More Low Dollar Wheeler Episodes
Xtreme 4x4 Builds
Want more content like this?
Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
Ballistic Fabrication
14 Bolt Shave Kit
Crane Hi Clearance
Premium King Pin Outer Knuckle kit GM Dodge
Deaver Leaf Springs
CHEROKEE XJ (84-01) 4" Rear
Rock Krawler, Inc.
4.5' Short Arm Flex Suspension System by Rock Krawler
Video Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> THEY'RE
STRONG, THEY'RE RELIABLE, AND THEY'RE AFFORDABLE. THOUSANDS OF THEM ARE OUT
THERE JUST WAITING TO BE A PART OF YOUR NEXT PROJECT. TODAY ON XTREME 4X4 WE
TAKE AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE 14 BOLT AXLE. WHERE TO FIND THEM,
WHAT TO PAY, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM READY TO ROLL.
(IAN)>> IT'S QUITE FUNNY THAT THE NICKNAMES THAT WE GIVE PARTS OFTEN BECOME MORE POPULAR THAN THE NAMES GIVEN TO THEM BY THE MANUFACTURER. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THIS BLAZER, I'M SIMPLY GONNA TELL YOU THAT IT'S SMALL BLOCK. THOSE TWO WORDS WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S FIRST GENERATION GENERAL MOTORS CAST IRON 350 CUBIC INCH ENGINE, AND THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AXLES. WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL, NOBODY SAYS THAT THEY HAVE AN AMERICAN AXLE MANUFACTURING 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR FULL FLOAT AXLE. THEY'RE SIMPLY GONNA TELL YOU THAT THEY'VE GOT A 14 BOLT AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN. NOW THE 14 BOLT AXLE HAS BEEN THE WORK HORSE AXLE THAT WE'VE USED FOR YEARS. IT'S BEEN IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TRUCKS, AND WE'VE INSTALLED THEM IN A LOT OF RIGS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY, NOTHING BUT THE 14 BOLT. WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT MAKES THIS AXLE SO GREAT, SOME OF THE DRAW BACKS THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND WHEN YOU'D WANT TO PUT ONE OF THESE UNDERNEATH YOUR RIG, AND HOW THE AFTERMARKET IS MAKING THESE AXLES BETTER EVERYDAY. AND IT ALL STARTS BY TEARING ONE DOWN.
NOW DON'T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU PULL THE COVER OFF YOUR 14 BOLT AND FIND A PILE OF RUST INSIDE. THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST BENEFITS OF THIS AXLE. THEY WERE INSTALLED IN TRUCKS FROM THE EARLY '70'S UP TO THE LATE '90'S. THAT MEANS THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN SOURCE PARTS FROM. AND HONESTLY, IF THE HOUSING IS STRAIGHT, EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE REBUILT.
ONCE YOU TEAR A 14 BOLT DOWN, IT'S EASY TO SEE SOME OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES THAT MAKE THIS ASSEMBLY SO STRONG. THE PINION IS SUPPORTED BY THREE BEARINGS. TWO ON THE PINION ITSELF LIKE MOST AXLES AND ONE NOSE BEARING THAT'S CAST INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ITSELF. NOW THIS NOSE BEARING IS THERE TO PREVENT WHAT'S CALLED RING GEAR DEFLECTION. THAT'S WHEN THE PINION ACTUALLY PUSHES THE RING GEAR AWAY FROM ITSELF UNDER SEVERE LOAD, AND THAT CAN CAUSE THE RING GEAR TEETH TO BREAK. BACK LASH ADJUSTMENT IS DONE WITH THESE THREADED ADJUSTERS INSTEAD OF SHIM PACKS. NOW THAT MEANS YOU CAN EASILY FINE TUNE THAT ADJUSTMENT DOWN TO ONE THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH WITHOUT HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REMOVE THE CARRIER, SWAP OUT SHIM PACKS, AND PUT IT BACK IN. NOW THE AXLE WAS AVAILABLE IN TWO DIFFERENT WIDTHS, 63 INCHES OR 67 INCHES DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS UNDERNEATH A DUAL REAR WHEEL TRUCK. AND THE TUBES THEMSELVES ARE A BEEFY THREE AND A QUARTER INCHES ROUND WITH A HALF INCH WALL THICKNESS. INSIDE THE AXLE EVERYTHING IS JUST AS STRONG. SHAFTS THEMSELVES HAVE A ONE POINT SIX INCH SPLINE DIAMETER AND A ONE POINT THREEFIVE INCH WORKING SIZE. IT IS A 30 SPLINE COURSE SPLINE AXLE, WHICH GIVES IT VERY GOOD PRESSURE ANGLES FOR STRENGTH. THE PINION IS AN INCH AND THREE QUARTER AND 30 SPLINES AS WELL FOR THE YOKE, AND THERE'S NO MACHINING TO ACCEPT THE PINION BEARINGS BUILT INTO IT. THAT TURNS A MASSIVE 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR THAT IS COUPLED TO A TWO PIECE CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT RIDES INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL. NOW ALL THAT IS FINE AND DANDY, BUT IT REALLY MATTERS WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO ANOTHER SET UP. THIS IS A DANA 60 RING GEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S PHYSICALLY SMALLER AND THEREFORE NOT AS STRONG, BUT THE PINION IS WHERE THE REAL DIFFERENCES