Subjective Axle Strength


Max tire Size
Common Failures
Corporate 20
32in
Tubes twist, flange hubs spin, Seals leak, very weak axles
Dana 27
31in
Weak axles, housing breaks
Dana 28 ifs
31in
spindle and wheel bearing failure
Dana 30
32in
tubes and knuckles bend, spider gears
Dana 35
32in
tubes bend, diff bearings wear quick
Dana 35 ifs
33in
wheel bearings, outer axle failure
Dana 44
36in
early small axles break, floater kits break axles if housing isn't straight when installed
Dana 44 ifs
33in
R&P weak, hubs and half shafts
Dana 60
44in
in pickups carrier bearings fail
GM10 Bolt
33in
carriers break, tubes bend, weak axles, spider gears, outer wheel bearings
GM 12 Bolt
36in
tubes bend, pinion bearings wear, spider gears, wheel bearings, axles
GM 14 Bolt 10.5"
44in
Gov-loks fail
Ford 8.8
33in
stock axles, spider gears
Ford 9 in
38in
Early 28 spline axles weak
Ford 10.25in
44in
similar in strength to Dana 70 and 14 Bolt Full Floater

Axle Shaft strength varies greatly with design, material and application
Spline
Count
Torque
Applications
23
1573
Samurai Front
24
2241

25
2909

26
3576
Samurai Rear
27
4244
Dana 30 and 35
28
4912
10 Bolt (pre 90)
29
5580
AMC 20
30
6248
Dana 44, 50, and 60 (LD)
Toyota
10 and 12 Bolt
31
6915
Ford 8.8", 9"
32
7583

33
8251
14 Bolt (9.5")
34
8919

35
9586
Dana 60 (HD), 70
14 Bolt (10.5")
Ford 10.25"
36
10254

37
10922

38
11590

39
12258

40
12925


Axle (most)
Shaft Diameter
(at splines)
Spline Count
Ring Gear
Diameter
Model 20
1.25"
29
8.875"
Dana 30
1.16"
27
7.2"
Dana 35c
1.16"
27
7.5"
Superior
Dana 35c
1.31"
30
7.5"
Dana 44
1.31"
30
8.5"
Dana 50
80 - 02
1.31"
30
9"
10-bolt
1.20"
28
8.5"
10-bolt
1.31"
30
8.5"
12-bolt
1.31"
30
8.5"
14-bolt
1.285"
30
9.5"
14-bolt SF
1.37"
33
9.5"
14-bolt FF
1.50"
35
10.5"
Ford 8.8
front 97 on
1.2"
28
8.8"
Ford 8.8
Rear 83 on
1.32"
31
8.8"
Ford 9"
1.19"
28
9"
Ford 9"
76 - 86
1.32"
31
9"
Ford 10.25"
1.50"
35
10.25"
Dana 60 FF
F250 81 - 84
F250 75 - 79
F350 78 - 79
1.31"
30
9.75"
Dana 60 SF
E250 Van 81 On
F250 80-85
1.50"
35
9.75"
Dana 60 FF
95 - 96
1.41"
32
9.75"
Dana 60
1.50"
35
9.75"
Dana 70
F250 02 On
1.41"
32
Dana 70HD
F350 75 - 85
1.50"
35
10.5"

Outers
Axle (most)
Shaft Diameter
(shaft to splines)
Spline Count
Dana 44
1.060"-1.155"
19
Dana 60
1.250"-1.3125"
30
Dana 70
1.375"-1.50"
35