rockwells question
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From: Senoia, GA
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From: GANS
GMC 2.5tons are frontloaded, like the older eaton axles that came under some old GMC pickups. Rockwell are top loaded with a third member. GMC axles look like a normal axle, except huge. Rockwells are weird looking (for an axle). They have square tubes.
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From: Spokane, WA
Top loaders equate to better drive shaft angles not to speak of safer drive shafts being up high. I'm not sure what the specs are on the GM axles but the one disadvantage to the Rockwells is you only have 1 gear ratio available . . . so you better run a BIG tire unless you just don't plan on getting much speed out of it.
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From: OxFord Wisc
Just a side note, Dana 60's have stronger shafts..........if you plan on being hard on you vehicle and running 48's or bigger, you might want to think about 5 ton clarks.........much bigger axle shafts and less prone to breakage.
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From: Florida Hill Country
Originally Posted by proeliator
Rockies are great. Don't much care for the gmc deuces. The rocks gr is 6.72 btw. Yea, don't think you'll running down the freeway on 35s with those 
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by buzziscrazy2
Just a side note, Dana 60's have stronger shafts..........if you plan on being hard on you vehicle and running 48's or bigger, you might want to think about 5 ton clarks.........much bigger axle shafts and less prone to breakage.
-jason-
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From: House Springs, MO
I was doing some chatting with my neighbor who has run both rockies and Eaton deuces, and he likes the Eaton's more because they don't require as much power to get everything started moving. In all honesty, I've never tried to turn the driveshaft of either one, but that would make sense, since the rockie is a double reduction and the eaton is a single reduction. True, the driveshaft angle would suffer a bit, but when you're talking muddin' and jumpin' in a tube frame buggy and not rockcrawling, I don't see where there would be any driveline issues. I know what you're gonna say, and that less of an angle is always better regardless of what you're doing, but he feels that it's worth the tradeoff to run a less-torque-hungry axle.
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From: Oregon
Thats actually a good point Mo'. Personally, I'd still stick with the rockies but it would sure be interesting to see actual numbers on how much power the the rockies eat over eatons due to the double reduction.
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by buzziscrazy2
Just a side note, Dana 60's have stronger shafts..........if you plan on being hard on you vehicle and running 48's or bigger, you might want to think about 5 ton clarks.........much bigger axle shafts and less prone to breakage.
-jason-
Last edited by fishmanndotcom; Apr 12, 2004 at 03:11 PM.
Post Fiend
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From: Spokane, WA
Makes you wonder, doesn't it Jason? I thought there was a reason people were getting rid of the Dana 60s and going to rockwells . . . maybe not. I would be curious to hear the torque specs on what it takes to turn them compared to a GM axle. All that gearing has got to eat up power somewhere but I suppose that's what big blocks are for. 
Hey, one more question. I want to buy a fishing boat. Do I need a big engine or do you think I'd get by okay with a TROLLing motor?
Hey, one more question. I want to buy a fishing boat. Do I need a big engine or do you think I'd get by okay with a TROLLing motor?
Lead Driver
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From: Senoia, GA
depends on the lake I fish all the time at Lake Horton here and it is a non-hydrocarbon fuels lake (no gas or diesel!) just electric motors and sail boats and rowboats. i like it cause there is no wake or jet skis to compete with. but it takes FOREVER to get from one side to another....in fact i take 3 fully charged batteries with me and they all end up being drained. maybe it's my bling stereo, fridge, trolling motor, and lights that drains it 
-jason-
yes Ivan, i know you were joking
-jason-
yes Ivan, i know you were joking