LIE. THE PINION IS MACHINED TO ACCEPT THIS REAR BEARING AND THIS NECK DOWN AREA IS NORMALLY WHERE THESE PINIONS BREAK. SO NOW THAT YOU GUYS KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A 14 BOLT AXLE SO GREAT, I'M SURE YOU'RE READY TO RUN OUT AND BUY ONE FOR YOUR RIG. BUT BEFORE YOU CALL THE JUNKYARD WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER, YOU NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH. SEE THE 14 BOLT WAS AVAILABLE IN TWO VARIATIONS. IT CAME IN THE FULL FLOAT VERSION, AND THAT'S THE ONE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SO FAR, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A LIGHTER VERSION, A 14 BOLT SEMIFLOAT. NOW IT'S EASY TO TELL THE TWO APART WHEN YOU GO TO PICK ONE OUT OF THE JUNKYARD. RIGHT AWAY ON THE FRONT THERE IS NO REMOVABLE PINION SUPPORT LIKE ON A FULL FLOAT VERSION. THE PINION IS JUST CAST INTO THE HOUSING. AT THE AXLE END, THE AXLES ARE HELD IN USING CCLIPS. SO THERE'S NO REMOVABLE AXLE BOLTS CAST INTO THE END OF THE HOUSING. THE DRUM JUST SLIDES RIGHT OFF. AND MOST NOTICEABLE OF ALL IS THE REAR COVER. IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHAPE ON THE SEMIFLOAT AXLE. THEY BOTH HAVE 14 BOLTS SECURING THEM TO THE HOUSING BUT THE RING GEAR RELIEF ON THE SEMIFLOAT IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE RIG. BUT YOUR RESEARCH DOESN'T STOP THERE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN AXLE TO SWAP RIGHT INTO YOUR RIG, GET A HOLD OF A GOOD MILITARY SURPLUS COMPANY. THEY TAKE 14 BOLTS OUT OF THE BACK OF RETIRED MILITARY TRUCKS, AND IT'S EASY TO FIND ONE OF THOSE WITH A GOOD SET OF 456 GEARS AND DETROIT LOCKER ALREADY INSTALLED FOR LESS THAN $1,000 BUCKS.
(ANNOUNCER)>> WHO WOULDN'T WANT A LIGHTER AXLE AND MORE GROUND CLEARANCE? WE'LL TAKE OUR 14 BOLT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
(IAN)>> SO FAR WE'VE SHOWN YOU GUYS A LOT OF THE BENEFITS TO CHOOSING A 14 BOLT AXLE FOR YOUR PROJECT. BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG, THERE ARE STILL SOME DRAW BACKS TO RUNNING THIS TYPE OF ASSEMBLY. BUT THE GOOD THING IS IS THE AFTERMARKET IS SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS GROUND CLEARANCE. THE 14 BOLT HAS A VERY LOW SLUNG DIFFERENTIAL CENTER SECTION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SITTING ON A SET OF 42 INCH TALL TIRES, THERE'S ONLY 13 AND A HALF INCHES OF CLEARANCE UNDERNEATH THE PUMPKIN. NOW THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE LARGE STIFFENING RIB THAT'S CAST INTO THE HOUSING TO IMPROVE THE AXLE'S TOWING CAPACITY AS WELL AS THE DEEP SUMP TO CARRY THE EXTRA GEAR OIL TO KEEP THE RING AND PINION COOL. NOW WE CAN SOLVE THAT BY INSTALLING WHAT'S CALLED A SHAVE KIT. NOW THIS IS A COMPLETE SHAVE KIT THAT WE GOT FROM BALLISTIC FABRICATION, AND IT STARTS WITH THIS HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER. WE'LL BOLT THIS IN PLACE AND MARK THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. WE'LL THEN CUT THE HOUSING OFF AND REPLACE IT WITH A PIECE OF HEAVY DUTY PLATE. BY CUTTING THE BOTTOM OFF OF THE HOUSING, WE'RE GONNA PICK UP CLOSE TO TWO INCHES OF EXTRA GROUND CLEARANCE AND SMOOTH OUT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AXLE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DRAG ACROSS THE ROCKS.
WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING PLATED, YOU'RE NOT DONE WITH YOUR SHAVE JOB QUITE YET. YOU SEE, NOW THE RING GEAR IS TOO LARGE TO FIT BACK INSIDE THE AXLE. A QUARTER OF AN INCH NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ENTIRE OUTSIDE EDGE. NOW ANY GOOD LOCAL MACHINE SHOP CAN DO THAT FOR YOU. BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T UPGRADED TO THE GEAR RATIO YOU WANT YET, THE BETTER THING TO DO IS ORDER YOUR GEARS PRECUT, LIKE THIS SET OF 488'S THAT WE GOT FROM BALLISTIC FAB. IT'S MACHINED TO FIT INTO THE HOUSING WITH THEIR SHAVE KIT, AND YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE CLEARANCE THAT YOU NEED. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE GROUND CLEARANCE ON OUR AXLE, THE NEXT THING YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH IS WEIGHT. 14 BOLT IS A HEAVY ASSEMBLY, AND ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SAVE WEIGHT IS TO SWAP OUT THE DRUM BRAKES WITH ONE OF THESE DISC BRAKE CONVERSION BRACKETS. IT'S GONNA SAVE YOU A GOOD CHUNK OF WEIGHT BECAUSE EACH DRUM AT THE END OF THAT AXLE WEIGHS OVER 50 POUNDS. A BRAKE ROTOR, LIKE THIS ONE FROM EBC BRAKES, COMES IN AT AROUND 25. 25 POUNDS LIGHTER PER SIDE IS A TOTAL OF 50 POUNDS. REMOVE THE STOCK DRUM FROM THE BEARING HOUSING BY PRESSING OUT THE WHEEL STUDS.
