The 10.25 in my SRW F350 has a real bad wheel bearing oil seal leak. Replacing it turns into what I call the "might as wells" The oil from the bad seal likely killed the shoes, and I'll need oil, so I'll bare minimum need seals, shoes and oil. So since I need to do all that I might as well do a full fluid change, wheel cylinders, springs, bearings, drums etc. As I'm sure they haven't been serviced in a long time and are likely too worn to do all that work and not replace. Well the work to my back and wallet on that adds up fast so got to thinking maybe I should just swap in something "better". But what axle would be better without being a HUGE pain to both my back and wallet?

I'm told later vans had a D60 with disc brakes and were still 8x6.5. But the D60 is weaker then the 10.25.

I'd like a slightly wider axle, the KPD60 in the front is wider then the 10.25 in the rear and I have a couple inches of wheel well space. So maybe a dually version of the 10.25 axle but of course only use my single wheels. Bigger brakes, stronger axle tubes, but IIRC dually pickup axles are about 6" wider, too wide I think and chassis cab axles are 4" wider I think, perfect but the spring and shock mounts are different.

Lastly well I'm a fan of *gasp* the 14Bolt, likely some stock disc brake options, stronger then the 10.25, easy to work on, etc. But I have no idea what will work fitment wise?

Anyway, what does FTE have to add to this argument in my head?

 

Keep the 10.25 and put new seals($60), shoes($50), hardware(25), and oil(25)

And just be done. It has lasted how many miles already? No need to reinvent the wheel AND have to do everything I just list on Another axle

 

Uhm cause I'd have something better

As I said, bigger/disc brakes, wider and stronger would all be good things worth investing in. Why would we assume what I find would need it all, and in general disc brake parts are cheaper then drum brake parts. And don't you get tired of having to remove the axle and bearings/hub to inspect the brakes?

 

If you have braking power concerns, I bet the problem is your current drum system is in need of service.
Have you cracked an axle housing from overloading? Is the 10.25" too weak for you? Whats the GVWR on that pickup, what do you load it to?

My suggestion is just get that 10.25 back to spec. They are not known to be crappy axles, and you'll be money ahead.

 

Uhm Yes, that's why I am looking at options
No

Not yet hard to say at what point I'll break it but better to be too strong and not need it, then need it and be too weak.

9200lbs

Idk for some odd reason there is no scale in my driveway but often more then 9200. I ran it over a scale with a rather light load for me and was 8800. Tires are rated at about 4000 but the 10.25 is rated about 6500 I believe.

Cheaper now yes probably, just trying to look at options first though. I don't want to put all this in it just to decide in a year or two that something else would be better.

 

Ya know, the only reason the rock crawler d00ds don't use a Sterling 10.25/10.50 is the weight! A ton stronger than a GM (Got Mechanic?) Corporate 14 bolt or D60 any day. You do know the crawler d00ds break those 14 bolt diff parts in a buggy/truggy that weighs less than 2,000 lbs?

As far as braking power, disc brakes on the rear is total overkill. Most of your braking is on the front brakes so a properly installed/maintained drum system on the rear is all you need.

It's still far cheaper to go through your existing rear brakes than to do any swapping around.

That tire rating is per tire, not per pair. The axle GVW is your rear leaf spring rating, not the axle strength. Just stated for clarity.

My 0.02 USD worth. YMMV. Been there, done that.

 

"Not yet hard to say at what point I'll break it but better to be too strong and not need it, then need it and be too weak."

if thats your theory than you might as well just get a dualie f550 but you have a valid point


i dont know what happened to the quote but it isnt right.

 

Since when do you have to pull the axles and bearings to inspect the brakes on a 10.25"? That's a Dana 60 problem, not a Sterling problem.

 

You'll spend about $250.00 on parts not including oil to rebuild both sides of the axle. That's shoes, complete brake hardware kit, wheel cylinders, inner and outer bearings, races, seals, and spindle nuts.

You do not need to pull the axles and hubs to inspect the drum brakes on a Sterling axle and there are things that can be done to beef up these axles. There's plenty of articles on the web on how to do it, including an article about swapping out the Sterling for a Ford van axle with disc brakes.

 

Agree 100%

If it is too weak for you, go put in a Rockwell