Dana 60 vs gm 14 bolt - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71gmcfanatic · 10-12-2003, 10:33 AM

Which rearend is stronger a dana 60 or a 14 bolt? I might be able to get a 14 bolt for cheap so I was just wondering.

Longhorn Man · 10-12-2003, 11:22 AM

While I have no proof on this, I have always been under the impression that the dana is the better axle.

lukecp · 10-12-2003, 11:50 AM

I have also been under that same impression....

However, both are very strong. If you can get a 14 bolt for cheap, i would take it.

O'l Buck · 10-12-2003, 12:36 PM

I know that the guys around her that are building rock crawlers are using corp 14 bolts in the back and dana 60's in front.

1969 GMC · 10-12-2003, 02:40 PM

the dana is a smaller unit. while i have no exact figures, the ring gear is defintely smaller. the corp 14 bolt is equivalent to a dana 70 in size. my "theory" is that the corp 14 bolt was made to replace the ho52/72, which had been in use for a long time. both axles are strong and have good aftermarket and parts support, but the 14 bolt is bigger.

onetoncrewcab · 10-12-2003, 03:50 PM

Then find out if you have the full float or the semi-float 14 Bolt. The full float will have the bolts around the end of the axle. The full float is supposed to be the better axle.
Mike

1969 GMC · 10-12-2003, 04:21 PM

Yea, I forgot that too. The full floater version is a better, stronger axle. I think all semi floaters had 6 lugs, but not sure. All full floaters are 8 lug. Easiest way to tell if you have a full floating axle is if the hub sticks thru the center of the wheel.

Scrub · 10-12-2003, 06:49 PM

The real question isn't about a Corp14 vs Dana 60, It's about a Corp-14 vs Dana- 70. There is also a Dana70HD which is a dually version with big tubes for heavy loads (I think)

exerpts from
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/.../message/20528

The 70 and the 14 bolt share the same wheel bearing sizes in the outer bearing and the Dana70HD uses a .03 larger OD inner wheelbearing..or in simple terms the 14 bolt has as much load capacity as the biggest Dana 70 in the wheelbearing dept.
The biggest draw back to the Dana 70 is the pinion shaft...it is the EXACT same diameter as the Dana 60 pinion. This is a HUGE weakness for big tire equipped rigs with respectable HP....as an example, truck pullers in this area will not give you $50 For a Dana 70..becauses they have a problem keeping the Pinion shafts in them...they ALL run 14 bolts around here..in those classes.

Basically I think it is VERY arguable that the Dana 70 and 14 bolt are both extreamly strong axles, but the 14 bolt had a diffinitive advantage in not only a MUCH larger pinion shaft, but also a 3 bearing pinion as well. This ofcourse is a mute point if you need gears lower than 5.14.

(I guess it's mote because you have so much leverage on the ring gear that the pinion doesn't get as much force)

**BAD4X4** · 10-12-2003, 08:27 PM

The 14-bolt full floater is stronger imo I have a Dana60 up front and a 14-bolt full in the rear of my 86 and they have 5:13 gears and have never had a problem with the rear.. Now I have had dana60s for rears and blown alot of them up. Maybe I'm hard on stuff.

keenee · 10-12-2003, 09:44 PM

without a doubt the corp 14 bolt is way stronger than a dana 60.

Mike C · 10-13-2003, 01:33 PM

I've been eyeballing some newer trucks for rearends, and it looks like the 14 bolt comes in both flavors as full floaters. The 9.5" ring gear and the 10.5" The 9.5" has the round cover, looks like a big 10 bolt. The big 14 is obvious as its cover is almost symmertical rather than offset for ring gear clearance like a Dana.

The 2500 series trucks with six lugs get the semi-floater 9.5" ring gear version, but this is just the ticket for somebody who wants to upgrade to a stronger rear than a 12 bolt but wants to keep their 6 lug rims.

The 10.5" 14 bolt is the strongest while the 9.5" full floater and the 60 are compareable in strength. The extra pinion bearing on the big 14 makes all the difference.

**JIMs70GMC** · 10-14-2003, 05:36 AM

Something else to remeber the Dana 60 came as a dually version in 1 ton GM vans in the 70s. It had 1.5" axle shafts like the 14 bolt. Supposedly some company was working on a kit to upgrade the axles in the dana 60 to 1.5" for single rear wheels. Also (because it's smaller) the dana 60 has better ground clearance by over an inch. But the 14 case can be shaved. The dana 60 has lower gear availability 7.17 v. 5.13 but a detroit locker for the 14 bolt is about $300 cheaper. You'll have to relocate the spring perches and shock mounts w/ the 14 bolt, I believe. Hey I believe GM has a new 14 bolt w/ an 11.5" ring gear, I think it's new for 2003.

