Updated with more questions-- Time to build/buy a new rear axle...looking for advice.

[Steve]

Wow, after typing all that I think a good 9" might actually be less then doing a 60.

And much stronger. Unless you bore out the spindles and go with 35 spline shafts a rear D60 is a very weak axle for the weight you're adding, plus the decreased ground clearance. If you want a 1 ton axle a 14 bolt is a much better choice than a D60. If you want to stay EB width, build up a big bearing 9" as Broncobowsher described.

I ran a SB housing with 31 spline alloy shafts and "conversion" bearings, with big tires on hard trails, for years and never broke anything in the rear axle.

 

[luderchris]

OK....I just got off the phone with Mac at Superior Axles. He said I could go with one of their axle kits (comes with seals, bearings, etc.) for my small bearing housing and a spool to match.

He said the 31 spline set-up (axle kit and spool) would be $425 to my door and the 35 spline set-up would be $575 to my door.

To me it is a no brainer to go with the 35 spline for only $150 more, but then I looked back to the 1st page of this thread and Broncnaz said --

"personnally I'd stay away from the 35 spline SB spool as your weak link will become the spool, the bearings and the main bearing caps."

What is everyone's thoughts on this?

 

[brewchief]

"personnally I'd stay away from the 35 spline SB spool as your weak link will become the spool, the bearings and the main bearing caps."

What is everyone's thoughts on this?

I posted up on pirate a year or so ago asking if anybody had ever broken a small bearing spool, never found anyone who had.

Have people broken stock third members? Yep, have people broken 31 spline axles? Yep, sure have.

I decided that IFthe small bearing spool becomes the weak link then I'll upgrade it, until then I'll have the piece of mind of the largest axles I can run without major cost increases.

 

[luderchris]

I posted up on pirate a year or so ago asking if anybody had ever broken a small bearing spool, never found anyone who had.

Have people broken stock third members? Yep, have people broken 31 spline axles? Yep, sure have.

I decided that IFthe small bearing spool becomes the weak link then I'll upgrade it, until then I'll have the piece of mind of the largest axles I can run without major cost increases.

That is good info to know. What axles did you/are you going with? As I said, I spoke with Superior just because they have a very good reputation, but I would be open to others too. Let me know and thanks for your input brewchief.

 

[broncnaz]

I would double check that the 35 spline axles will actually be compatible with a Small bearing housing. I dont think they are. We are talking about axle bearings in this case. Again with the larger diameter of the 35 spline shafts your axle bearings will be very small and small equals weak and way less load capacity for that bearing. I really doubt they would last long with big tires although if its a trail only rig you migh get away with it for a while.

Yes they make 35 spline spools that fit a standard center section but now your issue is the housing itself.

One reason you dont find people breaking 35 spl SB spools is that most people do upgrade the center section when going to 35 spline. there's just not a large number of people running them. Search some of the race forums those guys seem to break them with ease. While they do tend to be harder on components than most people. Its all about torque and shocks we just do it with lower HP, lower gears, heavier vehicles and bigger tires. Compared to them.

Really you dumped big money into front axle shafts to gain strenght. now just spend some money on the rear to gain strenght either spend once or plan on spending twice.

 

[Bronchole]

Weather you go 31 or 35 spline, if you don't upgrade the center case that will certainly be the weak point of your rear end period!

Personally, I have been running 31 spline axles for iver a decade. I wheel hard and had absolutly no problem breaking stock 31 spline axles and stock center cases. This on 35" tires with a detroit locker. I have yet to break an axle or case since I upgraded. I have broken other stuff, but not the axle shafts or case.

If I personally were in your situation, the 31/35 decision to me would be based on weather you have to replace/upgrade your axle housing. If 35 REQUIRES you to replace your axle housing then you have to decide if the extra cost is worth it to you. Once that decision is made the rest just falls in place.

Building a 9" from scratch is a no brainer to me, 35 all the way! The additional costs are minimal and the extra beef is major. But it is allot less of a no brainer when trying to re-use anything from your original axle, especially if you are starting with a small bearing housing.

Godd luck with your project,

Dan

 

[gddyap]

You can have a cheaper rear D60 buy changing the bearing ends to BB Ford. Then use 35sp semifloat shafts and drum brakes.

 

[Steve]

I would double check that the 35 spline axles will actually be compatible with a Small bearing housing. I dont think they are.

