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Im definetely new! 3/4 ton Axles?
- Thread starter rad86k5
- Start date
George_Pimpdaddy
1/2 ton status
Well mostly the fact your get 8 lug wheels and usually a 14 bolt FF rear that is nearly indestructible and you either switch out your front 1/2t or rebuild it with new 8 lug outters and slightly bigger brakes that came on the 3/4t trucks. Most 3/4T fronts will allow you to wheel up to 37" tires depending on the terrain, after that its Dana 60 time which is a true 1 ton front axle with bigger axle shafts, gear set, and kingpins instead of weak ball joints.
Usually 3/4 ton axles will have 4.10s in them vs. 3.73 or worse that most half ton stuff has, other than that strength is the reason, same reason alot eventually swap the front 3/4 ton stuff for 1 ton stuff
Yep, its pretty much for that big rear diff.
If you break an axle shaft on the stock rear axle the tire and brake assembly will fall off the truck and you're not getting home without a spare. The stock rear axle is not difficult to break.
The full floating 14 bolt that is super common in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks is essentially unbreakable (until you get to tires over four feet or so) and even if you did break it you can drive home just fine on a broken shaft because it is a full floating axle.
There are some other benefits too, as mention the 3/4 ton rotors are bigger and 8 lugs holding the wheel on is stronger and has a greater load capacity.
If you break an axle shaft on the stock rear axle the tire and brake assembly will fall off the truck and you're not getting home without a spare. The stock rear axle is not difficult to break.
The full floating 14 bolt that is super common in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks is essentially unbreakable (until you get to tires over four feet or so) and even if you did break it you can drive home just fine on a broken shaft because it is a full floating axle.
There are some other benefits too, as mention the 3/4 ton rotors are bigger and 8 lugs holding the wheel on is stronger and has a greater load capacity.
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
I did the swap mainly for the gearing, (4.10's from 2.73's, yes 2.73's) but like was previously said the epic strength of the 14 bolt FF is a big plus.
K5dreamer
1/2 ton status
As has been stated, the reasons to go to 3/4 ton are primarilly the weaknesses and shortcomings of the 1/2 ton axles in our trucks. The 8.5in 10 bolt is thought of as bulletproof for a car, or S10 truck, but our rigs weigh between 4500 and 8,000 pounds depending on how they are set up. my truck, bone stock tips the scales at 5800 lbs. Even with moderately sized tires 33-35in, i was worried about how hard i could push the truck off road. Swapping to 3/4 ton axles is basically cheap insurance to allow you to wheel without worrying about breaking anything. the added gearing, and 8 lugs rims are really just icing on the cake. IMHO.
as the old saying goes, Size matters
mattybuilt76
1/2 ton status
Man this whole time i thought 3/4 and 1 ton axles helped keep the rig stuck to the ground because of all the extra weight!
MojaveK5
1/2 ton status
Another 3/4 ton option is the 14 bolt semi float rear axle. Its not a FF Axle, but is alot stronger thn a 10 or 12 bolt. also the ground clearance is a little better if you are runing 35" or smaller tires.
Just an idea for you.
Just an idea for you.
1/2 ton axles snap under not too much abuse, 3/4 ton axles snap less.
K5dreamer
1/2 ton status
as the old saying goes, Size matters
In that case we all better start saving up for rockwell axles
but to be fair... im only about a step or two below those with my soon-to-be setup
Mainly its because these crazy idiots here break just about anything they put under their trucks<G>.
And 3/4 ton axles let them do more driving before they break them.
Also they are cheaper than the 1 tons, so they can drive them and replace them while saving up for the 1 tons or rockwells.
J.
And 3/4 ton axles let them do more driving before they break them.
Also they are cheaper than the 1 tons, so they can drive them and replace them while saving up for the 1 tons or rockwells.
J.
my brother went that extra mile and got 5ton rockwells..i dont think his springs are up to the task...
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
I switched to a 3/4 ton setup mainly, because within the first 6 months of owning the Burb, i broke the rear 10 bolt housing, not the gears, not the carrier, the actual housing, where the axle tube is plug welded into the center section.
I found a 14bff at a junkyard for $100, this was on advice obviously from this group of monkies,,, but then i ran into the issue of running two different wheels for awhile cause i didn't have the money to convert the front to 8 lug setup.
Went back to the junk yard a year or so later and found a complete front 3/4 ton 10 bolt, paid 'em $150 for it, been running it since.
I don't go all out like some do when wheelin, and have run my front axle for about 4 years without snapping an axleshaft, go figure when i replace the steer knuckle u-joints (just to be safe) i break one the first trip out
But now that i have this setup, i love it, i would eventually go with a 60 front, but until i can afford something like that for a pure toy type item, it's on the far back burner
I found a 14bff at a junkyard for $100, this was on advice obviously from this group of monkies
,,, but then i ran into the issue of running two different wheels for awhile cause i didn't have the money to convert the front to 8 lug setup.Went back to the junk yard a year or so later and found a complete front 3/4 ton 10 bolt, paid 'em $150 for it, been running it since.
I don't go all out like some do when wheelin, and have run my front axle for about 4 years without snapping an axleshaft, go figure when i replace the steer knuckle u-joints (just to be safe) i break one the first trip out
But now that i have this setup, i love it, i would eventually go with a 60 front, but until i can afford something like that for a pure toy type item, it's on the far back burner
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TOY is the right word.my bro Kevin drives his on the street once in awhile. but with hydro steering and 53's??? its a little squirrely. he is finnishing a BB for it.
my bro Kevin drives his on the street once in awhile. but with hydro steering and 53's??? its a little squirrely. he is finnishing a BB for it.K5dreamer
1/2 ton status
i just got a bit of a hardon for those 5 ton axles and 53in tires 
