14 bolt shortening question... think about this..

[clarkstoncracker]

an offcenter 14bolt.

Cut the long side to make it equal to the short side.

then you can just run two short shafts, and only need to keep one spare.


hosejockey had this idea, you guys see a problem with it?

It iwll be the exact same length as a dana 44

[biohazardbill]

Seems feasible, just order a custom set of spare axle shafts just in case...

[clarkstoncracker]

Originally Posted by biohazardbill

Seems feasible, just order a custom set of spare axle shafts just in case...

but if you cut the long side down to a short side length, then you just have to keep one stock short side axle as a spare for either side


there has to be a reason this won't work, because I can't find anybody who has done it

[biohazardbill]

people shorten axles every day lol

[Ebs]

It seems like a lot of work for little benefit.

You can already narrow a 14 bolt to 63" without doing any work, how narrow are you looking to go?

14 bolts are cheap and plentiful, so even though your cutting down on the number of replacement parts you need you really wouldn't be saving much, other then the need to carry one less axleshaft (if you see the need to carry spare shafts in the first place).

I guess if your only option was to chop and narrow the axle it would make sense to keep it simple and use factory length shafts instead of custom jobs.

[Monkeyevil]

It will work with no issues.

Score a straight line down the length of the axle tube.
Cut long side tube about in half.
Measure ID of axle tube.
Order DOM tube with same OD (or up to a .010 larger for a press fit)
You probably will have to mill a small slot down the DOM tube for the seam inside the axle tube.
Section housing to desired width
Camfer tube ends for a good weld
Press two housing peices together using a length of the DOM inside to align them.
Weld it up around the cut and with plug welds if you prefer.

The sleeve will keep everything straight and strong.

[Haggar]

Yep, Monkey's method shoudl work.

Don't just cut and butt-weld.. seen it done, it broke on the trail..

Don't let swampjeep drive it, it'll break, too. :tonka:



Bastard Year (72-75) CJ-5s run Dana 44s with shafts that are the same left and right. Others do too, so the concept isn't new.

Have you checked what the left-right offset of the pinion would be for your driveshaft?

[PavementPounder]

Originally Posted by clarkstoncracker

there has to be a reason this won't work, because I can't find anybody who has done it

Its becasue:

- Most people buy axles that are a width that will work for them in the first place.

- People usually go for the 35-spline units and don't break them anyway.

- 14b's are too common to bother with this if the stock width is not a problem for you.

- People that buy 14b's because they think that it will be cheaper to build (than say, a Dana 70), always find ways to prove themselves wrong by trying stuff like this.


The concept is sound, like Jesus and others have said. I just don't think its really necessary with what you're working with. I mean, anybody will give you a lift back out the Mounds parking lot :tonka: to get the stock spares out of your tow rig. Not to mention it blows your whole financially-based argument for buying the 14b in the first place.


Now I have to go pull my shafts this weekend because I can't remember if that was one of the things that was done, or if they were equal anyway.

[KILLER"B"468]

shortening is not an issue... and is a good Idea as to only keeping one shaft as a spare. With the 14 bolt I ran I only broke one stock rear axle shaft and I was hard on it in my 78 blazer, 84 blazer, 85 short box chevy, and Cj-7. I broke it when it was in the 84 blazer 8,000 rpm's when the wheels touched back to the ground and snap :tonka: :tonka:

The wheeling you do I don't see an issue of you ever breaking them, especially being half the weight the blazer was. But axles can and do break especially when a tire is bound in a crack and not moving under full throttle.

[Strangler]

Just buy my c&c hubs. $50