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4x4Poet · 02-11-2006, 07:20 PM

The Eaton axles are plenty strong for you engine, but finding a Detroit Locker with 17-spline axle side gears is difficult and expensive. The 14bFF Detroit and axles is a good mod for the Eaton. Advantage to start brand new with the Detroit, too.

For heavy duty use, I think someone makes 4340 14bFF axles. Maybe PolyPerformance. Probably overkill for most folks. I've never heard or read of either Eaton or 14bFF axle failures, but I don't get around much. Maybe if I dug on Pirate4x4.

I've read that some folks had to cut off 1/4 inch from the ends of the 14bFF shafts to fit them in the Eaton without the axle bottoming out in the diff before the axle flange mates to the hub. After the cut, I would bevel the ends to ease insertion.

02-11-2006, 07:20 PM	#5
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	The Eaton axles are plenty strong for you engine, but finding a Detroit Locker with 17-spline axle side gears is difficult and expensive. The 14bFF Detroit and axles is a good mod for the Eaton. Advantage to start brand new with the Detroit, too. For heavy duty use, I think someone makes 4340 14bFF axles. Maybe PolyPerformance. Probably overkill for most folks. I've never heard or read of either Eaton or 14bFF axle failures, but I don't get around much. Maybe if I dug on Pirate4x4. I've read that some folks had to cut off 1/4 inch from the ends of the 14bFF shafts to fit them in the Eaton without the axle bottoming out in the diff before the axle flange mates to the hub. After the cut, I would bevel the ends to ease insertion. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 02-11-2006 at 07:21 PM.