I am trying to see if swapping from a 10bolt axle to a 12 bolt (rear) would be worth it. Truck is running 35" tires, has a 350 in it. I use it to haul and play with in the mud, I am just waiting for that day I am tryin to pull someone out that the 10bolt just gives. So will it be worth it to swap in a 12 bolt?
If you can get it cheap, and the gear ratio is the same, then go for. Not too much work to swap. Otherwise, it might not be worth it. A 6-lug semi float 14 bolt should be a little stronger than the 12 bolt if you can find one of those.
A buddy of mine use to wheel 35's on a welded 12 bolt. It held up OK for a while to his abuse, and that included lots of rock crawling. He ended up breaking a shaft at Kodak rock one day, but it was a back up 15 ft and mat it situation. He ended up destroying the gears on another trip. He wheels hammer down though.
A 10b has a larger pinion bearing and slightly larger shaft diameter than a 12b it would actually be a minimal step down in strength.
14b are common as rain for <$200....yeah you may have 8 lug rears and 6 lug fronts but you wont break the 14b and then when ever you upgrade the front it will al be 8 lug
