How strong are 10 bolts really?

[Mohawk Dave]

Hi All,

I ask b/c, as you know, I just picked up a M1009 with the 10 bolts, 6.2 diesel, and t400. I will be swapping the d60/14B w/4.56s gov-lock & L/S from a M1028 when I save a little green.

But until then, I have the M1009 on 37 HMMWV tires, and it will see the southern california desert when we race- (we race desert trucks-this is not a race vehicle obviously) and up the backside to Big Bear, which is, I think moderate trails- rocks the size of fullsize ice chests give or take.

I know I can't haul donkey down the whoops, but mainly I'm asking what will break/bust/explode on the 10B and under what conditions on the rock trails. i.e. all weight on one wheel? vertical climbs? etc...all the above?

we run 10 inch big dogs in all our desert trucks w/ 40 splines, so I'm really inexperienced with the 4x4 stress and abuse and the 10B in general.

I will need the 10Bs in working order to swap into the M1028 to drive/sell it afterwards.

Thanks,

Dave​

 

[original]

? I have removed my completely worthless comment. I don't know what I was thinking. I read one thing, think another, and write something different all together.

 

[midcounty]

It should be a Dana 44 in the front, and 10 bolt in rear. 1028 should have the Dana 60 front and 14 bolt in rear. I have owned both combinations in the past in civilian trucks. For my purposes the 10 bolts were fine, but I didn't rock crawl with them. You may want to put an axle brace on the 10 bolt to minimize flexing. Other then that, I doubt a stock 6.2 will break that rear.

 

[KsM715]

If you're in rocks the size of ice chests, if you're the type that likes to use the throttle, that 10b wont last long with heavy 37" tires.

 

[NICK_M1009]

If you're in rocks the size of ice chests, if you're the type that likes to use the throttle, that 10b wont last long with heavy 37" tires.

We dont have that many rocks in Michigan, but I had 37's on my 1/2 ton GMC and I did some wheelin with it with no problem's.

I'm not sayin you wont have a problem, but I think the shock the wheels take will break it. Meaning, if you have a tire spinning and it slams down with force and catches traction the shock it takes is not good.

Any axle can break it depends on how you drive it. But A dana 60 is least likely to break as easy.

 

[flighht2k5]

I would have more concern with the front dana 60 axle. The 10B is much stronger. Dana 60/10B is the best 4x4 setup I've ever owned. With a few aftermarket suspension/lift upgrades this truck is 4x4 dream.

You're crazy if you think a 10 bolt is stronger than a Dana 60.

 

[dstang97]

You're crazy if you think a 10 bolt is stronger than a Dana 60.

 

[NICK_M1009]

But technically a dana 60 is a 10 bolt also.

I thought the Dana 60 had a bigger axle shaft.

 

[Westech]

I think he just got it mixed up.... anyway I have never broken a 10 bolt alxe (in a truck, I have tosed a couple out in my T/A's the paring lot at my old shop) but I only run 33 inch tires max. A 37 inch tire would be ok for low power engine and street driving, but you put that T case in low and off road it will twist the axle right out of it. If you are going to hack in larger tires go for the 60/14 combo.

and you look like a door knob with huge tires and a little axle.. like all the wannabes out there.

 

[flighht2k5]

But technically a dana 60 is a 10 bolt also.

A Dana 60 has 9 3/4" ring gear. A 10 bolt is 8.5. 10 bolts have smaller axle shafts than 60's. 37's would be the absolute max you can safely go on a 10bolt and
60 can survive with 44's.

 

[ODdave]

It should be a Dana 44 in the front, and 10 bolt in rear. 1028 should have the Dana 60 front and 14 bolt in rear. I have owned both combinations in the past in civilian trucks. For my purposes the 10 bolts were fine, but I didn't rock crawl with them. You may want to put an axle brace on the 10 bolt to minimize flexing. Other then that, I doubt a stock 6.2 will break that rear.

HUH? why would there be a 44 in the front?gm hasnt used a 44 in the front since 80 or 81. you wont find one in a gm cucv

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Thanks guys,

And Westech, as far as wannabe, I did not take offense to the comment, and I know it was not meant towards me. If you look at my build, I think we would all agree that we don't waste time on builds. I just have to fork out $3k+ for a M1028 and my pockets aren't that deep YET. I've had the M1009 for 3 weeks now and I've put about $5k in it. Maintenance+wheels+tires+all my goodies

If you guys are interested, check out on of our race trucks at Psychotic Racing Home Page

Thanks for all the input.

Happy wheeling!

-Dave

 

[dstang97]

Ok I just confused you all A dana 60 physically has 10bolts on the cover. Has no comparison of strength compared to 1/2 axles a Dana 60 is a lot stronger. Im gonna Edit my original post so I don't confuse other people

 

[IdahoPlowboy]

I had a 1984 long box chevy half ton with 10 bolts front and rear with a very strong 454 and 456 gears that was my daily driver and mud and snow basher, this truck lasted many years and I only busted one half shaft in the front in all the years I owned it. It also was locked front and rear. 10 bolts are stronger than most folks give them credit for.

 

[ODdave]

the biggest issue with the rear is when it dose break the axle it will come out of the housing the full floats do not have this problem. If it where my oh9 and i was keeping the 6.2 i would find a 30 spline 10 bolt front and put a 60 w/pwr-loc in the rear. better ground clearance and cheeper.

 

[Recovry4x4]

HUH? why would there be a 44 in the front?gm hasnt used a 44 in the front since 80 or 81. you wont find one in a gm cucv

More specifially 1977 1st design. 77 2nd design got the 10 bolt.

 

[DokWatson]

Um...No.

The problems with 10 bolts are you can't put anything but an open differential in them. If you really pin one tire bad with a locker, the shafts are so flimsy they will snap before spinning the stuck tire. Gov-lock differentials are notorious for failure, since they suddenly lock one wheel at a certain RPM and blow themselves apart. Think of a gov-lock like throwing a wrench into a machine to stop it. Without lockers they aren't much good for dedicated off-road driving, which is why they got a bad reputation.

They are just fine for an every day use axle, which is what they are designed for in the first place.

 

[ODdave]

Um...No.

The problems with 10 bolts are you can't put anything but an open differential in them. If you really pin one tire bad with a locker, the shafts are so flimsy they will snap before spinning the stuck tire. Gov-lock differentials are notorious for failure, since they suddenly lock one wheel at a certain RPM and blow themselves apart. Think of a gov-lock like throwing a wrench into a machine to stop it. Without lockers they aren't much good for dedicated off-road driving, which is why they got a bad reputation.

They are just fine for an every day use axle, which is what they are designed for in the first place.

Kinna like the 6.2, fuel mileage / people hauler. not ment to pull a trailer.

 

[motormayhem]

I used to run 35's on my 10 bolt and go wheelin about once a month. I never got heavy on the throttle and they did fine. The main way to kill them is to get the tire bouncing or spinning and then finding traction cause that will shock load them and wipe them out quick.

 

[KsM715]

I had a 1984 long box chevy half ton with 10 bolts front and rear with a very strong 454 and 456 gears that was my daily driver and mud and snow basher, this truck lasted many years and I only busted one half shaft in the front in all the years I owned it. It also was locked front and rear. 10 bolts are stronger than most folks give them credit for.

Theres a big, big difference between mud/snow and rocks.

Like is said above, you get a wheel airborn then drop it down in the rocks you'll snap that axle like a twig. In the mud and snow it just keeps spinning.