10-12-2003, 10:33 AM	#1
71gmcfanatic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, WA Posts: 101	Dana 60 vs gm 14 bolt Which rearend is stronger a dana 60 or a 14 bolt? I might be able to get a 14 bolt for cheap so I was just wondering. __________________ 1971 gmc 3/4 ton, 350, t350

10-12-2003, 11:50 AM	#3
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I have also been under that same impression.... However, both are very strong. If you can get a 14 bolt for cheap, i would take it. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-12-2003, 12:36 PM	#4
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	I know that the guys around her that are building rock crawlers are using corp 14 bolts in the back and dana 60's in front. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska

10-12-2003, 02:40 PM	#5
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	the dana is a smaller unit. while i have no exact figures, the ring gear is defintely smaller. the corp 14 bolt is equivalent to a dana 70 in size. my "theory" is that the corp 14 bolt was made to replace the ho52/72, which had been in use for a long time. both axles are strong and have good aftermarket and parts support, but the 14 bolt is bigger. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

10-12-2003, 03:50 PM	#6
onetoncrewcab One of my kids. Cute eh? Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mitchell, SD Posts: 1,286	Then find out if you have the full float or the semi-float 14 Bolt. The full float will have the bolts around the end of the axle. The full float is supposed to be the better axle. Mike __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is “Probably because of something you did. John 3:16 2006 Chevy HHR 2000 Dodge Durango 1985 Jeep CJ-7 1970 Chevy Pickup

10-12-2003, 11:22 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	While I have no proof on this, I have always been under the impression that the dana is the better axle.

10-12-2003, 04:21 PM	#7
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Yea, I forgot that too. The full floater version is a better, stronger axle. I think all semi floaters had 6 lugs, but not sure. All full floaters are 8 lug. Easiest way to tell if you have a full floating axle is if the hub sticks thru the center of the wheel. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

10-12-2003, 06:49 PM	#8
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	The real question isn't about a Corp14 vs Dana 60, It's about a Corp-14 vs Dana- 70. There is also a Dana70HD which is a dually version with big tubes for heavy loads (I think) exerpts from http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/.../message/20528 The 70 and the 14 bolt share the same wheel bearing sizes in the outer bearing and the Dana70HD uses a .03 larger OD inner wheelbearing..or in simple terms the 14 bolt has as much load capacity as the biggest Dana 70 in the wheelbearing dept. The biggest draw back to the Dana 70 is the pinion shaft...it is the EXACT same diameter as the Dana 60 pinion. This is a HUGE weakness for big tire equipped rigs with respectable HP....as an example, truck pullers in this area will not give you $50 For a Dana 70..becauses they have a problem keeping the Pinion shafts in them...they ALL run 14 bolts around here..in those classes. Basically I think it is VERY arguable that the Dana 70 and 14 bolt are both extreamly strong axles, but the 14 bolt had a diffinitive advantage in not only a MUCH larger pinion shaft, but also a 3 bearing pinion as well. This ofcourse is a mute point if you need gears lower than 5.14. (I guess it's mote because you have so much leverage on the ring gear that the pinion doesn't get as much force) __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends.

10-12-2003, 08:27 PM	#9
BAD4X4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: La pine Oregon Posts: 1,668	The 14-bolt full floater is stronger imo I have a Dana60 up front and a 14-bolt full in the rear of my 86 and they have 5:13 gears and have never had a problem with the rear.. Now I have had dana60s for rears and blown alot of them up. Maybe I'm hard on stuff. __________________ 1972 Cheyenne K-30 6"lift {502 PROJECT} 1972 Cheyenne K-30 8"lift 454 450hp {Ol'Blue} 1972 Cheyenne K-20 Custom Stretch 6" lift 454 1972 Custom Deluxe K-20 4" lift 2007 GMC Crew Cab Diesel 6"lift {The Tow Rig 2017 Ford F-350 Crew Cab 6.7 6"lift (Wife's) 1977 El Camino SS Grandpa baught new 1986 K-30 Crew Cab 502 1955 Chevy 2-Door gasser 454 550hp{project} 1956 Chevy Bel-Air 2-Door hardtop 572 700hp 1979 Ford F-350 All Original 4x4 (Wife's)

10-12-2003, 09:44 PM	#10
keenee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston, Pennsylvania Posts: 231	without a doubt the corp 14 bolt is way stronger than a dana 60. __________________ '96 GMC Suburban 6.5t '99 F**d Windstar '07 SON '09 DAUGHTER XOXOXO Wife

10-13-2003, 01:33 PM	#11
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	I've been eyeballing some newer trucks for rearends, and it looks like the 14 bolt comes in both flavors as full floaters. The 9.5" ring gear and the 10.5" The 9.5" has the round cover, looks like a big 10 bolt. The big 14 is obvious as its cover is almost symmertical rather than offset for ring gear clearance like a Dana. The 2500 series trucks with six lugs get the semi-floater 9.5" ring gear version, but this is just the ticket for somebody who wants to upgrade to a stronger rear than a 12 bolt but wants to keep their 6 lug rims. The 10.5" 14 bolt is the strongest while the 9.5" full floater and the 60 are compareable in strength. The extra pinion bearing on the big 14 makes all the difference. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

10-14-2003, 05:36 AM	#12
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Something else to remeber the Dana 60 came as a dually version in 1 ton GM vans in the 70s. It had 1.5" axle shafts like the 14 bolt. Supposedly some company was working on a kit to upgrade the axles in the dana 60 to 1.5" for single rear wheels. Also (because it's smaller) the dana 60 has better ground clearance by over an inch. But the 14 case can be shaved. The dana 60 has lower gear availability 7.17 v. 5.13 but a detroit locker for the 14 bolt is about $300 cheaper. You'll have to relocate the spring perches and shock mounts w/ the 14 bolt, I believe. Hey I believe GM has a new 14 bolt w/ an 11.5" ring gear, I think it's new for 2003. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

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