Eaton vs. Dana axles

[lukecp]

I was wondering which rear axle available in 3/4 ton models of these trucks is better (stronger, longer lasting, ect.), the Eaton HO52 or the Dana 60. Just curious, and i may be picking up a 3/4 ton eventually so i would like to know.

The Eaton looks stronger and has the drop out center section, however i hear parts are pretty hard to come by....

[1969 GMC]

hey lucas, the ho52 is definitely stronger than the d60. the ho52 was the forerunner of the 14 bolt, and is similarly sized. in dana terms, they are roughly equal to a d70. however, the ho52 has coarse splined axleshafts (11 or 17 splines, cant remember which) and the d60 has 30 splines (at least a d60 from one of our trucks), which is better. however, i am going to swap out my dana 60 for an ho52 w/ No-Spin, and I don't think i will bust it up with my wimpy 350.

also, there are more gear choices available for the d60. i have heard some members have a hard time getting parts for the ho52 but a board member posted a link to an online parts store that had bearings and seals for the ho52, and they weren't that expensive.

[da-burb]

HO52 stronger?? That must be why they put the Dana 60 behind the big blocks. There has to be some logic behind why the factory made the Dana 60 standard with the 396-402 engines. A much better gear ratio (3:54) is one, but they still stand up to the torque as good or better than the HO52. The fact that you can still find parts for the Dana is just icing on the cake.

[kiley]

I like mine. I actually like the looks of it better than the d60's. I would gladly swap for a coil sprung d60 though because of gear ratios and lockers.

[69oldie]

In the era of 67-72, GM NEVER EVER put any DANA rear axle under any C30 single or dually truck........ONLY the EATON!!....... Which leads me to believe that the EATONS were the stronger axles. One should also remember the main difference between the Eaton HO52(3/4 ton) and the HO72(1 ton) rear end was the size of the brake drums. If the Dana 80 was available in 67-72 ......then GM would have used the dana....maybe....

just my 2 cents......

[1969 GMC]

Originally posted by da-burb
HO52 stronger?? That must be why they put the Dana 60 behind the big blocks. There has to be some logic behind why the factory made the Dana 60 standard with the 396-402 engines. A much better gear ratio (3:54) is one, but they still stand up to the torque as good or better than the HO52. The fact that you can still find parts for the Dana is just icing on the cake.

While I do not know why the d60 was put behind 3/4 ton BB trucks, the ho52 IS definitely stronger than the d60. it is bigger (10.5" ring gear vs 9.75" for d60, 1.55" diameter axleshafts vs 1.31" for d60), also as 69oldie pointed out, the ho52 and ho72 were the same basic axle, only differences were the size of the drums and backing plates. 52 and 72 correlate to 5200 and 7200 pound capacities, respectively.

i want to run one of these because it will be very strong and i want to use something other than your run of the mill 14bff. i plan on 35" tires which arent that extreme. plus, i got a great deal on mine with a No-Spin already inside. also, these axles have better ground clearance than either the d60 or 14bff, they have a dropout centersection, and I like the oil plug on the diff cover, which the 14bff doesnt have.

[Dean]

The Eaton is definitely stronger and has been documented in several 4x4 magazines. Only negative is parts availability which doesn't bother me.

[sakohntr]

I have destroyed both dana 60's and 14 bolts, but never an eaton. You can find those eatons everywhere for cheap but the minute you say dana 60 people see dollar signs because the ford and dodge boys used em. Neither have ever figured out how to make there own heavy duty differentials. And in case you did'nt know, you can swap out certain full floater 14 bolt axle shafts with more splines right into an eaton case to use the more modern lockers.
"NO-SPINS RULE"!

[lukecp]

So the Eaton is stronger then.....it does look stronger, lol.

I did see an HO52 in a '72 C20 with an original 402 in it, it was coil spring also. It may have been swapped out sometime in the past though.....

I don't think i am going to break a Dana 60 though, lol....or an Eaton for that matter.

[kiley]

Which ones can you swap in? I heard that it was possible but was doubtful. I don't have time to go junk yard diving. I would like to find some axle shafts and just but a new/newer used locker.

[1969 GMC]

i have not found the axleshaft swap documented anywhere. its more of hearsay. i think a board member here has done, and im pretty sure a couple at pirate4x4 have. iirc, you use the axleshafts from a C&C 14 bolt (I guess they are narrower or something), a 14 bolt carrier, and a 14 bolt detroit inside the eaton axlehousing. sounds cool to me, except I have a factory No-Spin (detroit) and its free, compared to however much you are going to pay for a 14bff with a detroit locker. and really, the stock axleshafts are fine for most things. street driving, and moderate offroad use is fine. rockcrawling with one is where those axleshafts will start to break. or using humongous tires, like 44s on up, in conjunction with a lot of HP. for everything else they should be fine.