IF YOUR STUDS ARE IN ROUGH SHAPE, PICK UP SOME NEW ONES AND PRESS THEM IN FROM THE BACK SIDE TO HOLD THE ROTOR ON.
THE BRACKET BOLTS TO THE FACTORY BACKING PLATE FLANGE AND WITH THE HUB INSTALLED, A CALIPER FROM A MID '80'S CHEVROLET PICK UP IS BOLTED UP. TO COMPLETE THIS HOUSING THE ENTIRE TRUSS SYSTEM IS ADDED TO THE DIFF COVER AND WE'LL GIVE THE ENTIRE AXLE ASSEMBLY A GOOD COAT OF PAINT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> JUST BECAUSE THEY CALL IT A REAR AXLE DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO STAY THERE. WE TURN OUR 14 BOLT INTO A STEERING FRONT AXLE.
(IAN)>> TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 14 BOLT AXLE, AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKES IT A GREAT OPTION FOR YOUR PROJECT, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS THAT THE AXLE HAS FROM THE FACTORY AND THE PARTS THAT YOU CAN INSTALL TO GET OVER SOME OF THOSE THINGS. NOW SO FAR WE'VE BUILT A VERY KILLER 14 BOLT REAR AXLE. WE'VE SHAVED THE BOTTOM FOR EXTRA GROUND CLEARANCE AND LIGHTENED THE ASSEMBLY UP BY SWAPPING OUT THE DRUM BRAKES FOR A SET OF DISC BRAKES. NOW THAT LEADS US TO THE NEXT PROBLEM WITH THE 14 BOLT. THEY WERE NEVER INSTALLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF A TRUCK AS A STEERING AXLE, ONLY IN THE BACK. THAT MEANS IF YOU WANT THE STRENGTH OF A 14 BOLT AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF YOUR RIG YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK, OR ARE YOU? USING A SET OF CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE CHROMOLY INNER "C"'S AND KING PIN KNUCKLES, WE NARROWED UP A FULL FLOAT 14 BOLT AND BUILT A STEERING AXLE FOR THE FRONT OF OUR SCRAMBLER PROJECT. THIS GAVE US ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE 14 BOLT BUT AS A STEERING AXLE. THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE 14 BOLT AXLE IS HOW TO INSTALL IT UNDERNEATH YOUR RIG IF YOU HAVE A REAR ENGINE SETUP. WE'VE SHOWN YOU BEFORE THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE ENGINE IN THE BACK, THE ROTATION IS OUT BY 180 DEGREES, AND YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BY INSTALLING THE AXLE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE PROJECT. THAT'LL GET YOU DRIVING THE RIGHT WAY DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 14 BOLT IS IT EFFECTS HOW THE PINION BEARINGS ARE LUBRICATED. INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL, THE RING GEAR ACTS LIKE A PADDLE WHEEL, PICKING UP OIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING AND THROWING IT INTO THE OIL FEED FOR THE FRONT PINION BEARING. BUT WHEN YOU FLIP THAT AXLE UPSIDE DOWN, THERE IS NO FEED PORT FOR THE GEAR OIL THAT IS BEING CARRIED BY THE RING GEAR. OVER TIME THIS CAUSES THE BEARING TO STARVE FOR OIL AND FAIL. TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON THE 14 BOLT, AN OIL FEED MUST BE MADE BY FIRST CUTTING INTO THE HOUSING AND CREATING A FEED TROUGH. THEN PLATING IT, AND FINALLY MODIFYING THE PINION SUPPORT BY ENLARGING THE DRAIN HOLE TO NOW ACT AS THE FEED. AN IN DEPTH LOOK OF ANY AXLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A GOOD LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS FOR THE INTERNALS. AND WE'LL START WITH THE AXLE SHAFTS. YOU WANT A GOOD SET OF 4340 CHROMOLY SHAFTS LIKE THESE HEAVY DUTY UNITS FROM YUKON GEAR AND AXLE. IF YOU'RE BUILDING A STEERING 14 BOLT, YOU ACTUALLY WANT A DANA 60 FRONT SHAFT. ORDER IT SIX INCHES LONGER THAN YOU'RE GONNA NEED, AND THEN YOU CAN SEND IT OUT TO AN AXLE SHAFT MANUFACTURER WHO CAN CUT IT AND SPLINE IT TO FIT THE 14 BOLT CARRIER. WE'LL PUT A LIST OF THOSE GUYS UP ON OUR WEBSITE AFTER THE SHOW. NOW THE REARS ARE LITTLE BIT SIMPLER. YUKON HAS THEM IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND THE SPLINES ARE ACTUALLY LONGER THAN YOU'RE GONNA NEED. SO YOU SIMPLY CUT THEM TO FIT IN YOUR GARAGE AND SLIDE IT INTO YOUR AXLE AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. NOW ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 14 BOLT FOR YEARS WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF OPTIONS WHEN IT CAME TO LOCKERS, BUT THAT HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE POPULARITY OF THE AXLE AND NOW YOU CAN GET MANY