how much tires will my axles hold?

[dean_6824]

last year i got impatiant during an axle build with all the wrond intentions like dd/ tow rig..

i ended up beefing up the front 10bolt with :

detroit locker
youkon 4.56's
youkon 30pline cromoly shafts and stubbs
youkon superjoint cromoly u joints ( the ones with no needlebearings)
warn premium hubs
stage 8 spindle nut


out back i was at tha junkyard ad messed my pants th first time i seen my 6 lug gm 14bolt semifloat drums and 33spline shafts
. at that point in time i thought that was great becaus ei could keep my same wheels and tires but did not fully undestand the difference between 14bolts
of course detroit locker and youkon gears, stock shafts

i then lifted and went from 33's to 35's to cut down the rpm..

i then realized my 3spd and those gears still didnt like me on the highway
thought about goin to a 700r4 but thats a pain.. so my simple solution is to stuff bigger tires lol just how much bigger will these axles hold up to..

i wheel it as hard as i can and have a very healthy 350 with the intentions of more power of course. and they seem to be holding up well other than breaking a hub completley at random , didnt even notice it till i got stuck in 3wd lol)

with the 35's @ cruising speed ( speedo off) is at 2900rpm and roughly 60 mph

i'd like to go up to 40's , or some surplus 37's

any advice other than get real axles and a 5 speed ??

 

[StevoandaRedK5]

So you've got a 10bolt front, 14bsf rear, both with Detroits and 4.56's, front with chromo shafts, currently running 35's?

i wheel it as hard as i can

If you're wheeling hard, especially locked front and rear, 35's are already pushing it in my opinion. You could carry spare shafts and such and run 37-38's, and probably not break a whole lot if you stayed wise with the right foot.

My opinion (ain't much): Look for an overdrive trans, run the 35's, let the motor hum a bit at cruise, and keep thrashing.

 

[tRustyK5]

Rear is easily good for 38's, your front might deal with 37" radials OK.

Quick calc's based on no overdrive says at 60 mph the motor is spinning at 2650 rpm. If the tach says more, you're driving faster than you think. 37's will drop that down to 2514. Not much of a difference really.

PITA or not, I'd go 700R-4 and call it good. Your diff's are well built for the 35's, and being the lighter variety you still have good clearance under them with the 35's. Bigger diff's will need 37's just to equal the ground clearance you currently have.

Rene

 

[blazinzuk]

Its really kind of hard to say. What works for one may not work at all for another.

Like Rene said your rear end is solid that semi float 14 is a good axle.

Your 10b is about as strong as its going to get. With the front locker 35s are a reliable tire. I think with the chromos you should be alright to 37s I also think you will break a shaft every now and again. But it shouldn't be something that is terribly regular.

The 700 not only gives you overdrive but also gives you a lower first gear, which will make crawling a bit easier, that in turn could take some load off the axles.

So I say do the 700 now and then upgrade to 37s!

 

[dean_6824]

yup thats about what i tought, and i am very heavy with the skinny pedal, probobly going to be worse with the fuel injection and top end coming soon..
the 700 wil eventualy be inn the works. i still have to do some more job hunting when i get back home because playin with the k5 and a newish tow rig will eat up most of what i saved in iraq.

 

[Stomis]

Your 10b is about as strong as its going to get. With the front locker 35s are a reliable tire. I think with the chromos you should be alright to 37s I also think you will break a shaft every now and again. But it shouldn't be something that is terribly regular.

This is good advice right here. If your big on skinny pedal stick with 35s.

 

[chalet2506]

Just curious, what kind of wheeling are you doing around here?

 

[dean_6824]

i like to go on good trails with rocks , mud, hill climbs. i generally wheel into any trail i have a chance of completing. ive been going to northwest park in bridgeport tx and rock creek in lipan just because they are close and i can confidentaly drive there, wheel , and limp home.