Any advantage to a '88-'98 14BSF over square version?

[urbex]

About to drop a 489BBC into my '86 K5, and will be swapping out the rear 10 bolt as well.

I have a '85 K20 pickup and a '95 K2500 Suburban here as parts trucks as well, both with 14B semi float axles in them and both 4.10 gears. I'll be moving the K20 front 8 lug axle over as well. I know I'll have to move the spring and shock mounts on the '95 axle, which isn't a big deal to me.

The '85 is a G80, the '95 is open diff. I'm leaning towards the '95 because I can weld the diff up easy, but I'm not sure if the G80 is still an issue in the 14B semi float axles. I've been searching for a while, but everything I'm finding is just saying how the newer stuff isn't bolt in, or people trying to find the bolt in 6 lug stuff, or get a real 14 bolt, lol.

This is just a stop gap using parts I already have for a truck thats primarily a trail truck (seriously...it's a trailer queen unless my daily breaks down and I need to go get parts), until I find a disc brake 14BFF, and get it installed. I wasn't worried about the rear 10B behind a gutless wonder 350 and 33s. But with a torquey 489 and 37s, I figure it's only a very short matter of time before I break it...

 

[Bent77]

I’d still be concerned with a big engine on a semi floater

but, disc brakes and gear ratios remain the two big reasons for the newer axles
Here are a few resources

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/14sf-tech-info.135125/

https://www.performancetrucks.net/f.../official-14-bolt-9-5-sf-truck-thread-467473/

 

[Keitha]

Doesn't the Semi-float have better ground clearance?

 

[Bent77]

Some. You can clip the FF and it helps a bunch

 

[campfire]

Doesn't the Semi-float have better ground clearance?

Yes. Ask me how I found that out.

@urbex, if you're not looking for 6-lug hubs or wider WMS spacing, I don't think you'll care which axle you use. Once you move the perches, of course.

 

[imiceman44]

Yes. Ask me how I found that out.

@urbex, if you're not looking for 6-lug hubs or wider WMS spacing, I don't think you'll care which axle you use. Once you move the perches, of course.

Which is why I would go with the bolt in version 1985

 

[Blue85]

If someone is seeking the 90's version out over the 80's version, it's typically to get 6 lug. There are also 90's versions with a wider WMS than the standard 80's 3/4-ton axle. If you go even newer you can get factory disc brakes with drum-in-hat parking brake and an e-locker (and 4.10's) from the H2. If you'll be moving perches you might look into that option. If you're strictly using the parts you have on hand, check the WMS width of both axles. If the 95 has a wider track and/or better brakes, you can probably swap the brakes and shafts into the 85 housing for a bolt-in solution. Check the width of the brake backing plate mounts first.

But seriously, read the 14Bs/f tech info thread posted above. Some of the pictures are gone, but maybe if we ping @dyeager535 he can replace some?

 

[blazer74]

The later ones around 97ish have a different pinion seal and yoke set up which can be used I on the older ones I believe.
Otherwise internally the same except for wms widths, perch spacing, # of lugs and brakes.

 

[Chevy305]

No difference in strength between the 2 axles. Use the '85 housing to bolt in and swap the open carrier out of the '95 into it and weld it up. Run that until you can procure a disk brake 14bff.

 

[dyeager535]

But seriously, read the 14Bs/f tech info thread posted above. Some of the pictures are gone, but maybe if we ping @dyeager535 he can replace some?

Updating the pics I can on that thread, now.

 

[dhcomp]

Disk brake is great, but a 95 sf will be drum. Discs did t come out til much later. 2000+ ish

 

[urbex]

I’d still be concerned with a big engine on a semi floater

Oh, I am too..but less so than that engine in front of a 10 bolt anything, lol. I figure a 14BSF will at least hold up to minor trail and daily driver duties assuming I don't do stupid things like full throttle assaults on the rocks or transbrake launches, whereas I'd be concerned that the 10 bolt would become like a Jeep axle - breaks while backing out of the driveway one day, lol. I'm also not wild about the idea of spooling/welding the 10 bolt, whereas I'm not concerned about even a 14BSF holding up to that load.

Disk brake is great, but a 95 sf will be drum. Discs did t come out til much later. 2000+ ish

Also true...both of my axles are drum, and I still kick myself for selling the 2000-something factory disc 14BFF that I had shaved the pumpkin and ring gear on, sitting here for a couple years that was slated for a prior project that never happened, and I thought I'd never be playing with full size stuff again....then less than a month after finally selling it, I drug the K5 home....

On the other hand, I have been eyeballing the 14BFF that's currently in the back of my '96 K2500 pickup, and keep thinking about just ordering up ORD's SAS kit for it...moving the axles from the F350 over to the Chevy, and just taking that 14B for the K5....

Though I also just remembered I do have a Sterling 10.25 8x6.5 lug pattern full floater sitting way out back that I swapped out of the F350 last year when I went to dually axles on it...1/2" difference on spring perch spacing, should be close enough to be a bolt in deal, at least on the springs. No spools that I'm aware of for it, nor is it disc, but it is here already....