eaton vs. corp 14

[shelby987]

Just wondering, my 70 has the eaton rear...3/4t are ho52, and 1 tons are ho70?? I have come across a parts truck 3/4t....1982, and was wondering, if its worth it to pull the front and rear axles off of this truck, or if i would actually be trading down? In terms of strength, which is better? I have a 4x4, so the front axle is the 44hd, aside from the difficulty in finding parts, what are drawbacks, or positives to these different axles?
Why did GM switch?

[Longhorn Man]

No idea why GM switched.
Parts is a MAJOR issue on the Eatons.... and on my HO72 (one ton...and you are right HO52 is 3/4 ton, ho72 is one ton) the brakes were STUPID expensive and a real PITA to get my hands on..and this is with the best parts man in town.
I would be all over a 14 bolt if I had the access/cash. Gears is another reason to go with the 14 bolt

[1967k30]

I'd stay with the Eaton.I have disc brakes on mine.Way better than the old drums and they only cost me $175 total.I put my own kit together. The Eaton is cooler to because everyone has a 14bolt.Just my .02

[kwmech]

I like the 14 bolts myself, due to parts availability.

[D.PASSMORE]

To me the eaton was/is antiquaited with the pinion bearing loading system (the stubby bolt on the side of the third member). I had my eaton rebuilt a few years back with a new type locker and the new axles with a higher spline count. The drums are expensive but are still available (raybestos/NAPA) and all the bearings and seals. The only part I believe that is not available is the spider gears.
The 14 bolt has all parts readily available and will fit from 4x4 to 4x4 spring perches. The part that is a problem is the emergency brake brackets(so i have been told) but, you will have to modify some parts to make it work.
As for durability, the eaton is combat tough while the 14 bolt is commercial tough and the Dana 60 (truck rear) is not the one you need back there out of all three.
The front Dana 44 HD is the way to go for durability. The axles are bigger than a standard Dana 44. And by the way, the eaton and 14 bolt have the same OD axle shafts while the Dana 60 is smaller.
Now this is what has been explained to me over the years by repital guys and know way is this a professional statement. Just passing on information, so verify before making any decisions.

[shelby987]

isn't the corp 14 also nicknamed the 'ground scraper' or something to this effect because the pumpkin is so large?
Why is the dana 60 rear not the way to go? Is the dana 60 front worth a look?
What is the difference between a corp 14 bolt in a 3/4 vs. 1ton?
What is the difference between an eaton ho52 vs ho72?
Thanks for all the advice!

[FormerMember]

Yes, a 14B is known as a "trencher". Off road folks usually take a grinder to them and clear off the lip on the bottom of the casting.

The early 14B's are the same from 3/4t to 1 ton.

The later model trucks introduced a 1/2 and 3/4t 14B Semi-float. Uses a smaller ring and pinion, C clip axleshafts and of course isn't a full floater axle. It also has a smaller "pig". Also available with 6 lug axleshafts in the "heavy half" 1/2t's.

More on the 14B:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ble/index.html

[RainFade]

Originally Posted by 1967k30

I'd stay with the Eaton.I have disc brakes on mine.Way better than the old drums and they only cost me $175 total.I put my own kit together. The Eaton is cooler to because everyone has a 14bolt.Just my .02

Ditto on disc's on the Eaton.
Relatively cheap easy afternoon project and the difference in braking is astounding.

Haven't done it yet but have read that you can change the side gears to 14 bolt, then use slightly shortened 14 bolt axles and a 14 bolt locker.

[roger0080]

To me the eaton was/is antiquaited with the pinion bearing loading system (the stubby bolt on the side of the third member)

So is that what makes an axle no longer revelant? I didn't know that! FYI that bolt you are referring to is the Ring Gear Thrust Pad Adjustment. There is a bronze tip on the end of that bolt that should be about .005" from the ring gear back side. It is there so you can load the **** out of your truck and it will give support to the ring gear and keep it from flexing so you don't blow it up.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

There isn't much difference between the 52 and 72, except the 72's brake shoes are taller and wider. I think the 52's are 11 5/32" by 2 1/2", and the 72's are 12" by 2 3/4".

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by roger0080

So is that what makes an axle no longer revelant?

that's what the 'repital' man told him, whoever that is.

combat tough? commercial tough?


I am still curious how the D44 in these trucks is HD. 8 lug nuts? larger outer wheel bearing? or is it the smaller u joint than newer D44 and 10 bolt axles?

[musclecarfreak]

Ok, how did you convert your eaton to rear disc for 175 bucks? I have a shot wheel cyl and master and am getting ready for a brake job. If I could convert it over as cheap as fixing whats there, I would definitely go that route! Todd

[1967k30]

The brackets are $60 on Ebay,the rotors were like $60 for the pair,and the calipers were around $55.I may have $190 in it but it was a very good investment.When I step down on it hard I can slide all 4 tires.Oh I forgot break lines,I already had them.

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert1970C20rstbukt

There isn't much difference between the 52 and 72, except the 72's brake shoes are taller and wider. I think the 52's are 11 5/32" by 2 1/2", and the 72's are 12" by 2 3/4".

