Shave it or grind it? 14 bolt

[elks]

I am trying to make final adjustments to the axle set ups for the build. I have a 14 bolt rear. I was looking at doing TMR shave kit, or just grinding down the lower lip. I can get the machine work done for the ring easy enough. But is the total $200 wortj the 1.5" to 2"? Part of me say save the money for crossover etc. Part of me says do it now and be done with it....

What do you think? We are planning on running 40" tires.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Just grind it to right below the bottom bolt and smooth it all out. I think the shave is more trouble than it is worth

 

[ChrisPerry]

I say grind it. The TMR kit is cool, but I think the money is better spent on crossover steering.

 

[imiceman44]

I am trying to make final adjustments to the axle set ups for the build. I have a 14 bolt rear. I was looking at doing TMR shave kit, or just grinding down the lower lip. I can get the machine work done for the ring easy enough. But is the total $200 wortj the 1.5" to 2"? Part of me say save the money for crossover etc. Part of me says do it now and be done with it....

What do you think? We are planning on running 40" tires.

Just grind it.

 

[onetonbb74]

grind it for sure...A simple grind down to the bolt hole and smoothed out seems to work pretty good. Removes almost an inch.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Just grind it to right below the bottom bolt and smooth it all out. I think the shave is more trouble than it is worth

^Troof...

 

[big pappa b]

^
^

agreed

 

[owenst7]

Last time I had my housing out I contemplated cutting and welding too. I decided against it because I was only going to gain like. 5" or something. Mine is ground flush to the bottommost bolt hole.

Rotating your pinion if your driveline angle will let you will make way more of a difference in the real world.

 

[blazinzuk]

in your case just grind it off, later on you can do the shave. but that can certainly wait till you have other stuff u need done

 

[Bowtie85]

Lost about 1.25", still have about a quarter inch of sealing surface between the bottom 2 holes. Thats a underarmour fab diff cover as well.

 

[sweetk30]

grinding the lip off my 90's van axle 14ff got me just over 1.25" more room. that thing was a monster hanging down from there. i matched it to the ruff stuff diff cover i got for it.

pic's you can see matched to cover lip and still have good bolt hole area left. also blended the ribs down a bit also to match the profile. and if you can spot it welded axle tubes to diff center. prob could have gone bit more bit i got the fancy lube locker gasket on there and didnt wana mess it up. also no real major rocks in my area to play .

and yep thats a 14ff arb with 5.13 gears.

 

[cybrfire]

Just finished shaving mine and I tell ya what, not sure I'd do it again. It is alot of work for the gain. My gear setup was all wrong again after the welding to. So all of that had to be redone.

 

[rdn2blazer]

I used my Port-a-cable band saw and shaved mine then groud it smooth.

 

[owenst7]

Did you take anything off your ring gear? If so, what's your distance from centerline of the axle to bottom of the diff? I think mine is either 6.25" or 6.75" with the bottom bolt off

I also feathered in every part of the bottom of the housing, all the way up to where the webs start. That made a huge difference in being able to slide over stuff, even though its not the lowest point of the axle.

 

[cybrfire]

Did you take anything off your ring gear? If so, what's your distance from centerline of the axle to bottom of the diff? I think mine is either 6.25" or 6.75" with the bottom bolt off

I also feathered in every part of the bottom of the housing, all the way up to where the webs start. That made a huge difference in being able to slide over stuff, even though its not the lowest point of the axle.

yep, shaved the ring gear.

I think I ended up 5.5".... Or maybe that was tothe cut. I'll have to double check.