14bff or dana 70 or dana 80

[91GMCSuburban]

I will be upgrading my rear axle very soon and would like your opinions, pros, cons etc. on the choices between 14bff, dana 70 and dana 80.

This will be going on my 91 sub which soon be sporting a newly built 383, 35 to 37 inch tires. I will be putting a detroit locker and either 4.56 or 4.88 gears.

Thanks

 

[Masiony]

14 bolt all the way. the only real reason to go to a dana axle in your set up is to get gears lower than 5.38

 

[mofugly13]

I specifically looked for a D70, just because I wanted to be different from everyone who runs a 14ff. Aside from that, my D70U has more ground clearance than a 14ff. It's also smooth as a baby's bottom on the underside of the housing. You can gear lower than a 14ff. Those are the pro's of the D70, also they are available in junkyards, as are 14ff, for parts. I haven't run into any D80's at the yards, though I'm sure they turn up from time to time.

 

[Masiony]

I specifically looked for a D70, just because I wanted to be different from everyone who runs a 14ff. Aside from that, my D70U has more ground clearance than a 14ff. It's also smooth as a baby's bottom on the underside of the housing. You can gear lower than a 14ff. Those are the pro's of the D70, also they are available in junkyards, as are 14ff, for parts. I haven't run into any D80's at the yards, though I'm sure they turn up from time to time.

but at what cost? ive seen three 14FF go for $75 for all three. two were 4.10 and one was 4.56.

with that being said, they are all great axles.

 

[91GMCSuburban]

Well, I have a lead on a Dana 70 for $300 complete (don't know the gearing yet), so I need as much info as possible.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Start pricing lockers for any of those axles and you will soon make your decision. 14FF's are everywhere and parts are cheaper than a D70 or D80.

 

[Masiony]

i would say only get it for that price if it has the right gears. D70 and 14FF are about the same in strength. D80 is stronger yet.

 

[blazinzuk]

I would go 14 because the locker is cheaper that is all

 

[u2slow]

I do not believe there is a 4.56 for the Dana 80.

I would pick the 14bFF if it can suit your needs simply because of the price.

 

[MTMike]

I went with a Dually D70 simply because it came with my Dually D60.

Other benefits were:
- It has the wider track so I didn't have to recenter my H1 wheels
- It had matched gears to my D60 since it was off the same truck.

My locker was free too, thanks goes to MNorby and his Miller.

 

[atho]

I would go 14 because the locker is cheaper that is all

it really depends on if the D70 has a two piece carrier or not. if it has a stock 2 piece, you can get a cheap detroit for it just like a 14 bolt. if its the 1 pc carrier, you can lockright for under $400, or get the detroit...which is actually a NEW 2 piece OEM carrier design with the locker insert already inside.
D80's come in 4.63, closest you can get to 4.56

 

[Chaddy]

I would get the 14bolt, shave it smooth on the bottom, disc it, and throw a detroit in it. You will be happy.

 

[cbbr]

I would get the 14bolt, shave it smooth on the bottom, disc it, and throw a detroit in it. You will be happy.

I am the disc conversion and shave away from this now, so my answer is obvious.

 

[FOR MUD]

Try to find a 70hd , they have 4" dia tubes more webing on the housing and bigger bearings

 

[tarussell]

When in doubt go with the 14FF . It is so very cheap , common, strong and reliable. Most folks never-ever need any more axle than this.
D70's and D80's are great but for specific reasons. Unless you are going to carry an offensive amount of weight around all of the time there is most likely no need for a D80 in most applications. They are real damn heavy and eat up so much ground clearance they are usually not the most effective axle choice.

A 14FF is used in most trucks for a reason - they do just about everything well and they are soooooo common and affordable !

Tom

 

[91GMCSuburban]

thanks for the comments. I think I will stick with the 14bff

 

[jekbrown]

its pretty simple, go with a ff14b unless....

1) you want gears lower than 5.13
2) you want a locker/traction device that isn't offered for the ff14b

the ff14b will almost always be more common / cheaper... and the detroit for it is good 'n' cheap too.

j

 

[mr_blasto]

but at what cost? ive seen three 14FF go for $75 for all three. two were 4.10 and one was 4.56.

with that being said, they are all great axles.

I got a d60 with a d70hd for $550, that seems like a reasonable cost to me. I also just picked up a lockrite for the 70 for about $150.

By an large the 14bff is going to be a lot less expensive, but that doesn't mean that running d70's are going to break the bank.