DIFFERENT KINDS. WE'LL START WITH THE CLASSIC SPOOL. NOW THIS WILL REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER INSIDE THE 14 BOLT AND GIVE YOU 100 PERCENT TRACTION TO BOTH REAR WHEELS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS GREAT FOR HARDCORE WHEELING, NOT SO GOOD IF YOU PLAN TO RUN YOUR RIG ON THE STREET. NOW THE NEXT STEP UP IS A MECHANICAL LOCKER. NOW THIS YUKON GRIZZLY LOCKER REPLACES THE INTERNALS OF THE FACTORY CARRIER. IT GIVES YOU A RATCHETING ACTION BUT WHEN IT SENSES WHEEL SPIN, IT'LL LOCK THE TWO WHEELS TOGETHER AND GIVE YOU THAT 100 PERCENT SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO. AND THEN IT WILL UNLOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. NOW THE TOP OF THE PILE IS THE ARB AIR LOCKER. NOW THIS IS A 100 PERCENT SELECTABLE LOCKER. DRIVING AROUND ON THE STREET, IT IS AN OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, BUT WITH THE FLIP OF A SWITCH ON THE DASH IT LOCKS THE TWO REARS TOGETHER JUST LIKE A SPOOL GIVING YOU THAT 100 PERCENT TRACTION. NOW WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOCKERS AND A 14 BOLT THERE IS ONE BENEFIT, AND THAT IS COST. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BECAUSE THIS SMALL GRIZZLY LOCKER ONLY REPLACES THE INTERNALS OF THE FACTORY CARRIER, IT'S A LOT LESS THAN ANY OTHER AXLE THAT COSTS UNDER $400 BUCKS. NOW THAT IS HALF AS MUCH AS THE SAME LOCKER FOR A DANA 60, SAVING YOU MONEY TO PUT ELSEWHERE ON YOUR RIG.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER GETS A WHOLE LOT OF SUSPENSION FOR NOT A LOT OF MONEY!
(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE. ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.
(IAN)>> TODAY ON OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER PROJECT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. AND THE NICE THING ABOUT CHOOSING A JEEP CHEROKEE AS THE BASE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROJECT IS THE FACTORY SUSPENSION DESIGN GIVES YOU A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE A RIG LIKE THIS AND GET IT UP IN THE AIR TO FIT SOME LARGER WHEELS AND TIRES. ON THE REAR IS A SET OF PARALLEL LEAF SPRINGS THAT LOCATE THE AXLE AND ACT AS A SPRING. UP FRONT A FOUR LINK WITH A PAN HARD BAR AND A SET OF COIL SPRINGS SUSPEND THE FRONT AXLE. WHEN SHOPPING FOR A LIFT KIT YOU DO HAVE TONS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. YOU CAN SIMPLY ADD SOME SPACERS AND GET AN INCH OR TWO WORTH OF LIFT. OR YOU CAN GO ALL OUT, INSTALL A COMPLETE AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH ALL NEW LINKS AND COIL OVER SHOCKS. ON A JEEP XJ, THE SIZE OF TIRE THAT YOU WANT TO RUN ON YOUR PROJECT PLAYS JUST AS MUCH OF A ROLE IN THE SUSPENSION KIT YOU GET AS YOUR WALLET DOES. IF YOU WANT TO RUN ANYTHING LARGER THAN A 32, YOU NEED A COMPLETE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. SPACERS AND BLOCKS AREN'T GONNA CUT IT. WE LOOKED THROUGH THE FOUR WHEEL PARTS WEBSITE AND THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND. THIS IS A ROCK CRAWLER SHORTY FLEX SETUP. NOW THIS WILL GIVE US FOUR AND A HALF INCHES OF LIFT AND ALL THE PERFORMANCE WE NEED WHEN WE'RE WHEELING OFF ROAD. AND THE BEST PART IS IT COMES IN AT LESS THAN $900 BUCKS.
ON THE REAR OF OUR CHEROKEE WE DID CHOOSE ONE EXTRA UPGRADE, AND THAT IS TO INSTALL THE DEVER LONG TRAVEL JEEP SPEED SPRING INSTEAD OF THE LIFT BLOCK AND ADD A LEAF. IT'S A COUPLE OF HUNDRED EXTRA BUCKS BUT WORTH IT BECAUSE THE MULTILAYERED SPRING PACK WILL FLEX VERY WELL BUT STILL OFFER A VERY STRONG SPRING RATE. UP FRONT WE'LL START WITH SOME TALLER SPRINGS, A DROPPED TRACK BAR BRACKET, NEW ADJUSTABLE LOWER ARMS, SOME SWAY BAR DISCONNECTS, AND A NEW TRACK BAR.
I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU GUYS WANT TO KNOW WHERE EXACTLY WE'RE AT MONEY WISE WITH THIS TRUCK. WELL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FOR LESS THAN $3,000 DOLLARS WE HAVE A LIFTED JEEP CHEROKEE WITH A LOCKED REAR AXLE, A WINCH TO PUT UP FRONT, AND A SET OF 33 INCH TALL TIRES AND THIS TRUCK IS DEFINITELY READY TO GO WHEELING. OH, AND THAT THREE GRAND INCLUDES THE PRICE OF THE TRUCK. FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE, LOG ON TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.
