Rear Dana 60 vs. 14 Bolt

[johnnywagon]

I have a friend (seriously, Im NOT talking about me) who recently spent a ridiculous amount of cash rebuilding a Dana 60 that came from a 70 GMC 1 ton 2WD? Its going to go into his 72 Blazer. Recently I thought I saw on here someone claiming that the 14 bolt is way tougher than the rear Dana 60. Is this true? If so what is week point and can it be upgraded?

[1969k10stepside]

I'v heard the 14 bolt was stronger than a rear dana 60.I have no personal experience with one being better or stronger than another though.I would rather have the 14 bolt.I think there was a thread on a guys dana 60 rear breaking a axle shaft.I think thats their weakness

[Blazer1970]

Yes, a 10 1/2" 14 bolt is A LOT stronger than any Dana 60. In particular, Dana 60s have really weak axle shafts (similar diameter to a 10 bolt). People do upgrade the 60s to aftermarket 35 spline shafts (stock is 30 spline). This requires:

Boring the spindles to a larger ID to accommodate the bigger shafts
Buying aftermarket shafts
Aquiring and switching over to 35 spline side gears in the differential

This is awfully expensive when 14 bolts are often available for free.

[Towstrap]

The larger axle shaft is the 14 Bolt, and both axle shafts have 30 splines. As far as I know all full floater 14 bolts have 1.5" 30 spline shafts.


i was running a 60 in the rear they dont like 44" Boggers i went with a 14 bolt no problems

[1tonswb]

Major weeknedd on a 60 rear is the axleshafts. There the same size and spline count as a 44 front.

[jeffspower]

Sled pullers learned early on that you can pour all the money you want into a 60 rear, & they won't hold up anywhere close to as good as a 10.5 14 bolt will. Years ago, one of my pulling friends finally listened to us GM guys after fighting the 60 in his Ford for a couple of years. The last straw was a set of high dollar axle shafts that didn't last as many passes as junkyard stockers. He also learned that the Ford's NP435 4 spd. was very weak in comparison to a Chevy SM465. I think the whole driveline in his truck is Chevy now- If we could just get him to go Chevy under the hood

[DieselEater]

Totally agree with jeffspower. Most of the Ford guys on my pullin' forum agree that a 14-bolt is stronger than a Dana 70!!!!! Its the pilot bering on the pinion that helps keep the torque in line. The Chevy Eaton rear end is VERY strong also.....

(don't mean to hi-jack.....jeffspower where do you pull?)

[bfr57]

The Chevy Eaton you're referring too is the one that came on the 67-72 GMC 3/4 tons, right? I have one on a 71 GMC 'Burb, but have been told parts are no longer available. True?

[drink2mny]

If your going to play up around here I would go with a 14 bolt.. readily available at pull and save. cost difference of upgrading a 60 to be as strong or stronger than a 14 bolt out of the box is crazy high.

We have seen some guys come by the shop and ask to have the spindle bored on there 60 to go bigger axles and then get a locker for it.. would have been cheaper to get a detroit and get axles for the 14 bolt..
But to each there own. It is what ever the person wants..

I have seen a handfull of 60 break out at 7 mile.. I beat the snot out of my blazer( 1 ton running gear) and not once ever had an issue with the 14 bolt stock axles and a detroit running 36's and 38's in mud,hill climbs and mild rock crawls..

But I was rolling advertisement for Blackbirds

[jeffspower]

Originally Posted by bfr57

The Chevy Eaton you're referring too is the one that came on the 67-72 GMC 3/4 tons, right? I have one on a 71 GMC 'Burb, but have been told parts are no longer available. True?

The Eaton goes back to the '50s. Last year '72. '72 has '73-up 14 bolt brakes- at least mine does- and they are original. Hard parts & gears are obsolete, but brgs & seals are readily available. The OE wheel bearings had barrel roller bearings instead of tapered roller- at least in the ones I've been into. Replacement bearings will be tapered roller, which you should always replace both the inner/outer cone/race in sets. At least that's what I learned from the old timers. The best things about the Eaton is it's lighter, 4.57 & 5.13 gears are easy to score out of 6 cyl. trucks, you can have a spare pumpkin ready to drop in (you can do it in under 1/2 hour when motivated) & better ground clearance than a 14 bolt. And it is very similar in strength to a 14 bolt. If you can't find a locker for one, you can buy one for a 14 bolt & use the 14 bolt axle shafts with it- so I've heard.

