What rear axle to run?

[trickc]

Burned up a rear wheel bearing on the choptop...again. I suspect this axle is fubar'd. The last time the axle shaft and wheel came out and rolled down the road, didn't get that bad this time but its still trashed.

I need to stay 6 lug and 3.54-3.55 geared to match the front which I just rebuilt with new bearings/brakes/calipers etc. so changing the front out at this point is not feasable. I know a 14 bolt and dana 60 is the bomb diggity but its also not in the budget. I was running wt axles on the wag. welding new perches on is not a problem.

Yes I was running 36 tsl swampers with a lincoln locked wt dana 44, it held up for 10+ years prior to the wheel bearing issue.

Ford 8.8? Chevy??? dodge??? Suggestions? Cheaper the better.

[ClovisMan]

12 bolt Chevy axles are 6 lug as are the 14 bolt semi-float. Of course wide track Cherokee and j-truck axles are to.

If you pick up one from a later model Chevy, you'll get rear discs as well!

[Kevin armstrong]

The six lug 14 bolt semi floater is your best bet for a six lug set up. I think they are arounf 67 inches wide which is 2 inches wider than your front widetrac and 6 inches wider than a wide trac d44 rear. For a semi float, they have a pretty large axleshaft, I think its 1.5". They came in the light weight 3/4 ton 88 and later and the heavy half ton. Yeah, it was a 6 lug 2500 and a six lug 1500. They arent that hard to find, unless you need one in a hurry of course. I have had a bunch of 8 lug vehicles with the semi float 14 bolt and never had a single problem with them.

[Carnuck]

And I have destroyed several of them. (sheared 2 off at the flange) D44 is stronger.

[csuengr]

Biggest issue with a semifloat 14b is it uses 14mm studs. Late 10b use 12mm studs.

[alwomac]

If the last 44 got you 10 years of use on 36s and you are keeping the front as is with the same tire, I would go with the 44 again. Ground clearance on the 14 bolt is terrible, the pumpkin is huge and heavy as hell. I would slap another WT in and wheel the pee out of it. If you go the 14 bolt route they do have a 6 lug 65" version I believe that came in vans that would go well with your WT front which should be about 65" wms. Mine is 67" with the 8 lug hubs out front which added about an inch a side if I remember it all right.

[Bill Moore]

Can you get the 14b in that gear ratio? I thought 3.73 was the highest

[Cecil14]

Can you get the 14b in that gear ratio? I thought 3.73 was the highest

Highest I see on Randy's is 3.42. That's *probably* close enough for 3.54, but I would definitely recommend asking the question. It's certainly getting to the edge of the safe zone. Tire pressure would make a significant difference there.


aa

[trickc]

:fingers crossed: I think I have found another wt axle here close by to replace it with. Next go round will probably see an upgrade to 8 lug somethings or rockwells.

[Carnuck]

Highest I see on Randy's is 3.42. That's *probably* close enough for 3.54, but I would definitely recommend asking the question. It's certainly getting to the edge of the safe zone. Tire pressure would make a significant difference there.


aa

3.42 is higher than 3.54 and 3.42 is also available for D44s

[Cecil14]

3.42 is higher than 3.54 and 3.42 is also available for D44s

Yup, but it'd be completely stupid to regear to drop .12. Especially if you don't need to.


aa

[trickc]

If I regear at all it'll be the other direction to 4.10's or 4.56's. For that matter if I'm gonna spend that kinda money it be 5.39's in a set of rockwells and a set of tractor tires.

[Cecil14]

If I regear at all it'll be the other direction to 4.10's or 4.56's. For that matter if I'm gonna spend that kinda money it be 5.39's in a set of rockwells and a set of tractor tires.

Bingo. Do it once and get the ratio you want endgame. It costs WAY too much to regear just to match ratios for that little bit, even if you do it yourself.


aa

[SVO42]

Ford 8.8" out of an F-150 is about 65" WMS-WMS IIRC. Those 8.8s have the 5 on 5.5" pattern instead of the commonly-swapped Explorer 8.8" which is 5 on 4.5". To get a match to your front you could get some of these: http://www.ezaccessory.com/Wheel_Adapter_5_Lug_5_5_To_6_Lug_5_5_p/5550-6550f.htm

[novacayne75]

And I have destroyed several of them. (sheared 2 off at the flange) D44 is stronger.

funny and i wish i had known that before i beat the snot out of one with 37's for a couple years.