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rear dana 60
- Thread starter k5noob
- Start date
shaun89
1/2 ton status
eh...some people like the D60 cause it cause more clearance/lighter, but i like the 14bff because its a LITTLE bit stronger, easy to set up gears,it has a pinion support bearing and they are more popular then a rear D60 so u can find parts easier
I have a dana 60 under the rear of my truck and love it, havent had any problems yet out of it. It came out of a 69 c20 and has a factory powerloc, 30 spline axles and 4.10's. I am running Blue torch Fabworks disc brake brackets on it too.
My dad's '75 F250 has a D60FF rear end and it's fine, like shaun said they have good clearance compared to a 14ff (but what doesn't? 
) but some of the rear D60's have small diameter, low spline count axle shafts... for what it's worth I'd stick with the 14b... it's cheap, easy to find and just flat out works.
) but some of the rear D60's have small diameter, low spline count axle shafts... for what it's worth I'd stick with the 14b... it's cheap, easy to find and just flat out works.
i got mine real cheap and it was the gear ratio i needed at the time so thats why i went with the dana 60 rear
shaun89
1/2 ton status
i no some people can get a D60 for cheap, which i have nothing against, but u can find a cheap 14bff almost anywhere, so basically both will work great but its whatever u want/find cheaper.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
The thing with rear 60s is that you can get a dud one thats equal to a 10b while a 14b is a 14b. Strong as hell
Correction, FF 14 bolts are WAY stronger than FF D60's.
10.5" ring gear with the third pinion bearing (14 bolt) vs. 9.75" ring gear w/2 pinion bearings that a D60 has (much more gear deflection, gear failures are much more common in D60's than 14 bolts).
1.6" 30 spline shafts (14 bolt) vs. 1.31" 30 spline shafts (rear D60). The rear 60 shafts are the same size as 30 spline D44/10 bolt stuff, if 14 bolts shafts were cut at the same pressure angle as Dana shafts they would be closest to 37 spline D80 shafts.
99% of FF D60's have the tiny 19 or 30 spline shafts, there are some SUPER rare GM vans that got FF D60's with 35 spline (1.5") shafts.
14 bolt shafts are bigger than ALL D60 and D70 shafts, they're even bigger (or the same size) as D80 shafts (most D80's are 35 spline, some are 37 spline).
FF 60's basically have the load carrying capacity of a 1 ton axle and the axle shaft strength of a 1/2 ton axle.
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Have to agree with the above. A 14FF is way stronger than any FF D60.....bigger and better design R&P and much stronger shafts than the vast majority of D60's (19 or 30-spline 1.31" shafts).
I don't understand the comment about "some people can find cheap rear D60's". Only front D60's are expensive and hard to find, rear FF D60's are a dime a dozen as they were used as much in the rear of Ford and Dodge trucks as GM used the 14FF.
I'm not saying a FF D60 rear is a bad axle by any means and it is much better than a 10-bolt, but it is not in the same league as a 14FF by any means.
Just as a side note, even if the shafts of a FF D60 are the same size as a semi-floating 10-bolt or D44, the fact that it is a full-floater makes them hold up better. Obviously the shaft is not physically stronger, just that it does not have as much total load/force on it. On a semi-floater you have to factor in both the torsional load (torque/rotation) AND the vertical load (bending force) from supporting the weight of the vehicle when calculating the ultimate strength. On a full-floater you only have the torsional load to deal with.
I don't understand the comment about "some people can find cheap rear D60's". Only front D60's are expensive and hard to find, rear FF D60's are a dime a dozen as they were used as much in the rear of Ford and Dodge trucks as GM used the 14FF.
I'm not saying a FF D60 rear is a bad axle by any means and it is much better than a 10-bolt, but it is not in the same league as a 14FF by any means.
Just as a side note, even if the shafts of a FF D60 are the same size as a semi-floating 10-bolt or D44, the fact that it is a full-floater makes them hold up better. Obviously the shaft is not physically stronger, just that it does not have as much total load/force on it. On a semi-floater you have to factor in both the torsional load (torque/rotation) AND the vertical load (bending force) from supporting the weight of the vehicle when calculating the ultimate strength. On a full-floater you only have the torsional load to deal with.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Yep this being my point. I'm in no way saying go with a rear 60. 14b all the way.
