guys running them. Depending on where you wheel, they can cause you issues. They do hang low, but if you're willing/able to shave them, they're not so bad.

Another option is the Sterling/Visteon axle from the '86-97 F350s. Roughly D70 strength, 35 spline axles from the factory and pretty easy to come by. There's a lot of ribbing in the center section that ads strength, but they're almost as low as the 14 bolt. I think they'll take a lot of shaving as well.

Between a D60 and 14 bolt, I'd run a D60, add the Sterling to the mix and I'd go Sterling.

A 35 spline 9" can handle a lot of abuse as well, but generally more spendy than any of the other options.
Joe

 

[76Broncofromhell]

Most guys go with a 14 bolt because a variety of widths are available, they are cheap, have fairly large axle shafts and a third pinion bearing like the 9". Dana 60's have 30 spline shafts and are not any stronger than a 31 spline 9 inch. Extra costs are involved by having to clearance D60 spindles to accept 35 spline axle shafts.

As RJlougee also pointed out, the 14 bolt, D70 or 10.25 Sterling are going to hang lower than a 9" or 60.

 

[crawln68]

I run the FF D60 rear converted to 35 spline and love it. It does hang down more than the 9, but not as low as the D70 or 14 bolt. It should be plenty strong for anything that I am going to be doing.

 

[bent70]

I have a 14b.
Its cheaper ie. gears and detriot.....and stronger stock than a 60. Dime a dozen too. Plus the gears are stronger especially the pinion with its third bearing support.

 

[68 Broncoholic]

I was going to run a 14 bolt due to price until I saw the bottom flange that will get hung up on everthing. Yeah, it can be shaved but you can also pick up a D70 just as cheaply and its perfectly smooth on the bottom with no edges to get hung up on. My D70 uses the same diff cover as my Front D60 so how will it hang lower than a rear D60 or 14 bolt? With the larger ring gear in a D70 it might hang lower by 1/2" or less. The other deciding factor was the D70 comes stock with 35 spline shafts so in the long run it was cheaper.

 

[mlogan24]

I should probably add that I've been leaning towards the 14 bolt because I want to run an ARB in the rear and they just came out with it for the 14, so that opened the option up for me of getting one (but still no D70 for me, otherwise I'd get a 70-they're strong as hell!). I'm also for sure going to shave the bottom of it if I run one.

Like some of you guys mentioned-the 9's have good clearance and can be built strong, but it's spendy. When I started doing the math-I realized I'd be way money ahead with a shaved 14 with an ARB and disk brakes compared to a built 9 with a FF kit, big spline axles, brakes, and ARB.

Starting to sound like the 60's are stout, just aren't quite as strong as a 14.

 

[feitctaj]

Why would you want to hang a potato plow under your EB?

 

[mlogan24]

Why would you want to hang a potato plow under your EB?

Cause I'm Irish-you got a problem with potato plows??!!

 

[feitctaj]

My mistake , I shluld have looked at your Location, you are Irish and live about as close to Skagit county as you can, so plowing will be fine;D
Maybe make some $ to offset our addiction

 

[mlogan24]

;D Oh man-I'm new to Washington, but didn't know that Skagit had such a notorious reputation. Well, I'll definitely stay out of there. Then again, I'm in south Snohomish, and that seems to have a bit of a redneck reputation. Of course, I only hear that from snooty yuppy Seattle'ites-so what do they know? ;D

Besides, I ditched tater farming-my meth lab makes much more dough for the time invested.

 

[mlogan24]

I should probably add that I've been leaning towards the 14 bolt because I want to run an ARB in the rear and they just came out with it for the 14, so that opened the option up for me of getting one (but still no D70 for me, otherwise I'd get a 70-they're strong as hell!).

I should correct this-I did some more research (not much really, just realized I didn't know this for sure, so I actually looked it up), and you can get an ARB for the 70.

I also found a couple good threads on this that I thought I'd post on here for anyone that finds this thread on a search-

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50431

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/FSJ-List/message/20528



So it really looks like if you want to compare the 14 bolt with a Dana, the Dana 70 is more an apples to apples comparison. The general consensus seem to be both have pros and cons that make them basically equal. It really comes down to which is cheaper and more available.