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Rockwells vs ???

True enough there are other drawbacks than just the weight factor, We were willing to build around them for the sake of strenght. the axle pictured below (including pinion brake and tierod with STOCK shafts) is 69# heavier than a Chevy take-out steer Dana 60. The hubs have not been lightened at all yet. That would be good for approx. 8# a piece.

All in All, I'll take the drawbacks and hopefully RIDE ALL WEEKEND and not be BROKEN.... I think it actually boils down to what you want to run, although the TOP DOG at the end of the day ( fastest man ) will likely be running a Hybrid axle... I'm ok with that :dblthumb:
 

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Like TURNEROFFROAD said at the end of the day for most people you get to drive back on the trailer ready for the next ride. That's what I'm looking for.
 
I've always thought its funny how nobody with one of the huge 14 fronts has not posted the weight. I will guarantee that those 14 axles r heavier than a Rockwell front. Rocks don't have to have the big axle truss and other stuff the 14 needs. Ive had hundreds of sets of rockwells and hundreds of dana 60-70-80-14 axles and have weighed them all. The rocks were only 120 lbs heavier than a dana 60 front with Diff guard and hydraulic steering. Add the bigger c's and knuckles and that number will b less. I'm still a believer and a fan of a rock especially if u wanna put a ass wooping on a axle day after day.
 
Why do you need to retube a 14b with such heavy tube if your going to truss it anyway?

The rockwell is the undisputed king for the common man as far as greatest strength for the least cost
 
TURNEROFFROAD said:
All in All, I'll take the drawbacks and hopefully RIDE ALL WEEKEND and not be BROKEN.... I think it actually boils down to what you want to run, although the TOP DOG at the end of the day ( fastest man ) will likely be running a Hybrid axle... I'm ok with that :dblthumb:
Couldn't have said it better. If I built one from scratch I would go with rocks.
 
Neal3000 said:
Why do you need to retube a 14b with such heavy tube if your going to truss it anyway?

The rockwell is the undisputed king for the common man as far as greatest strength for the least cost

Agreed! If you want to go fast or hill kill extensively, I'd go with hybrid or non-rock axle options. To ride all weekend without worrying about breaking axle parts go with rocks.

If I remember correctly there was an interview or online post from TC saying that he got tired of breaking every weekend is why he went back to rocks back in the beginning of hybrid axles, but I may be misremembering :dunno:
 
Halcat broke his front Rockwell in Lions Den at Harlan. I don't know what part broke but he has a heavy rig with a very potent big block.
 
ridered3 said:
Agreed! If you want to go fast or hill kill extensively, I'd go with hybrid or non-rock axle options. To ride all weekend without worrying about breaking axle parts go with rocks.

If I remember correctly there was an interview or online post from TC saying that he got tired of breaking every weekend is why he went back to rocks back in the beginning of hybrid axles, but I may be misremembering :dunno:


yea i belive that was when hellraiser came out.

this is just my opinion ( and it dont mean much.) If you want to get a true light weight rock, heres what you do. Build some houseings, you can save at least 50lbs+ wright there. Then start going to town on the third member. I truely think you could knock 10 to 15LBs out of it if you had the proper machine work done, and used aluminum, in every area you could.

next decide what width you want if you can run 2 short side shafts then there is another 7lbs I think?? been a bit since I weighed them. If you truly want more strength then go with some OEM chromo gundrilled 16 splines
there is another couple pounds. A lot of people have been doing a few things to the inner and outer c to get some weight out of them, Im not sure that I would want to loose weight in this area, seams that is a weak point to start with??

this next step some may not agree with, but it was my plan. Take the spindle and have it turned down to accept the 14b hub, not only do you get 8 lug but you also got a much lighter hub, and the ability for easy disk brakes if desierd. Or stay with pinion brakes and keep the weight even lower. Theres also some weight to be shaved on a 14b hub as well.

if a person was to truly build this axle I am confident it would weight a good bit less than a stock dana 60. My next rig is going to be built with the intentions of hill killing, I plan to do the 14bolt rock hybrid useing 16 spline shafts and 14b hubs Trying to use all stock componets except the drive flange. Dont know if it will be as light as a rock( Could be ) but prety sure it will be lighter than one in stock form.

the main reason for going with the hybrid is its easier to build around, I want to have lots of up travel!!! time to jump some ****!!! the other reason is because they dont seam to eat up as much power as rocks do.
 
