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Dana 70 Vs 14 bolt

waynehartwig

waynehartwig

www.jeeperman.com
Location
Mead, WA
Supergper said:
yep, lots of options for aftermarket shafts for the 70. The only company I've heard of doing aftermarket shafts for the 14 (and I may be wrong) is Dutchman.
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Yukon and Alloy USA have them. Yukon has a lot of different lengths and some that you can cut to length. I think Alloy USA's are all blanks, I'd have to look into that to be sure... I don't see any ready made 4340 Yukon's, though. I think they are all made of 1541H, which is stronger than OEM.

edit: just looked into the D70, and I see more options for 14T than D70. I'm not sure if there are more width configurations for the 14T than the D70, or if Yukon just makes more for them. And that's mostly because of them using the same FF D60 shaft in the D70.
 
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Crinco

Crinco

Well-Known Member
Location
Heber
It all goes back to what I said before, call around to the shops and ask them how many broken shafts they have seen in their many years of repairing them. I did because I was looking to carry along a set of spare shafts in the tow rig ang I was told I was wasting my 50-100 bucks for spare parts, because they just hadn't seen more than one or two break in twenty years.
Has any one on here broken one (either 70 or 14B shaft)??? Seen one break? I have run a 14B for a long time and just haven't seen any trouble. I am not sure if it is the place to spend your upgrade money when you are building your buggy. Upgrade your transfer, I have seen plenty of those break!

I have a buddy who was driving down state in Orem, made a left hand turn to pull into a parking lot and broke his rear Dana 70 shaft in his truck. It was a freak break, a defect that lasted for 15 years before it broke. But the carrier bearings had been spining too and had damaged his carrier so it had to be replaced. I would still run one, but my first choice is still 14B. If you are leaning towards running the Dana 70 then do it, they are both good axles.
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
well the 70u's aren't in short supply, I saw 4 alone at wrecking yards today. I am still leaning towards a 70u because they are just so much smoother and no hang up lips to grab your diff. I know the 14 b is easier to set up gears but I don't mind setting up dana's either for the hour or 2 it takes. PLus I was eyeing that lip on the 14b it is freakin huge, which I know I could shave but then the bottom bolt becomes a concern. Still thinking:confused:
 
Crinco

Crinco

Well-Known Member
Location
Heber
My first 14B I had I took too much off the bottom and had trouble with the bottom bolt getting worn down too and the cover leaking. I decided not to take so much off this one and it has been much better. I have been surprised at how fast the rocks take the material off the bottom of the diff for you! That cast is pretty soft, but strong. What is the track on the D-70? I am guessing about 67", is that where you want your track at? I think 65"-67" is about right when turning 40"+ tires.
 
Shawn

Shawn

Just Hanging Out
Location
Holly Day
If you are breaking 14 bolt or D70 shafts, then these axles are too small for your application. The nicest thing about a 14 bolt is that it is strenght right out of the box, there is really no need to upgrade the shafts.

IMO,
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
Shawn said:
If you are breaking 14 bolt or D70 shafts, then these axles are too small for your application. The nicest thing about a 14 bolt is that it is strenght right out of the box, there is really no need to upgrade the shafts.

IMO,
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Well then 70 shafts should actually have the edge then , because the ones I'm looking at are 35 spline stock and the I heard the metalurgy on the 14 bolts aren't that great
 
Crinco

Crinco

Well-Known Member
Location
Heber
Sounds like you know what you want to use, are you planning to go to rear steer at any time? What about the front axle now?
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
Crinco said:
Sounds like you know what you want to use, are you planning to go to rear steer at any time? What about the front axle now?
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Yeah I have always leaned towards the 70 since I found that smooth teardrop style. originally I had planned on a 14b though. FOr the front axle I 'm gonna use a hp 60 front , just don't know what out of yet, because I don't have it. Rear steer would be sweet, and If I had decided to go rocks I would have done it, but no rear steer planned. I can out wheel you without it:rofl:
 
Crinco

Crinco

Well-Known Member
Location
Heber
WJ ZUK said:
Yeah I have always leaned towards the 70 since I found that smooth teardrop style. originally I had planned on a 14b though. FOr the front axle I 'm gonna use a hp 60 front , just don't know what out of yet, because I don't have it. Rear steer would be sweet, and If I had decided to go rocks I would have done it, but no rear steer planned. I can out wheel you without it:rofl:
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Yeah, maybe.
Thats a good choice for the front, less drive shaft damage with the HP. Have you thought about building a HP for the rear? It would have to be a 60 is the only down side. Didn't you say you were planning on a big set of tires?
Chris R.
 
M

Meat_

Banned
Location
Lehi
I know it's not the same sport but if you want to see D70's and 14b's die you look at truck pulls. They don't so much break shafts in either, but very very very very few people (if you could even find one now) will run a D70 rear. They all run 14b's (or bigger) because they constantly explode ring gears in the D70.

You haven't mentioned what motor you are going to run (or I missed it) if it's going to be some little job then you won't need the pocket bearing of the 14b and you will need the lower gears of the D70. If you are going to stuff a lot of ponies under the hood I think you'd be better off with the 14b.
 
Kiel

Kiel

Formerly WJ ZUK
Just curiuos how are they breaking the ring gear? Or are you saying like shawn said and the pinion walks up and that the 3rd bearing for the pinion helps keep everything togethor. My engine will probably be just a tbi 350 unless I find something better for around the same weight. Maybe around 300 hp. I also did notice the yoke on the 70 I saw was 1410 and u bolt style. But the pocket bearing you guys are so fond of has me intrigued. :confused: Does it really make that big of difference? My rig will probably weigh around 4k I hope- maybe 4500. I do plan to beat on it though:D
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
honestly, I wouldn't sweat the pocket bearing. Plenty of rigs out there (what say 95%) don't have them and of those 95% 95% don't have any issues at all with it. :p

I'd look at the things most commonly problematic on the trail (shafts) and see what's going to fill your need the best. Also as mentioned if you're going to run full-width then either will do. The 14 can be narrowed real easily by changing out the hubs, some thing to think about. I still would do a 70 without a doubt if it were me.

I know a lot of the tuck pullers are running D80s. Ring gears are teh same size, so for your purpose That's not really an issue (we're not talking about 1200-2K horse vehicles and the torque to go with it).
 
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