axle strength?

[bigbadchev84]

I just parted out an 85 camper special 3/4ton. it has the 10 bolt front and i assume a 14bolt semi float rear? it has 3.73 gear ratio and i am going to be running 38.5x14.5x16.5 tsl sx will this ratio be too high? or do i need to find 4.10 or 4.56 i am running a th400/208 with a 350 is the 10bolt or a 44 better? thanks

 

[84_Chevy_K10]

You need a Dana 60 for 38s or you will break it quite often. Neither a 10 bolt or a Dana 44 is better than the other, and neither are going to hold up in your application, and I can speak from experience on that one having tried it and broke it 2 out of 4 trips I decided that was enough. If you do try it, either buy alloy shafts and use full circle clips, or tack weld your joints in.

3.73 is nowhere near enough gear. You'll need 4.56 at least, and I'd go even lower than that.

I have 4.10s, but I have a stick with a granny gear so it's not so bad. I'm going 5.13s when I get the money to change though.

 

[big83chevy4x4]

my buddy runs the same setup, 10b 14bsf w/3.73 and 38.5 TSLs. he has only broke 1 axle joint, the reason is he used greasable joints instead of non greasable. all he does is run mud though. if your running rocks, then you probably will be breaking stuff.

i feel that 4.88 is what you want for 38.5s

 

[djsblaze]

I run 38.5 on my D60 with 4.88 gears. Ive got a 700r4 tranny, and I regret not going 5.13. 4.88 work pretty good, but it is still missing some grunt in my book. 3.73 on a 38.5 will not be good. Sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

 

[Hossbaby50]

I have seen 38.5" TSL SX's snap D60 30 spline stub shafts in person (in the rocks). They will be to much tire for a 10 bolt or D44 front unless you run something with very little traction (mud) or drive very nicely. You are above what a 10 bolt or D44 will hold though and you will break eventually if you go offroad. 38's are going to tear up ball joints pretty quickly too, especially if you run very little offset rims.

SX's are a VERY heavy tire and there rotating mass is very hard on the axleshafts and ujoints.

Harley

 

[jekbrown]

yeah, if you're gonna run 38.5s on a d44 or 10b front you prolly dont want SX tires... they are HEAVY biatches for their height. They are a great tire, just very heavy. I wouldnt run tires that size on that axle, but if I was gonna, I'd go with Iroks and aluminum rims and go easy on the skinny pedal...

j

 

[bigbadchev84]

sorry i forgot to mention that i play in mud only, and alot of pavement pounding(daily driver) what i was wanting to know is 3.73 going to give me very much get up or is it gonna be a dog as far as the 60 goes i dont have money for that now, i have access to a 44 also that has 3.73 and was wanting to know which would be better of the two, thanks

 

[big83chevy4x4]

with the 3.73s its gonna be a dog, 4lo would help but then you loose your 4lo.

the 10b and d44 are almost identical in strength.