Show Full Transcript
(IAN)>> IT'S QUITE FUNNY THAT THE NICKNAMES THAT WE GIVE PARTS OFTEN BECOME MORE POPULAR THAN THE NAMES GIVEN TO THEM BY THE MANUFACTURER. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THIS BLAZER, I'M SIMPLY GONNA TELL YOU THAT IT'S SMALL BLOCK. THOSE TWO WORDS WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S FIRST GENERATION GENERAL MOTORS CAST IRON 350 CUBIC INCH ENGINE, AND THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AXLES. WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE TRAIL, NOBODY SAYS THAT THEY HAVE AN AMERICAN AXLE MANUFACTURING 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR FULL FLOAT AXLE. THEY'RE SIMPLY GONNA TELL YOU THAT THEY'VE GOT A 14 BOLT AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN. NOW THE 14 BOLT AXLE HAS BEEN THE WORK HORSE AXLE THAT WE'VE USED FOR YEARS. IT'S BEEN IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TRUCKS, AND WE'VE INSTALLED THEM IN A LOT OF RIGS. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY, NOTHING BUT THE 14 BOLT. WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT MAKES THIS AXLE SO GREAT, SOME OF THE DRAW BACKS THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND WHEN YOU'D WANT TO PUT ONE OF THESE UNDERNEATH YOUR RIG, AND HOW THE AFTERMARKET IS MAKING THESE AXLES BETTER EVERYDAY. AND IT ALL STARTS BY TEARING ONE DOWN.
NOW DON'T GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU PULL THE COVER OFF YOUR 14 BOLT AND FIND A PILE OF RUST INSIDE. THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST BENEFITS OF THIS AXLE. THEY WERE INSTALLED IN TRUCKS FROM THE EARLY '70'S UP TO THE LATE '90'S. THAT MEANS THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THEM OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN SOURCE PARTS FROM. AND HONESTLY, IF THE HOUSING IS STRAIGHT, EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE REBUILT.
ONCE YOU TEAR A 14 BOLT DOWN, IT'S EASY TO SEE SOME OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES THAT MAKE THIS ASSEMBLY SO STRONG. THE PINION IS SUPPORTED BY THREE BEARINGS. TWO ON THE PINION ITSELF LIKE MOST AXLES AND ONE NOSE BEARING THAT'S CAST INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ITSELF. NOW THIS NOSE BEARING IS THERE TO PREVENT WHAT'S CALLED RING GEAR DEFLECTION. THAT'S WHEN THE PINION ACTUALLY PUSHES THE RING GEAR AWAY FROM ITSELF UNDER SEVERE LOAD, AND THAT CAN CAUSE THE RING GEAR TEETH TO BREAK. BACK LASH ADJUSTMENT IS DONE WITH THESE THREADED ADJUSTERS INSTEAD OF SHIM PACKS. NOW THAT MEANS YOU CAN EASILY FINE TUNE THAT ADJUSTMENT DOWN TO ONE THOUSANDTH OF AN INCH WITHOUT HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REMOVE THE CARRIER, SWAP OUT SHIM PACKS, AND PUT IT BACK IN. NOW THE AXLE WAS AVAILABLE IN TWO DIFFERENT WIDTHS, 63 INCHES OR 67 INCHES DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS UNDERNEATH A DUAL REAR WHEEL TRUCK. AND THE TUBES THEMSELVES ARE A BEEFY THREE AND A QUARTER INCHES ROUND WITH A HALF INCH WALL THICKNESS. INSIDE THE AXLE EVERYTHING IS JUST AS STRONG. SHAFTS THEMSELVES HAVE A ONE POINT SIX INCH SPLINE DIAMETER AND A ONE POINT THREEFIVE INCH WORKING SIZE. IT IS A 30 SPLINE COURSE SPLINE AXLE, WHICH GIVES IT VERY GOOD PRESSURE ANGLES FOR STRENGTH. THE PINION IS AN INCH AND THREE QUARTER AND 30 SPLINES AS WELL FOR THE YOKE, AND THERE'S NO MACHINING TO ACCEPT THE PINION BEARINGS BUILT INTO IT. THAT TURNS A MASSIVE 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR THAT IS COUPLED TO A TWO PIECE CARRIER ASSEMBLY THAT RIDES INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL. NOW ALL THAT IS FINE AND DANDY, BUT IT REALLY MATTERS WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO ANOTHER SET UP. THIS IS A DANA 60 RING GEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S PHYSICALLY SMALLER AND THEREFORE NOT AS STRONG, BUT THE PINION IS WHERE THE REAL DIFFERENCES LIE. THE PINION IS MACHINED TO ACCEPT THIS REAR BEARING AND THIS NECK DOWN AREA IS NORMALLY WHERE THESE PINIONS BREAK. SO NOW THAT YOU GUYS KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A 14 BOLT AXLE SO GREAT, I'M SURE YOU'RE READY TO RUN OUT AND BUY ONE FOR YOUR RIG. BUT BEFORE YOU CALL THE JUNKYARD WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER, YOU NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH. SEE THE 14 BOLT WAS AVAILABLE IN TWO VARIATIONS. IT CAME IN THE FULL FLOAT VERSION, AND THAT'S THE ONE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SO FAR, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A LIGHTER VERSION, A 14 BOLT SEMIFLOAT. NOW IT'S EASY TO TELL THE TWO APART WHEN YOU GO TO PICK ONE OUT OF THE JUNKYARD. RIGHT AWAY ON THE FRONT THERE IS NO REMOVABLE PINION SUPPORT LIKE ON A FULL FLOAT VERSION. THE PINION IS JUST CAST INTO THE HOUSING. AT THE AXLE END, THE AXLES ARE HELD IN USING CCLIPS. SO THERE'S NO REMOVABLE AXLE BOLTS CAST INTO THE END OF THE HOUSING. THE DRUM JUST SLIDES RIGHT OFF. AND MOST NOTICEABLE OF ALL IS THE REAR COVER. IT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHAPE ON THE SEMIFLOAT AXLE. THEY BOTH HAVE 14 BOLTS SECURING THEM TO THE HOUSING BUT THE RING GEAR RELIEF ON THE SEMIFLOAT IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE RIG. BUT YOUR RESEARCH DOESN'T STOP THERE. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN AXLE TO SWAP RIGHT INTO YOUR RIG, GET A HOLD OF A GOOD MILITARY SURPLUS COMPANY. THEY TAKE 14 BOLTS OUT OF THE BACK OF RETIRED MILITARY TRUCKS, AND IT'S EASY TO FIND ONE OF THOSE WITH A GOOD SET OF 456 GEARS AND DETROIT LOCKER ALREADY INSTALLED FOR LESS THAN $1,000 BUCKS.
