Axles for 38.5 in tires

[AJ99]

A little background.
My father in law is a machinist and we have a machine shop at home, welder, torches and just about anything else you can think of. I have built my jeep myself and am not afraid of doing work. (the jeep is worked on more than driven).

Well i was given a set of 38.5x14.5x16 in tires and have came to thinking that i shouldnt run them on my 30/44 with 3.07 gearing LMAO. Im running 33s and it sucks. So i am looking at doing full size axles, or trading the tires for 35s.

If i decide to go ahead and run these tires i was thinking of doing a dana 60 in the rear but cant decide what to do up front. Would a full size 44 be strong enough for the 38's? I will end up trussing it to make it stronger no mater what i end up running.

Or do you all think that 38s are really too big to run on a jeep that is driven on pavement from time to time, and i should just trade them for 35s?

[4.3LXJ]

Part of the answer to that question lies in whether or not you will run lockers. Lockers up the anti in axle strength needed. If you are not locked up front, you could get away with the 44. But if you lock it you will need a 60. something else you could consider with this is a stronger tcase. With all the torque those 38s could put on that 231 you could break the chain or split the case. I'm headed for 38s also and that is one reason I put the atlas in.

[AJ99]

I know i plan on locking the rear end. I will most likely end up locking the front too. Right now i have a 44 in the rear that has the aussie and i like my set up but do want bigger tires. And since these were free i figured i would try to run them. What gears would you suggest to run the 38s? Right now i am running 3.07s on 33s which sucks but i can still wheel with them.

[Logans91XJ]

Chevy 14 Bolt!!

[AJ99]

what vehicles came with the 14 bolt?

[Logans91XJ]

General Motors has only used two rear axles in its 1-tons over the last 17 years: the 10 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear 14-bolt ('92 to current) and the 11 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear AAM 1150 14-bolt ('01 to current). Why has GM stuck with the 14-bolt for so long? Because it's a proven design that can handle an enormous amount of torque.

General Motors manufactured the 14-bolt axle in-house until 1994 when American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) was spun off as its own independent entity to produce drivetrain and suspension components. In this article we're focusing on the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt that was used behind the 6.2L and 6.5L GM diesels, but there's no reason it couldn't handle the torque of the modern Duramax engine. In fact, using the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt to replace the 111/2-inch ring gear 14-bolt found in '01-to-current trucks gives you the option of running an ARB Air Locker, various limited slips, a Detroit Locker, a spool, and axle ratios from 3.21:1 to 5.38:1. And keep in mind the old 10 1/2-inch axle uses the same diameter axleshafts as the new 11 1/2-inch ring gear AAM 1150
Courtsey of [URL="General Motors has only used two rear axles in its 1-tons over the last 17 years: the 10 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear 14-bolt ('92 to current) and the 11 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear AAM 1150 14-bolt ('01 to current). Why has GM stuck with the 14-bolt for so long? Because it's a proven design that can handle an enormous amount of torque.

General Motors manufactured the 14-bolt axle in-house until 1994 when American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) was spun off as its own independent entity to produce drivetrain and suspension components. In this article we're focusing on the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt that was used behind the 6.2L and 6.5L GM diesels, but there's no reason it couldn't handle the torque of the modern Duramax engine. In fact, using the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt to replace the 111/2-inch ring gear 14-bolt found in '01-to-current trucks gives you the option of running an ARB Air Locker, various limited slips, a Detroit Locker, a spool, and axle ratios from 3.21:1 to 5.38:1. And keep in mind the old 10 1/2-inch axle uses the same diameter axleshafts as the new 11 1/2-inch ring gear AAM 1150"]General Motors has only used two rear axles in its 1-tons over the last 17 years: the 10 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear 14-bolt ('92 to current) and the 11 1/2-inch-diameter ring gear AAM 1150 14-bolt ('01 to current). Why has GM stuck with the 14-bolt for so long? Because it's a proven design that can handle an enormous amount of torque.

General Motors manufactured the 14-bolt axle in-house until 1994 when American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) was spun off as its own independent entity to produce drivetrain and suspension components. In this article we're focusing on the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt that was used behind the 6.2L and 6.5L GM diesels, but there's no reason it couldn't handle the torque of the modern Duramax engine. In fact, using the 10 1/2-inch 14-bolt to replace the 111/2-inch ring gear 14-bolt found in '01-to-current trucks gives you the option of running an ARB Air Locker, various limited slips, a Detroit Locker, a spool, and axle ratios from 3.21:1 to 5.38:1. And keep in mind the old 10 1/2-inch axle uses the same diameter axleshafts as the new 11 1/2-inch ring gear AAM 1150.
Courtsey of Diesel Power Mag.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/chevy/0905dp_gm_14_bolt_axle_buildup/index.html

Also my very good friend who is building a Willies Wagon Crawler is using Chevy 14 bolt rear end because its a very strong axle and they have been using it for so long. He was able to find the axles at a junk yard and if he is on the trail rebuilding or getting parts is very easy to come by.

[AJ99]

well thank you for you knowledge on the 14 bolt. I am no chevy guy so i had no clue.

[4.3LXJ]

I know i plan on locking the rear end. I will most likely end up locking the front too. Right now i have a 44 in the rear that has the aussie and i like my set up but do want bigger tires. And since these were free i figured i would try to run them. What gears would you suggest to run the 38s? Right now i am running 3.07s on 33s which sucks but i can still wheel with them.

For 38s you will need either a 5.13 or 5.38 depending on what you run with a 44

[4.3LXJ]

what vehicles came with the 14 bolt?

14 bolt axles are popular and common and relatively cheap. However, they have a very large pumpkin. they are also very heavy. Something to consider when wheeling is unsprung weight. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage depending on what kind of wheeling you are doing. If all you are going to do is rock crawling, then high unsprung weight can work to your advantage and give you a lower center of gravity. But if you are doing some high speed stuff and jumping which you seem to like to do it can be a disadvantage because the axle will not respond to the terrain because it is too heavy for our light vehicles and flexy suspension. A better alternative would be a D60 which can also be gotten out of a Chevy pickup and fairly common and matched with a D44 from the same truck or another front D60 and have the same bolt pattern on all wheels.

[Mudderoy]

Hmmm I'd really like to do 35" tires, but I know I'm going to lock front and rear. I guess I better stay with the 33" tires.

[AJ99]

14 bolt axles are popular and common and relatively cheap. However, they have a very large pumpkin. they are also very heavy. Something to consider when wheeling is unsprung weight. This can work to your advantage or disadvantage depending on what kind of wheeling you are doing. If all you are going to do is rock crawling, then high unsprung weight can work to your advantage and give you a lower center of gravity. But if you are doing some high speed stuff and jumping which you seem to like to do it can be a disadvantage because the axle will not respond to the terrain because it is too heavy for our light vehicles and flexy suspension. A better alternative would be a D60 which can also be gotten out of a Chevy pickup and fairly common and matched with a D44 from the same truck or another front D60 and have the same bolt pattern on all wheels.

Ok thanks for the advice on that. I think once i go to full size i wont be jumping too much but unsprung weight is something i really havent thought about.

[BlueXJ]

One word answer "ROCKWELLS".

[4.3LXJ]

One word answer "ROCKWELLS".

With 12" lift and 54s:thumbsup:

[AJ99]

One word answer "ROCKWELLS".

If i had the money i totally would.

[AJ99]

Well i got some pics of the tires...
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c171/AJ99/DSCF4027.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c171/AJ99/DSCF4030.jpg
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c171/AJ99/DSCF4024.jpg