For those of you running 14B semi floaters

[Russell]

Have any of you had any trouble with bending axle shafts at the wheel flange?

I have an 8 lug semi floater with an ARB in it sitting around, and if no one has had trouble with them, I'd happily run it vs buying a new locker for my full floater.

Only reason why I ask is that I have a friend who runs 37s like myself on a ford 8.8 in a ranger and is forever changing axle shafts because of them bending when he side slides into something.

 

[jekquistk5]

No issues yet. I welded the spiders on mine and seems to work well. Once I have issues I'm switching to the FF.

 

[imiceman44]

Have any of you had any trouble with bending axle shafts at the wheel flange?

I have an 8 lug semi floater with an ARB in it sitting around, and if no one has had trouble with them, I'd happily run it vs buying a new locker for my full floater.

Only reason why I ask is that I have a friend who runs 37s like myself on a ford 8.8 in a ranger and is forever changing axle shafts because of them bending when he side slides into something.

I have never seen that happen, and it's not easy to bend those if you look at how thick the shaft is there.
It's thicker than a FF axle shaft but it's because it also supports the weight.
I had a set of shafts but never found a buyer, ended up scrapping them.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Not on a 14SF, but I have heard of bending shafts on semi-float rear axles. However it was always in pretty extreme conditions like severe wrecks on the highway and such and never when fourwheeling. There is a very, very small moment arm between the flange and axle bearing so at least on paper it would take one heck of a hit to bend it.

 

[Blue85]

OK a 9.5" GM axle is a far cry from a Ford 8.8. There are also old Jeep axles with a reputation for loosing the flange. I think it is a 2-piece with the flange press-fitted on or some nonsense like that. But the 14B s/f is a stout axle that should have no problems with 37's. But if you change your mind I'm sure you can find somebody interested in that ARB.

 

[blazinzuk]

I have installed alot of 8.8s in Jeeps and those guys don't really have a problem with this.

I would think a SF would handle this with no problem it makes the 8.8 look pretty weak by comparison.

I have known guys who thought they were bending shafts but it turned out to be a different problem both times.

Put me in line if you decide to ever sell that ARB

 

[str8axle55]

I`d run it. I`ve had a few over the years, never had an issue, have 1 in my Burb now.

 

[Russell]

Hmm, good news! Well, I will spend considerably less money on the SF than the FF just becuase I already have the ARB for it. It needs all the same stuff that the FF would have needed to be built up otherwise, so I'll pocket that money for something else later.

Have the problems with proportioning when switching to rear disks been solved yet? While I don't particularly care about the extra braking power (locks them up as is), I would be interested in retaining my rear wheel should I ever manage to break an axle shaft. Are there any other caliper options for keeping an e-brake other than the eldorado calipers?

 

[Stomis]

Run the Semi float... you wont bend that thing. Its just as beef as a d60 in the ring and pinion section and beefier than the 14b-FF in the shaft section.