Factory front 14bolt... in a Dodge?

[USSkoval]

There was an '05 Dodge 2500 4x4 diesel in the shop today for ball joints. The guy doing the job accidentally ripped the LF ABS sensor off the front hub. He came to me and asked if I might have a spare sensor laying around. I had one from an '04 Chevy 2500 that was IDENTICAL at the wheel bearing end. Then I noticed the Dodge bearing looks just like a Chevy bearing, but I didn't have one around to compare with.

Then I noticed the front axle housing had the AAM logo on top of it, and I became curious. I took a look at the front cover and counted 14 bolts, then realized it looked like a GM rear 14bolt SF. Then I went and looked at my 14SF laying in the back shop... yep, they look pretty similar.

What gives? When exactly did this OEM crossbreeding start? I was under the impression the newer Dodges still ran a variant of the D60.

 

[blazinzuk]

this crossbreeding started right about the time the second automobile made rolled off the line.

Dodges have used AAMs for a while now.

Have a Dodge dually in the shop now with I think the 12.5" AAM axle its freaking huge it might be the 11.5 but dang its huge

 

[USSkoval]

Yeah, but a 14sf in the front of a Dodge just strikes me as strange. It did have the 11.5 rear though.

Lol, it's like AMC all over again.

 

[76zimmer]

I asked a Dodge rep at the St Ignace car show years back, about the axles under the dually they had on display...He said they were AAM, and that they had trouble with Dana's leaking, and the warranteed claims were to high to continue without Dana doing something about it, so they've been sourcing AAM for axles for 5+ years now.
that front is a AAM 9.25 slightly smaller than the 14BSF. I believe its the same carrier as used in the GM-HD front diff.

These are rear solid axles available from AAM

Product Sizes (Ring Gear Diameter):

• 193mm / 7.6in
• 203mm / 8.0in - PowerLite® Aluminum available
• 218mm / 8.6in - PowerLite® Aluminum available
• 241mm / 9.5in
• 267mm / 10.5in
• 292mm / 11.5in

And front axles:
Product Sizes (Ring Gear Diameters):

• 165mm / 6.5in
• 184mm / 7.25in Independent and PowerLite®
• 194mm / 7.62in Independent and PowerLite®
• 210mm / 8.25in Independent and PowerLite®
• 235mm / 9.25in Independent, Beam and PowerLite®
• 267mm / 10.5in Beam

 

[1BEATK5]

the front is almost a 9.5sf. its actually only a 9.25. high pinion though
the rear is 11.5. the only one bigger comes in the cab and chassis truck, and it's a 11.8" and a dropout center. available down to 4.88 stock
there is also a 10.8 hp front in the c/c trucks with the 4.88 gears only.
i've heard of people doing straight axle conversions on the later chevys with the dodge axle, and keeping the abs. thats pretty cool.

 

[6.2Blazer]

AAM is just the old GM Corporate Axle division (i.e. that made the 14SF) that was spun off into a seperate company years ago. Therefore it's not surprise if the housing looks similar. Not like there are a whole lot of wildly different housing styles out there.

 

[JDNobodi]

I asked a Dodge rep at the St Ignace car show years back, about the axles under the dually they had on display...He said they were AAM, and that they had trouble with Dana's leaking, and the warranteed claims were to high to continue without Dana doing something about it, so they've been sourcing AAM for axles for 5+ years now.

Hmm, I few years ago I went to a shop that used to sell Spicer U-joints to pick up some U-joints. The guy told me they no longer deal with Spicer because of too many "hassles" and sold me a comparable brand.

I just wonder how long a company can stay in business if they piss off both their big and small costumers.