DieselEater- haven't pulled for several years now- lack of funds

[RAB38]

The 14 bolt gives you stronger axles and larger ring gear stock. and like everyone says you can almost get them for free. Can't beat it

[trkklr77]

dont knock the d60 for being a good axle, they just cant hold up to the heavy fullsize trucks, they are a great option if you want a little extra ground clearence and a wider choice of gears and lockers. they are bomb proof enough for a smaller lighter rig like a jeep or toy.



i have broken my 14b gov loc like many have but it took one hell of a beating for a long time, i only know of a dozen people [usually running huge 44+ tires] that have broken a axle shaft. ill take a 14b any day of the week.

[1969 GMC]

One thing that everyone is forgetting too is the cost of aftermarket posi or locker, which will ALWAYS be cheaper for the 14 bolt than the D60 (due to the 2 pc. carrier).

EDIT: I still think the Eaton is the best choice, however. I went wheeling down in wellsville with some people off of CK5, and I saw a guy spin a 14 bolt's axletube out of the pumpkin. Can't do that with an Eaton!

[special-K]

The Dana 60 is so tough for the front but wimpy for the rear?True 14-bolts are tougher and everywhere.But I could live with a Dana60 front & rear.I think it takes alot to bring out the weakness in a Dana60.What it takes to break one could prolly break most anything else,too.A Dana60 in the rear of a Blazer would be a serious improvement.If Dana 44s in can take a 35" tire,I`d say a Dana60 can take alot.Comparing the D60 rear to a 14-bolt is not the match.It should be 14-bolt vs Dana70,anyway.

[1969k10stepside]

Id be happy with a dana 60 front and a 14 bolt rear axle,but I would take a dana 60 rear anyday,well,I would take a eaton too

[johnnywagon]

Thanks everyone! Great info. You guys rock!

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by special-K

The Dana 60 is so tough for the front but wimpy for the rear?

Yes. 35 spline 1-1/2 inch inner shafts, massive end forgings, beefy knuckles, wheel bearings (same as the the 14 bolt's iirc), and hubs.

[Burt4x4]

I run a D60 rear:


This rear D60 is stuffed with MarkWillams HighTorque 35spline 1.5" axels and a Dana Power-Lok w/4.11 R&P.
When I TWISTED my 12bolt rear a local shop had just pulled this rear outof a 70s 1Ton 4x4 that was getting MOG axels to run 44s. The main reason I used this D60 rear is the axels are 6lug to match my front D44...otherwise I would have had to convert to 8lug or go full 1ton D60/14FF.

I would say the 14SF is equal to a D60 rear but the 14FF is strongest for the reasons already talked about above...
Until my FI454 granades my axels I will stick with my 6 lug 7/8Ton drive train hehehehee

[1969K10]

great thread!!!! I'm glad I picked up my 14-bolt! Now to find a D60 front...

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by 1969K10

great thread!!!! I'm glad I picked up my 14-bolt! Now to find a D60 front...

Good luck

[86k10]

From what I've encountered the Danas major weakness is the pinion bearings, it's a stupid design that doesn't seem to get enough lube to the front one. Just got done doing 2 sets, one in the front of a 91 Dodge W 250 and just yesterday in a 98 Ford 1 ton van. There is no comparing it to a 14 bolt.

[skchevota]

Yes the 14 bolt is massive in comperison to the 60, I dont know if anyone mentioned that the 14 bolt has 3 1/2" axle tubes and there like 1/2" thick.
A good reason to run a 60 would be a lighter rig, better ground clearance and the 60 weighs a lot less. I have broke a rear 60 axle, on the plus side, I fished out the axle, put my ziplock bag fron my lunch over the end of the hub with a rubberband and drove back down the trail and then 40 miles home on the front. Got to love those full floaters!

[special-K]

I have a question.Is the H052 Eaton that much tougher than the D60?I mean you can interchange parts with the 14-bolt.The design and construction of the 14-bolt is prolly stronger.But,I`ve never heard of the Eaton put higher than the Dana.

[earl87gta]

Form every thing I have read the Eaton is as tough as the 14 bolt. when I was looking in to replacing mine with a 14ff I was suprized as to how many poeple would rather use the Eaton then the 14 its just as strong and has a better ground clearence then the 14FF. only problem is gears hard to get. I have 4:56 in mine and need 4:10 or 3:73 and havent found a set yet.

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by special-K

I have a question.Is the H052 Eaton that much tougher than the D60?I mean you can interchange parts with the 14-bolt.The design and construction of the 14-bolt is prolly stronger.But,I`ve never heard of the Eaton put higher than the Dana.

Yes, the corporate HO52/HO72 is basically equivalent to the 14 bolt making it much stronger than a Dana 60. That's why one ton trucks came with HO72s, but not D60s.