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mattofvinings 05-13-2009 18:00:13 198.208.159.20 3493 Report to Moderator

The thing I worry about with the 1/2t axle is the axle shafts themselves...if you break the shaft you lose a wheel, and that isn't good. The shaft is undergoing reverse bending cyclic stress on each rotation, and while designed for this...it isn't perfect. The full floating axles (ala GM corp 14bolt) are designed with a set of tapered rollers in the outboard hub...the axle shaft in that case is torque transmitting only with zero axial thrust. A wheel can still be lost but it would involve fracture of the outboard hub (a monster unlikely) or loss of the outer roller bearing retainer nut (also unlikely). However...if you keep the suspension off the bump stops, the 1/2t axle will take you a long ways too. Brakes on the larger pickups also have increased capacity with a hydraulic pressure boost rather than the engine vacuum boost. Best is a crew cab dually...throw in anything, everything, and anybody. No more excuses 8-) This post was edited by mattofvinings at 18:01:30 05/13/09. [Reply]   [No Email]