I never did sort it out.....my longhorn got 1/2 to suspension before it was a problem! I did hear that the diff in the HO 52 vs the HO 72 was the fact that the 72 had 2 post(4 pinion gears to run the 2 side gears), & the 52 only had 2 gears on 1 post? My longhorn was a 20 series, & had 4.10 gears when I got her. I sure dont remember brake sizes @ this point(dumped the chit 20 yrs ago!) also , I never did worry too d@mn much about factory options on a "hotrod".....crazyL......oops, I think I would go 14 bolt for the parts availability(they are strong also).....crazyman

[musclecarfreak]

what are you doing for a park brake? I am assuming that for 60 bucks, these calipers do not have a park brake built in. Are you using late 70's front calipers? Can you hook me up with a link on which brackets you bought? Thanks..

[musclecarfreak]

ttt

[shelby987]

if you search ebay for 14 bolt, plent of ads will pop up for the mounting brackets he is talking about....$60 seems to be the going rate....pirate4x4.com might have some cheaper brackets.
As for a parking brake, I don't know what he did, but I know jegs and summit both sell a driveshaft parking brake that I was planning on using, its primarily for cars with late model disc brakes in the rear, hope that helps.

[1967k30]

I used brackets from Greatlakes Offroad.He is on Ebay as well as
Pirate4x4.com.You can get 77'78' Elderado calipers that have e-brake setup.I'm just going to use a line lock with a toggle switch.He only takes M.O.'s don't even ask about Paypal it just pisses him off.

[72longbed]

For rear disk brakes with an emergency brake built in to the caliper, use 76-78 Eldorado Rear calipers. The only problem is that all of the rebuilt units out there will not come with the 'actuating' lever and springs. The calipers are not functional without these parts. There are some 'off road' companies out there that will sell you the calipers with their own version of the levers and springs, but be prepared to spend almost $400.00 for the pair.

I do have a pair of 76-78 Eldorado calipers complete with the levers and springs that I'm not using for sale if interested.

Thanks,
72longbed

BTW, did my homework on this, and YES you can use the same disk brake brackets on an HO52/72 as a 14 Bolt Full Floater. Same rotors and calipers too.

[musclecarfreak]

Ok, I am going to sound like a broken record, but what master and proportioning valve did you use?

[72longbed]

I don't know if you are asking me or somebody else, but I used the stock factory M.C. and Prop. valve with no problems.

72longbed

[RPOZ11]

On the Eldorado calipers:
I have a friend who is trying to determine some of this.
I am selling a set of Seville calipers; both seem to be left hand calipers.
Seems that Eldorados may be right hand calipers;
Meaning:
The mounting for the calipers are front and rear of the axle centerline, instead of both being to the rear or to the front.
The friend seems to be determining that if you use one Eldorado caliper and one Seville caliper, the you could mount both either front or rear of the centerline....
How does this sound to all of you?
The 1978 Seville I pulled the brackets and calipers off of had the pass side caliper to the rear and the driver's side to the front of the centerline; the parking brake cables were long and short depending upon which side they were on.
So, in theory, he is suggesting to me that one could possibly use the Eldo and the Seville caliprs to the rear and use the longer parking brake cable on the shorter side to get the equal length back for the parking brake system to work.
Again, he is still theorizing this!
Also, it has been suggested to me that 1980 Seville calipers were both mounted to the rear; so this would correct prior year set-ups' cables locations.
The Seville axle flange brackets appear and seem NOT to clear 14" rims on the rear inside clearancing; although I have yet to check my GM factory disc brake base rims to see if they will clear those spacing locations.
The Seville flange caliper brackets will clear the 15" rims, as the Seville came with 15" rims and 5 on 5 wheel bolt patterns.
This was what my findings provided!
Hope it helps....
As for the Eldorados, I will ask the baord here to advise....

[RPOZ11]

Originally Posted by 1967k30

I'd stay with the Eaton.I have disc brakes on mine.Way better than the old drums and they only cost me $175 total.I put my own kit together. The Eaton is cooler to because everyone has a 14bolt.Just my .02

Hi!
I would like to know what calipers you used?
The brackets you used on this Eaton: Were they designed for a specific caliper?
On the parking brake cables, what did you use?
Which proportioning valve did you use?

PIC IMAGES of your set-up?
Thanx!

[RPOZ11]

Originally Posted by shelby987

Why is the dana 60 rear not the way to go? Is the dana 60 front worth a look?

What was the baord's impression on this question?

I assume braking, axle sizing, and?????

[72longbed]

RPOZ11,

DANGER, DANGER WILL ROBINSON!! I don't know what you friend is referring to, but the calipers that I have used and the ones that I have for sale are definitely LEFT and RIGHT specific. The Eldorado calipers that I have are mounted to the REAR of the bracket on both sides. The bleeder is at the top on both sides, where it should be. Something scares me about mounting one caliper on the front of the bracket and one on the rear of the same vehicle!?!?! I think your friend was sold two left handed calipers. Mounting both calipers on the rear of the bracket allows the E-Brake cable to be pulled from the front of the truck without a lot of 'gyrations' on the cable.

Just my .02
72longbed