Axle ratings where is the weak link?
I keep being told my current truck an 07 Chevy diesel 4x4 DRW LB EXT CAB can handle the triple slide TC's on the market today with some suspension upgrades but it has some pretty low ratings as it si...
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This topic got me to researching my own axle ratings.
I found this telling comment on quality gear.com's site, among others:
"The Dana 80 has a gross weight rating up to 11,000 lbs, however it is common practice among manufacturers to derate Dana 80's. Gross axle weight ratings are lowered by the vehicle manufacturer for safety and tire reasons."
Notice is says, "up to 11,000". The fact is the strength of the housing, the size and stoutness of the RGP, the bearing size and number, and finally strength and spline count of the axle shafts that have to do with weight rating.
I think i have the highest rated 35 spline, Dana 80...until I crawl under a MoHo with a Dana 80 with 37 spline axle shafts rated at 13K pounds GAWR. I don't know what the differences are with the internals. Spline count means strength.
My front Dana 60, which has been drastically upgraded, still has only a 6000 pound or 6500 pound rating depending on whether it resides in a Ford or a Ram. With so many Dana 70 parts, which can have a front axle rating up to 8K pounds, what is it?, a Dana 65? There is no actual published rating on this hybrid axle, only a large scale upgrade in strength of the parts into an unpublished higher strength. Now the RGP, just about the only leftover besides the housing is probably the weak part. It's been my experience building rock crawlers that you just pull on that string and find out where it breaks and upgrade that part.
I notice the 11.5" AAM axle used by almost all truck mfgrs after about 2003 have a slightly larger RGP than the Dana's, but only a 30 spline axle, similar to the 1990's Dana 70 and 80. Around 2000 was the first year they offered the 35 spline D-80 in Fords and Dodges. Only the highest rated Dana 80 had the 37 spline axle shafts.
jefe
I found this telling comment on quality gear.com's site, among others:
"The Dana 80 has a gross weight rating up to 11,000 lbs, however it is common practice among manufacturers to derate Dana 80's. Gross axle weight ratings are lowered by the vehicle manufacturer for safety and tire reasons."
Notice is says, "up to 11,000". The fact is the strength of the housing, the size and stoutness of the RGP, the bearing size and number, and finally strength and spline count of the axle shafts that have to do with weight rating.
I think i have the highest rated 35 spline, Dana 80...until I crawl under a MoHo with a Dana 80 with 37 spline axle shafts rated at 13K pounds GAWR. I don't know what the differences are with the internals. Spline count means strength.
My front Dana 60, which has been drastically upgraded, still has only a 6000 pound or 6500 pound rating depending on whether it resides in a Ford or a Ram. With so many Dana 70 parts, which can have a front axle rating up to 8K pounds, what is it?, a Dana 65? There is no actual published rating on this hybrid axle, only a large scale upgrade in strength of the parts into an unpublished higher strength. Now the RGP, just about the only leftover besides the housing is probably the weak part. It's been my experience building rock crawlers that you just pull on that string and find out where it breaks and upgrade that part.
I notice the 11.5" AAM axle used by almost all truck mfgrs after about 2003 have a slightly larger RGP than the Dana's, but only a 30 spline axle, similar to the 1990's Dana 70 and 80. Around 2000 was the first year they offered the 35 spline D-80 in Fords and Dodges. Only the highest rated Dana 80 had the 37 spline axle shafts.
jefe