(ANNOUNCER)>> WHO WOULDN'T WANT A LIGHTER AXLE AND MORE GROUND CLEARANCE? WE'LL TAKE OUR 14 BOLT TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
(IAN)>> SO FAR WE'VE SHOWN YOU GUYS A LOT OF THE BENEFITS TO CHOOSING A 14 BOLT AXLE FOR YOUR PROJECT. BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG, THERE ARE STILL SOME DRAW BACKS TO RUNNING THIS TYPE OF ASSEMBLY. BUT THE GOOD THING IS IS THE AFTERMARKET IS SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS GROUND CLEARANCE. THE 14 BOLT HAS A VERY LOW SLUNG DIFFERENTIAL CENTER SECTION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SITTING ON A SET OF 42 INCH TALL TIRES, THERE'S ONLY 13 AND A HALF INCHES OF CLEARANCE UNDERNEATH THE PUMPKIN. NOW THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE LARGE STIFFENING RIB THAT'S CAST INTO THE HOUSING TO IMPROVE THE AXLE'S TOWING CAPACITY AS WELL AS THE DEEP SUMP TO CARRY THE EXTRA GEAR OIL TO KEEP THE RING AND PINION COOL. NOW WE CAN SOLVE THAT BY INSTALLING WHAT'S CALLED A SHAVE KIT. NOW THIS IS A COMPLETE SHAVE KIT THAT WE GOT FROM BALLISTIC FABRICATION, AND IT STARTS WITH THIS HEAVY DUTY DIFF COVER. WE'LL BOLT THIS IN PLACE AND MARK THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. WE'LL THEN CUT THE HOUSING OFF AND REPLACE IT WITH A PIECE OF HEAVY DUTY PLATE. BY CUTTING THE BOTTOM OFF OF THE HOUSING, WE'RE GONNA PICK UP CLOSE TO TWO INCHES OF EXTRA GROUND CLEARANCE AND SMOOTH OUT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AXLE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DRAG ACROSS THE ROCKS.
WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING PLATED, YOU'RE NOT DONE WITH YOUR SHAVE JOB QUITE YET. YOU SEE, NOW THE RING GEAR IS TOO LARGE TO FIT BACK INSIDE THE AXLE. A QUARTER OF AN INCH NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ENTIRE OUTSIDE EDGE. NOW ANY GOOD LOCAL MACHINE SHOP CAN DO THAT FOR YOU. BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T UPGRADED TO THE GEAR RATIO YOU WANT YET, THE BETTER THING TO DO IS ORDER YOUR GEARS PRECUT, LIKE THIS SET OF 488'S THAT WE GOT FROM BALLISTIC FAB. IT'S MACHINED TO FIT INTO THE HOUSING WITH THEIR SHAVE KIT, AND YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE CLEARANCE THAT YOU NEED. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE GROUND CLEARANCE ON OUR AXLE, THE NEXT THING YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH IS WEIGHT. 14 BOLT IS A HEAVY ASSEMBLY, AND ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO SAVE WEIGHT IS TO SWAP OUT THE DRUM BRAKES WITH ONE OF THESE DISC BRAKE CONVERSION BRACKETS. IT'S GONNA SAVE YOU A GOOD CHUNK OF WEIGHT BECAUSE EACH DRUM AT THE END OF THAT AXLE WEIGHS OVER 50 POUNDS. A BRAKE ROTOR, LIKE THIS ONE FROM EBC BRAKES, COMES IN AT AROUND 25. 25 POUNDS LIGHTER PER SIDE IS A TOTAL OF 50 POUNDS. REMOVE THE STOCK DRUM FROM THE BEARING HOUSING BY PRESSING OUT THE WHEEL STUDS.
IF YOUR STUDS ARE IN ROUGH SHAPE, PICK UP SOME NEW ONES AND PRESS THEM IN FROM THE BACK SIDE TO HOLD THE ROTOR ON.
