Rear axle Q and A

[50w]

www.wesmash.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=classifieds&action=display&thread=1325



I've heard that these guys make nice pinion brakes.....

[David Bryan]

Hello. GM 14 bolt truck assembly: I will try and make this short for now. 1973 to at least 2000. That means there are a LOT of them. 3/4 and 1 ton pickups, vans, moterhomes. 8 bolt wheels. 10 1/2" ring gear. 1.5" O.D. axle shafts that are 30 spline.

To I.D. a 14 bolt, it must have 14 bolts on the cover. Must be a "full floater" style hub. It also has a "drop out" pinion support (six bolts) similar to the Ford 9" third member (5 bolts). A GM 14 bolt cover, non-drop out pinion is a 9.5" assembly. These you should pass by. They are also"C" clip style axle shafts.

Most had 3:73, 4:10 or 4:56. Generally, the higher the GWV rating of the pickup, the deeper the gear ratio. At times though, there is no rhyme or reason for a gear ratio. It is always best to check. The 70's usually had the gear ratio in the ID tag on the inside cover of the glove box, In the 80's they moved this sticker to the inner fender. By 87' only codes. The pickups with a box and fiberglass fender "flares" (dually) are way to wide, and are most always Dana 70, not 14 bolt. 14 bolt are most all the rest, from vans to moterhomes. The single rear wheel pickups are the most common, but way to wide for derby cars (67" flange to flange). The axle shafts though, are good to save if you want spares. They are almost free. These axle shafts also fit the NARROW 14 bolts. These measure 63" or so flange to flange. Very good. (71' - 76' GM, sedan and wagon, full size is 64.5" flange to flange). These narrow 14 bolts are dual rear wheel housings. They can be found in in the "cab and chassis" trucks; flat beds, service bodies, some moter homes, wreckers, long wheel base two door chassis, etc...

You can buy a full spool from Quick Performance ($325.00?) but really no need to. A "mini" spool works so far. This "mini" fits in side the carrier, similar to the Ford 9" mini spool. Works just fine so far. This mini spool will fit in any ratio "open carrier". It does not matter what ratio from 3:21 up to the 5:13. The carrier must be a "one wheel wonder". The open carrier has 4 cross pins. The limited slip carriers are 3 pin. I have, or Brian Nerat has, the round yokes for the 14 bolt. Postal Mopar has the fantastic pinion brake system.

For more info, go to:
www.pirate4x4.com
You will need to look in the "tech garage" area on the left, You will be looking for the 14 bolt Bible. One of the best for information.
I hope that helps. David Bryan

[David Bryan]

Hello rrone. No, Moser does not make (or sell) much of anything for the Dana 70. David Bryan

[cycomiko]

Thanks Toby, and Thanks David

[crusher71]

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE TIMES, BUT WITH THE COST OF 12 BOLT AXLES GOING UP IN SALVAGE YARDS, IF YOU CAN FIND ANY, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND BUILDING A 9 INCH WITH OLD STYLE 68 TO 70 12 BOLT ENDS TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE 68 TO 70 -12 BOLT AXLES? OR WAS THERE TOO MUCH SPACE ON THOSE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND BEARING WHEREAS THEY MAY HAVE A TENDENCY TO BEND/BREAK MORE......I CAN FIND ALOT OF 68 TO 70 AXLES DIRT CHEAP.....

[76yorker]

Quick one here hope this doesn't open up a pissing match. BUT

A local guy is selling out and he has a rear end that I thought was a 14 bolt rear end but it was 5 lug?

I know he said it had 2 diffent lenght axels in it and that it was 5 lug but I am almost positive he said it was a truck rear end.

Or could it be a dana 44?

Also, that mopar rear you said I would never find. Well, I found one from an old derby guy. I think it came out of a roadrunner maybe a cuda but pretty sure roadrunner.

[x909x]

Early 90 454ss Chevy half tons came with a 14 bolt 5 lug.

[76yorker]

Is it worth buying?

[David Bryan]

Hello. Pissing match? Between who and who? You write that you thought it was a 14 bolt? Well, is it a 14 bolt or not? All we need is some information before we guess and guess some more. x909x is correct. GM SS454 trucks (1994'?) did have the "big" 14 bolt center, but did have the 5 0n 5" wheel bolt pattern, and yes, "SS" chrome rims. These are a "C" clipe style housing. Not really worth buying to derby. They are a neat oddity though.

The question for you though is: does the cover have 14 bolts or not. The Dana 44, 60, 70 (and others) all have 10 bolts on the cover. So, if the housing does have 14 bolts on the cover, it is no Dana 44. If it does have 14 bolts, probably the "SS" truck.
Now, with that written, I did put bolt in axle shafts in a 14 bolt full floater several years ago. I cut off the floater hubs and welded on Moser deep bore housing ends. Then added Hobby stock axle shafts (1.5" O.D., 30 spline). It is very possible some one did the same. That housing is still in use today. And yes, it does have one long shaft, and one short shaft. I still have on short spare shaft for it, still on the shelf.

IF you did find a "car" Dana 60, and it is for sale, cheap, buy it. The car Dana 60 has a flat provision on the top of the pinion for a "snubber". There is a flat spot with holes to bolt on the rubber snubber. Truck Dana 60s do not have this flat spot with bolt holes. All other parts from the assembly are replaceable new. The housing is valuable. (Even if an axle tube is bent). It can be fixed. And yes, it could have been under a Road Runner (or GTX). Let us know about the cover bolts and the car Dana. David Bryan

[David Bryan]

Hello. Jon. Good question. The 67' - 70' Oldsmobile axle shafts, as you know, are 31 spline. They do fit in the Ford, and my, 31 spline full spools. The answer is yes, of coarse, one could build a Ford housing (or GM housing) for these axle shafts. You would need the housing ends from the Oldsmobile housing. Some are 3.150" O.D. (big Ford), but some I have, are 3.25" O.D. at the wheel bearing. These are 5 on 5" wheel pattern.

The big question, yes, cheap, buy are they stronger than a Ford pickup axle shaft? I do not know. (There you go) I DO NOT KNOW.
I have not seen enough 69' Oldsmobile shafts derbied to make a conclusion. I do know the 69' - 70' Buick axle shafts are better than Ford pickup, but I do not know about the Olds.

IF any one wants; I have six of these 31 spline Oldsmobile axle shafts I would sell. $100.00 for all six. David Bryan

[David Bryan]

Hello. Ford 8.8" assembly. Good gears, bad shafts. For more information, I added this 8.8" to page one, post one. Thank you. David Bryan

To be clear; If I do not know, I will write that I do not know. If I make a mistake as I write, I will try and correct it. If I make a post with facts, and some one writes on this thread that I am wrong, I will let you, and them, know that. I have opinions, and I have facts. I will post both. If you are not clear what is what, simply ask. I will let you know. If I post 2+2=4, and some one writes, no you are wrong, 2+2=3. I will write and say, no, you are wrong. If the same person then writes 2+2=4.1 (essentially the same), I will write and say, no, you are still wrong.

All for now. David Bryan

[yousoldout]

....or just use a truck 8 lug and be done with it

[vic23]

Is the rearend out of a '74 lincoln mark iv the same as the late 60's suicides? r the axles the same?

[stuntmanken]

i got a dana 60 that has 16 spline axle shafts
out of a 1962 dodge truck...
Is this any better or worse then a dana 60 with 30 splines?
Thanks

[jmac1]

Came across (accidentally purchased) a pair of 31 spline axles from a 1970 Pontiac (was told they were out of a "70's GM") They are bolt-in 31 spline axles with the 5X5 bolt pattern. Are they any good or worth anything?