Hey sawzall, twisted the splines off at the chunk. Tore it down and all the splines are twisted but still going. See you at GMP this week end?
 
al1tonyota said:
Ouverson has super 8 conversion it's on their site!


Ouverson stuff is top notch probly the best out there. I can not afford to run it. I can buy 2 14b and have the machine work done for the cost of one super 8 hub.


To run the 14b hub you use the stock rock spindle, and either turn the spindle down to fit the 14b bearings ( which means no 2in shafts ). Or have the hub bored and find bearings that will fit the rock spindle, this is the route I hope to go. going to be spending a lot of time at the bearing house trying to find something that will work.

Turning the spindle down has been done by quite a few people. nothing new about that.
 
The 14 bolt hubs WITH pinion brakes is the way to go in my opinion. Its a very simple swap with just some simple lathe work on the spindle. If you want the wheel mounted brakes you can run disk with Wilwoods and save some weight. Do a search on Pirate for the 14bolt hub swap on a Rock. There's a shop up north that sells a complete kit with flanges and brakes for cheap. Sorry I can't remember the shops name at the moment. Too many Jager shots might have something to do with that. ;D
 
TURNEROFFROAD said:
All in All, I'll take the drawbacks and hopefully RIDE ALL WEEKEND and not be BROKEN.... I think it actually boils down to what you want to run, although the TOP DOG at the end of the day ( fastest man ) will likely be running a Hybrid axle... I'm ok with that :dblthumb:
i agree thats why im useing rocks on my new buggy . i allready know im not going to be the fastest in any race so im in it for the show ......... that and im a broke azz nigga !!!! :****: molaugh molaugh molaugh
 
YOUNG said:
The 14 bolt hubs WITH pinion brakes is the way to go in my opinion. Its a very simple swap with just some simple lathe work on the spindle. If you want the wheel mounted brakes you can run disk with Wilwoods and save some weight. Do a search on Pirate for the 14bolt hub swap on a Rock. There's a shop up north that sells a complete kit with flanges and brakes for cheap. Sorry I can't remember the shops name at the moment. Too many Jager shots might have something to do with that. ;D

The shop you're talking about is "Racing In The Dirt". I used their aluminum hubs and Wilwood disc setup on a buggy I just finished. BTW that's on a 60 and 14B.
 
TURNEROFFROAD said:
True enough there are other drawbacks than just the weight factor, We were willing to build around them for the sake of strenght. the axle pictured below (including pinion brake and tierod with STOCK shafts) is 69# heavier than a Chevy take-out steer Dana 60. The hubs have not been lightened at all yet. That would be good for approx. 8# a piece.

All in All, I'll take the drawbacks and hopefully RIDE ALL WEEKEND and not be BROKEN.... I think it actually boils down to what you want to run, although the TOP DOG at the end of the day ( fastest man ) will likely be running a Hybrid axle... I'm ok with that :dblthumb:
What size tubing did you use on this?
 
blackrunner93 said:
The shop you're talking about is "Racing In The Dirt". I used their aluminum hubs and Wilwood disc setup on a buggy I just finished. BTW that's on a 60 and 14B.

Nope, its another shop up in Michigan.
 
YOUNG said:
Nope, its another shop up in Michigan.

Mad Mac? He was making conversion parts with a thread on pirate but he fell off the face of the earth not long ago and left some people hanging on parts he owed them.

Original thread
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/668902-rockwell-14b-hybrid-measurement.html

One of the threads where he left somebody hanging
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/1093135-c-m-performance-machine-mad-mac.html
 
Nuts said:
What size tubing did you use on this?

the tubes are 4in 3/8 wall. the top platte, center, and bottom part of the houseing are also 3/8. the upper part is1/4.
 
I run a 37 spline, 10 lug Dana 80 rear in my jeep. I know this sounds crazy but we weighed mine and I think I remember it being around 811lbs full of gear oil, single 2"x .250" wall truss, coil buckets and 4 link tabs. Heavy mofo but it'll take an ass whip'n.
 
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