THE BRACKET BOLTS TO THE FACTORY BACKING PLATE FLANGE AND WITH THE HUB INSTALLED, A CALIPER FROM A MID '80'S CHEVROLET PICK UP IS BOLTED UP. TO COMPLETE THIS HOUSING THE ENTIRE TRUSS SYSTEM IS ADDED TO THE DIFF COVER AND WE'LL GIVE THE ENTIRE AXLE ASSEMBLY A GOOD COAT OF PAINT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> JUST BECAUSE THEY CALL IT A REAR AXLE DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO STAY THERE. WE TURN OUR 14 BOLT INTO A STEERING FRONT AXLE.
(IAN)>> TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 14 BOLT AXLE, AND EVERYTHING THAT MAKES IT A GREAT OPTION FOR YOUR PROJECT, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS THAT THE AXLE HAS FROM THE FACTORY AND THE PARTS THAT YOU CAN INSTALL TO GET OVER SOME OF THOSE THINGS. NOW SO FAR WE'VE BUILT A VERY KILLER 14 BOLT REAR AXLE. WE'VE SHAVED THE BOTTOM FOR EXTRA GROUND CLEARANCE AND LIGHTENED THE ASSEMBLY UP BY SWAPPING OUT THE DRUM BRAKES FOR A SET OF DISC BRAKES. NOW THAT LEADS US TO THE NEXT PROBLEM WITH THE 14 BOLT. THEY WERE NEVER INSTALLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF A TRUCK AS A STEERING AXLE, ONLY IN THE BACK. THAT MEANS IF YOU WANT THE STRENGTH OF A 14 BOLT AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF YOUR RIG YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK, OR ARE YOU? USING A SET OF CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE CHROMOLY INNER "C"'S AND KING PIN KNUCKLES, WE NARROWED UP A FULL FLOAT 14 BOLT AND BUILT A STEERING AXLE FOR THE FRONT OF OUR SCRAMBLER PROJECT. THIS GAVE US ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE 14 BOLT BUT AS A STEERING AXLE. THE NEXT THING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH THE 14 BOLT AXLE IS HOW TO INSTALL IT UNDERNEATH YOUR RIG IF YOU HAVE A REAR ENGINE SETUP. WE'VE SHOWN YOU BEFORE THAT WHEN YOU PUT THE ENGINE IN THE BACK, THE ROTATION IS OUT BY 180 DEGREES, AND YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BY INSTALLING THE AXLE UPSIDE DOWN IN THE PROJECT. THAT'LL GET YOU DRIVING THE RIGHT WAY DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 14 BOLT IS IT EFFECTS HOW THE PINION BEARINGS ARE LUBRICATED. INSIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL, THE RING GEAR ACTS LIKE A PADDLE WHEEL, PICKING UP OIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING AND THROWING IT INTO THE OIL FEED FOR THE FRONT PINION BEARING. BUT WHEN YOU FLIP THAT AXLE UPSIDE DOWN, THERE IS NO FEED PORT FOR THE GEAR OIL THAT IS BEING CARRIED BY THE RING GEAR. OVER TIME THIS CAUSES THE BEARING TO STARVE FOR OIL AND FAIL. TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON THE 14 BOLT, AN OIL FEED MUST BE MADE BY FIRST CUTTING INTO THE HOUSING AND CREATING A FEED TROUGH. THEN PLATING IT, AND FINALLY MODIFYING THE PINION SUPPORT BY ENLARGING THE DRAIN HOLE TO NOW ACT AS THE FEED. AN IN DEPTH LOOK OF ANY AXLE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A GOOD LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS FOR THE INTERNALS. AND WE'LL START WITH THE AXLE SHAFTS. YOU WANT A GOOD SET OF 4340 CHROMOLY SHAFTS LIKE THESE HEAVY DUTY UNITS FROM YUKON GEAR AND AXLE. IF YOU'RE BUILDING A STEERING 14 BOLT, YOU ACTUALLY WANT A DANA 60 FRONT SHAFT. ORDER IT SIX INCHES LONGER THAN YOU'RE GONNA NEED, AND THEN YOU CAN SEND IT OUT TO AN AXLE SHAFT MANUFACTURER WHO CAN CUT IT AND SPLINE IT TO FIT THE 14 BOLT CARRIER. WE'LL PUT A LIST OF THOSE GUYS UP ON OUR WEBSITE AFTER THE SHOW. NOW THE REARS ARE LITTLE BIT SIMPLER. YUKON HAS THEM IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS AND THE SPLINES ARE ACTUALLY LONGER THAN YOU'RE GONNA NEED. SO YOU SIMPLY CUT THEM TO FIT IN YOUR GARAGE AND SLIDE IT INTO YOUR AXLE AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. NOW ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 14 BOLT FOR YEARS WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WASN'T A LOT OF OPTIONS WHEN IT CAME TO LOCKERS, BUT THAT HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE POPULARITY OF THE AXLE AND NOW YOU CAN GET MANY DIFFERENT KINDS. WE'LL START WITH THE CLASSIC SPOOL. NOW THIS WILL REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER