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View Full Version : 14 bolt axle switched to a steering axle



Coonburger
December 6th, 2013, 10:02 AM
Been doing some research into this and extreme 4x4 did a little segment on it. and there is a company that'll make the custom shafts. Here is the link for the custom shafts http://www.hudlowaxle.com/corporate-14-front/ Here is the link to the video on the build http://www.powerblocktv.com/episodes/XT2013-01/2-car-garage-crawler-part-2-hudlow-axles . Also another company that makes custom housings. Seriously thinking of doing this good dana 60's are getting harder and harder to find and people usually want a mint for one that needs rebuilt. Where as 14 bolts can be found anywhere for dirt cheap.

CS79bronco
December 7th, 2013, 01:40 AM
Super Duty D60s aren't that hard to find & should be getting more into JYs. I would look into the custom built housings that run 60 R&P, 9", etc. Seems better to run a custom housing with stock axles & gears for cost & replacement parts. Check out ruffstufffabrications.com. I think that is their site. They seem to build very heavy stuff at a reasonable price, at least compared to Dynatrak.

Brucker
December 7th, 2013, 01:46 AM
What about supporting a local? Spidertrax (www.spidertrax.com (http://www.spidertrax.com)) makes wonderful custom housings, knuckles, and other goodies. Dealt with them and their components on a few builds now (and have know the guys for years now) and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to be used in even the most extreme applications. And as their new advertizing campain states, "The sexiest rear end just got sexier."

Haku
December 7th, 2013, 02:20 AM
Don't forget about Diamond Axles(www.diamondaxle.com) and the JRat Offroad Sixty9 drop out Dana 60 (http://www.jratoffroad.com (http://www.jratoffroad.com/products/)), as well as Crane High Performance for sweet local companies that make awesome stuff. We definitely don't hurt for choice in the badass gear category here. If money was no consequence, I'd love to put the Spidertrax steering knuckles and hubs on an axle that has the Sixty9 center chunk on it. Talk about a bomber axle.

Ever since seeing those 14 bolt hybrid steering axles getting beat on in the Southern Style Rock Bouncer rigs, I've kind of wanted to put an axle together. That said, I'd probably go the route of the Jana76 (Dana 70 carrier and ring and pinion in a Dana 60 housing) since its just as strong or stronger as the 14b but you still get the smaller housing (and one that is designed for steering already) of the Dana 60. They make one with a load bolt too for extra beef (helps minimize ring gear deflection under load).

Can't really beat the 14bolt for an economical but strong axle though and Xtreme laid out a great process to do it relatively cheaply. I'd still prefer to see an axle alignment bar used doing that though.