Rear Axle advice

UTfball68

UTfball68

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Location
Granite Quarry
Alright fellas...I've gotten to the point where my Bronco is going back to being the dedicated wheeler it was intended on being. My plan for it is to be an expedition rig...it won't see over a 38" tire, it will be locked and won't go more than 400hp. I would however, like it to remain back up DD capable.


All that said, I've got a pretty good idea of the routes I want to take to get to my end product, except the rear axle. I'm going to lay this out there and say I know a Corp 14 is probably the best choice, but I'm quirky and would prefer something that was available under a Ford.

I was originally thinking of going with a Sterling 10.25 in the rear, but I had thought there were some pinion and bracing issues with these. Then I was thinking a Dana 70 would be the way to go, but don't know much about them. And then I was talking with a groups of Bronco wheelers and they were saying that with my intentions an 'upgraded' 60 in the rear would be enough (and they're cheap and prevalent)...I'm not sold on a 60 being that much better of an axle than a 9", but don't think a 9" would be what I'm looking for.


I'm a dunce on rear axles and don't know what I need to know about them, so any schooling and advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
You could build the 9" to be stout enough with an upgraded 3rd member, 35 spline shafts etc, but it will cost you a lot more than just throwing a 14B under the rig.

I've seen Shawn bad mouth the 10.25 on this website more than once over the years. I think he had one in his FS Bronco and had problems with it. I don't recall what the problems are though.
 
^^^Yeah...that's another thing I don't want to do is sink a couple grand into an axle just so it can compete with something I could bolt in for a couple hundred. I'm just gonna say I'm not thinking of using a 9" at all, I simply said that in response to the suggestion of using a rear 60...which I'm not sold on yet.
 
I hate the 10.25.

I love the 14 bolt.

I have a 10.25 for sale if you're looking. It needs a new R&P. :lol:
 
Late 90's to early 00's Ford Van 60 rear. Gonna be a 35 spline, factory rear disc brakes, smooth bottom, 8 on 6.5", c-clip rear. Don't sweat the c-clip part. Being an expedition rig, it won't see the stresses a wheeling rig will. You can go with an ARB for great street manners. We do them all the time at U-Joint Offroad.

But, if it were mine, I'd sling a 14 Bolt under it. Cheap, very strong and available everywhere.
 
I have two Broncos with a Dana 70. The early sterling axles had a weak pinion but still did fine for most people. The later ones did well. The good thing is that you can keep the tone ring for your ABS light.
 
Thanks for the info guys. So when it comes to the sterling and the 70, is there much difference in aftermarket support? Is there much difference in upkeep/rebuild costs?
 
70 and sterling are both expensive to build. With the 70 if you watch on ebay you can sometimes get some great deals on used or new old stock parts. My 4.56 gears for Dana 70 were about $60 new
 
Not putting a 14 bolt in because it wasn't originally in a Ford is kinda ridiculous. It's a bulletproof proven axle and cheap. A d60 is expensive to build strong. The 10.5 sterlings are strong and have discs but a different metric bolt pattern but you can just index it and redrill for the standard 8x6.5 lug pattern.
 
^^^Ehhh...call it a character flaw or blind following. Maybe one day I'll wise up and regret the decision...until then, I'll drop some extra coin if need be to keep things the way I want them. But thanks for the input and I do understand the appeal of the 14. You have to stop and think...I was a parts correct 'restorer' before I ever entered the offroad world...so changing anything that wasn't original is a big step for me...haha.
 
UTfball68 said:
^^^Ehhh...call it a character flaw or blind following. Maybe one day I'll wise up and regret the decision...until then, I'll drop some extra coin if need be to keep things the way I want them. But thanks for the input and I do understand the appeal of the 14. You have to stop and think...I was a parts correct 'restorer' before I ever entered the offroad world...so changing anything that wasn't original is a big step for me...haha.
Click to expand...

I'll assume you're keeping stock bumpers, rims tires etc. as well right?:driver:


Don't get all emotional over parts. Just saying. You'd be wasting money on something.

I do like the sterling's though and they are also fairly inexpensive.

So because dana build rear axles for dodge and ford would you put a dodge 60 in?

Just playing devils advocate here no offense meant. Just trying to get you to think about it.
 
Yeah...I hear ya 100%...and I'm really not that emotionally attached, just the fact that I started out as a 'numbers matching' guy. And that's not the point of this project, but it is taking me out of my comfort zone...prior to this, mostly stock with a lift and tires accomodated my wheeling style. I was more or less looking to see if something comparable did come under a Ford, if so, great...if not, and the overwhelming majority told me to look elsewhere, I would...and probably will take a closer look at the 14. As for the 60 rear, that was just one suggestion, and I figured I'd see what you guys had to say for my scenario, it was never a real consideration. But to answer your question...since Ford offered a 60 rear, and that's what I have more access to, I'd probably look there first. But as I said, this isn't a numbers matching project and I have to keep reminding myself of that. Silly maybe...but I'm still an extreme newbie when it comes to actual offroad builds.
 
Dollar for dollar, those van 60's I mentioned earlier really can't be beaten. Everything you want and also disc brakes, 35 spline shafts, correct bolt pattern, etc.

I service them A LOT at UJOR. Most of our van builds use them. Parts are cheap and plentiful...
 
Jody Treadway said:
Dollar for dollar, those van 60's I mentioned earlier really can't be beaten. Everything you want and also disc brakes, 35 spline shafts, correct bolt pattern, etc.
I service them A LOT at UJOR. Most of our van builds use them. Parts are cheap and plentiful...
Click to expand...
^^^ I would definitely go this route if you don't want to do a 14b.
 
I'm not a big fan of bastard engine swaps. I hate to see an old model t or a with a sbc under the hood. How ever I don't see the harm in having an off brand axle. There are lots of Chevy racecars with a 9" lol. Hell I'm running a 14 bolt rear, astrovan hydroboost, and gmt tri on my 351m after all.

If you are dead set to run a Ford axle I'd just get a 10.25 and forget about it. Your abs will work and plug right in. If you don't care about and then run which ever you can get at a deal whether its a 14, 10.25, 70 or 60ff and I'd build it and run it. You can easily disable the rear abs by plugging the module under the dash. That's what I did on dads 88 bko when I did the sas and 9" swap
 
lol! I didnt see that part I responded on my phone and had signatures turned off.
 
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