INSIDE THE 14 BOLT AND GIVE YOU 100 PERCENT TRACTION TO BOTH REAR WHEELS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS GREAT FOR HARDCORE WHEELING, NOT SO GOOD IF YOU PLAN TO RUN YOUR RIG ON THE STREET. NOW THE NEXT STEP UP IS A MECHANICAL LOCKER. NOW THIS YUKON GRIZZLY LOCKER REPLACES THE INTERNALS OF THE FACTORY CARRIER. IT GIVES YOU A RATCHETING ACTION BUT WHEN IT SENSES WHEEL SPIN, IT'LL LOCK THE TWO WHEELS TOGETHER AND GIVE YOU THAT 100 PERCENT SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO. AND THEN IT WILL UNLOCK WHEN YOU PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. NOW THE TOP OF THE PILE IS THE ARB AIR LOCKER. NOW THIS IS A 100 PERCENT SELECTABLE LOCKER. DRIVING AROUND ON THE STREET, IT IS AN OPEN DIFFERENTIAL, BUT WITH THE FLIP OF A SWITCH ON THE DASH IT LOCKS THE TWO REARS TOGETHER JUST LIKE A SPOOL GIVING YOU THAT 100 PERCENT TRACTION. NOW WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOCKERS AND A 14 BOLT THERE IS ONE BENEFIT, AND THAT IS COST. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BECAUSE THIS SMALL GRIZZLY LOCKER ONLY REPLACES THE INTERNALS OF THE FACTORY CARRIER, IT'S A LOT LESS THAN ANY OTHER AXLE THAT COSTS UNDER $400 BUCKS. NOW THAT IS HALF AS MUCH AS THE SAME LOCKER FOR A DANA 60, SAVING YOU MONEY TO PUT ELSEWHERE ON YOUR RIG.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER GETS A WHOLE LOT OF SUSPENSION FOR NOT A LOT OF MONEY!
(ANNOUNCER)>> XTREME'S LOW DOLLAR WHEELER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FOUR WHEEL PARTS, YOUR TRUCK AND JEEP ACCESSORY SUPER STORE. ONLINE AT FOUR WHEEL PARTS DOT COM.
(IAN)>> TODAY ON OUR LOW DOLLAR WHEELER PROJECT WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. AND THE NICE THING ABOUT CHOOSING A JEEP CHEROKEE AS THE BASE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROJECT IS THE FACTORY SUSPENSION DESIGN GIVES YOU A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE A RIG LIKE THIS AND GET IT UP IN THE AIR TO FIT SOME LARGER WHEELS AND TIRES. ON THE REAR IS A SET OF PARALLEL LEAF SPRINGS THAT LOCATE THE AXLE AND ACT AS A SPRING. UP FRONT A FOUR LINK WITH A PAN HARD BAR AND A SET OF COIL SPRINGS SUSPEND THE FRONT AXLE. WHEN SHOPPING FOR A LIFT KIT YOU DO HAVE TONS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. YOU CAN SIMPLY ADD SOME SPACERS AND GET AN INCH OR TWO WORTH OF LIFT. OR YOU CAN GO ALL OUT, INSTALL A COMPLETE AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH ALL NEW LINKS AND COIL OVER SHOCKS. ON A JEEP XJ, THE SIZE OF TIRE THAT YOU WANT TO RUN ON YOUR PROJECT PLAYS JUST AS MUCH OF A ROLE IN THE SUSPENSION KIT YOU GET AS YOUR WALLET DOES. IF YOU WANT TO RUN ANYTHING LARGER THAN A 32, YOU NEED A COMPLETE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. SPACERS AND BLOCKS AREN'T GONNA CUT IT. WE LOOKED THROUGH THE FOUR WHEEL PARTS WEBSITE AND THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND. THIS IS A ROCK CRAWLER SHORTY FLEX SETUP. NOW THIS WILL GIVE US FOUR AND A HALF INCHES OF LIFT AND ALL THE PERFORMANCE WE NEED WHEN WE'RE WHEELING OFF ROAD. AND THE BEST PART IS IT COMES IN AT LESS THAN $900 BUCKS.
ON THE REAR OF OUR CHEROKEE WE DID CHOOSE ONE EXTRA UPGRADE, AND THAT IS TO INSTALL THE DEVER LONG TRAVEL JEEP SPEED SPRING INSTEAD OF THE LIFT BLOCK AND ADD A LEAF. IT'S A COUPLE OF HUNDRED EXTRA BUCKS BUT WORTH IT BECAUSE THE MULTILAYERED SPRING PACK WILL FLEX VERY WELL BUT STILL OFFER A VERY STRONG SPRING RATE. UP FRONT WE'LL START WITH SOME TALLER SPRINGS, A DROPPED TRACK BAR BRACKET, NEW ADJUSTABLE LOWER ARMS, SOME SWAY BAR DISCONNECTS, AND A NEW TRACK BAR.
I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU GUYS WANT TO KNOW WHERE EXACTLY WE'RE AT MONEY WISE WITH THIS TRUCK. WELL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FOR LESS THAN $3,000 DOLLARS WE HAVE A LIFTED JEEP CHEROKEE WITH A LOCKED REAR AXLE, A WINCH TO PUT UP FRONT, AND A SET OF 33 INCH TALL TIRES AND THIS TRUCK IS DEFINITELY READY TO GO WHEELING. OH, AND THAT THREE GRAND INCLUDES THE PRICE OF THE TRUCK. FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS SEEN IN TODAY'S EPISODE, LOG ON TO POWERBLOCK TV DOT COM.
