Always wondered this but never asked..

[Blue90]

Why do the masses go with older gen 14 bolts? What's the down side to a ....say 2002 era 14 bolt? They already have disk breaks and a park break. It just makes me scratch my head.... Is there something that I'm missing here?

 

[riflerk20]

cost, easier to set up, mine was free

 

[toomany]

I think price is the biggest driving factor. You can usually find them for $100 around here. That and they are everywhere and so easy to find. I could probably mow the back part of my yard and find one....or three.

 

[Mikey von]

Why do the masses go with older gen 14 bolts? What's the down side to a ....say 2002 era 14 bolt? They already have disk breaks and a park break. It just makes me scratch my head.... Is there something that I'm missing here?

As a guy looking for good parking brake options, I have been wondering the same thing. Has anyone swapped in a newer full floating axle with disc brakes and parking brake?

 

[dremu]

Bolt-up saves having to cut and reweld perches and shock mounts. Not saying it's right or wrong for you, just 'splaining why. I did parking brake on the t-case (and a big set of wheel chocks ) so a disc-converted old-style axle works nicely for me. YMMV.

-- A

 

[K85 Octane]

Mine came with one Aftermarket support is better on the old stuff too.

Also, I'm wondering what the mount to mount width is on the newer stuff.

 

[Stomis]

As a guy looking for good parking brake options, I have been wondering the same thing. Has anyone swapped in a newer full floating axle with disc brakes and parking brake?

I've got metric gm parking brake calipers on my street truck. They hold the thing like noones business. The key is in adjusting them correctly.

 

[82355]

Because it is cheap and easy.

Martin

 

[campfire]

Because it is cheap and easy.

Martin

I'd agree with easy. But my 1997-era 14BFF (drums, but they are removable drums ) cost $125 at the local pick'n'pull. Significantly cheaper than buying a 10-bolt from the same yard. They said that they don't get many buyers for the newer ff axles...

All I had to do was move spring & shock perches and the axle bolted right up. Brake lines, E-brake cables, U-joint. The whole thing was a really good fit. Seems easier to move those perches than struggle with the older-style of drum brake, the Eldorado calipers, or having no parking brake at all. Just my 2-cents' worth.

 

[max 02]

The park brake inside the newer disk brakes suck sh!t!

Plus they are way more money to buy. 650.00 is cheep for a newer one 100.00 bucks is expensive for a old version!