Agreed. I've never heard of a conversion bearing that lets you put 35 spline shafts in a small bearing housing. I ran 31 spline shafts in a SB housing for years and can tell you the weak point is the conversion bearings. I typically had to change those out once/year. If there are conversion bearings to put 35 spline shafts in a SB housing they are gonna be awfully small and a huge weak point.

 

[desertoasis2b]

check out www.9inchfloater.com you can get a 9in full float housing, disk breaks, 31 spline axles all the bearing and seals for $800 looks like the only thing it doesnt come with is the calipers and 3rd member

 

[luderchris]

check out www.9inchfloater.com you can get a 9in full float housing, disk breaks, 31 spline axles all the bearing and seals for $800 looks like the only thing it doesnt come with is the calipers and 3rd member

Any other thoughts on this or anything else?

 

[Scrapper_MV]

I have a Dana 60 rear and it's a land anchor! It's strong as he'll and I'll never break it. But it gets hung up on rocks all the time. The 9" has better clearance to begin with and can be shaved. The 60 center section is cast iron and can not be shaved. Unless your gonna run 40"+ tires I would avoid the Dana 60.

 

[Bronchole]

I would venture to say that I would easily take a full floating 31 spline over a semi-float 35 spline any day.

That's a pretty good price too!

 

[Steve]

I have a Dana 60 rear and it's a land anchor! It's strong as he'll and I'll never break it. But it gets hung up on rocks all the time. The 9" has better clearance to begin with and can be shaved. The 60 center section is cast iron and can not be shaved. Unless your gonna run 40"+ tires I would avoid the Dana 60.

A stock D60 rear axle is not very strong at all. Unless you bore out the spindles and go to 35 spline shafts it's actually a pretty weak rear axle. A 14 Bolt is much stronger. As for shaving, a D60 (or 14B or...) can be shaved, it's just not as easy for the do-it-yourselfer as a 9".

 

[luderchris]

I would venture to say that I would easily take a full floating 31 spline over a semi-float 35 spline any day.

That's a pretty good price too!

Why? Is it that much stronger because the axle is not bearing the weight?

I also did not want to deal with the custom brakes and having spring perches welded on, etc like I would have to do with this 9".

 

[luderchris]

A Dana 60 is pretty much out for me unless I find one really well set-up and ready to drop in.

 

[Bronchole]

Why? Is it that much stronger because the axle is not bearing the weight?.

YUP, that's it!

 

[ericlake]

OK. Thanks Broncnaz. I think this is the route I am going to go. 31 spline Alloy shafts for the small bearing rear.

This whole experience has prompted me to look into getting a trailer too now so I have many things to spend $$$ on.

I am going to keep my eye out for a heavier duty set-up as I know people are always upgrading to bigger and better.

Thanks everyone for the advice and options and opinions.

Chris,
I'm running 31 splines from Superior in my SB rear and 36" tires up same trails without breakage. BTW, there happens to be a guy off meetinghouse rd who builds 9" third members any way you want'em.

 

[Scrapper_MV]

A stock D60 rear axle is not very strong at all. Unless you bore out the spindles and go to 35 spline shafts it's actually a pretty weak rear axle. A 14 Bolt is much stronger. As for shaving, a D60 (or 14B or...) can be shaved, it's just not as easy for the do-it-yourselfer as a 9".

Mine has the 35 Spline axles and ford explorer brakes on 9" tube ends. It's called a "609" and it was built by Currie for the previous owner. He paid $4800.00 for it! I love how strong it is but hate getting hung up on every rock that gets near it.

 

[Steve]

Mine has the 35 Spline axles and ford explorer brakes on 9" tube ends. It's called a "609" and it was built by Currie for the previous owner. He paid $4800.00 for it! I love how strong it is but hate getting hung up on every rock that gets near it.

A 609 is an awesome axle. I seriously considered doing a front 609 for my current build, but went with a HP kingpin D60 instead. You can shave a D60.

 

[luderchris]

Chris,
I'm running 31 splines from Superior in my SB rear and 36" tires up same trails without breakage. BTW, there happens to be a guy off meetinghouse rd who builds 9" third members any way you want'em.

Hey Eric -- Love the originality in the screen name!

Can you shoot me the info on the dude on Meetinghouse road to my email at luderchris@hotmail.com ? I will see what he can do and also pic his brain.