why the 14 BOLT is GM's gift to Four Wheelers everywhere!

well, maybe not everyone lol! But it is an awesome piece of kit with the ability to handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
Parts a plenty, tons of aftermarket support, huge ring gear, and BURLY!!
I have a 14 bolt builder list over on my amazon store. Check it!!
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[@Derpymech]

It amazes me how amazing these axles are, have em in all my trucks

[@MerricksGarage]

Same here!

[@Greatday68]

The true gift of the 14 bolt is the pinion bearing on the snout of the pinion and how its mounted, It makes the pinion so stable And much better than the dana It is why I'm installing one on my Ford.

[@MerricksGarage]

Absolutely.

[@bobcatm3462]

Nice to see a close visual while describing backlash. Well done

[@MerricksGarage]

Thanks! I am a visual learner so ha ha

[@KyleTesky]

This man deserves his own tv show

[@townsendliving9750]

No grease in full float axles, also part of their gift, self lubricated bearing

[@Ozarkminimoto]

This video has given me what I need to put a spool in an old 14 bolt ff farm truck, very nicely done sir

[@MerricksGarage]

Glad it helped

[@danielbaker4395]

The rear wheel bearings are lubed with the gear oil from the diff. and don't need to be greased like the front. Great videos! Keep them coming!

[@MerricksGarage]

You see, I know you are right. And I knew that, I just couldn’t bring myself to not put any grease in🤪😂

[@bradywilliams2666]

@@MerricksGarage It doesn't hurt it any. Especially for new bearings. By the way there is a couple different styles of axle nut assemblies. One is like a normal front with a second nut and a piece of steel you bend a tab over to keep it in place. Going to grab another on tomorrow. Guy doesn't know the gear ratio. But for free who cares. Hoping for open diff. is all. Need to weld up another ORB of traction. lol

[@MerricksGarage]

Lol ! Nothing says wheelin like a welded pumpkin 🎃 🤛🏻👍🏻🛠

[@cartherapywithharperpeters7013]

Sometime in my Blazer’s future, it’ll have a 14-bolt. Thanks for the video!

[@MerricksGarage]

You bet

[@benjaminhall744]

Great info man. Thanks for sharing. Videos like yours and the tech articles from bellavista were a lifesaver for me when installing my ARB and re-gearing my 14 bolt.

[@MerricksGarage]

Glad I could help!! To be even mentioned in the same sentence as billavista.com is cool!

[@scootypuffjr.]

A little grease on assembly is fine. You don't need to be "packing" everything. These things go hundreds of thousands of miles using only the gear oil.

[@johnspindler9732]

This is a suggestion not criticism check out Banks turbo did a complete video on rear end covers and found out that some aftermarket covers don’t allow proper cooling of the gears hence they overheat check it out great video

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice custom pinion with the extra bearing in the housing james @Merricks Garage

[@MexicoPescadoro]

Weld those tube junctions!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Good informative demonstration James Brother @Merricks Garage

[@toyoassassin3184]

U have more faith than me in those harbor freight jack stands

[@MerricksGarage]

These are the 12 ton, not in the recall 😜

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

The magnetic bases you can turn the magnet on and off for the dial indicators is amazing use mine all the time @Merricks Garage

[@Mike-xn1bh]

The Ford Sterling 2006+ 10.5 is in the top 2 best 1-ton axle gifts to the offroad community, $300 at most junkyards, 10.5” ring gear, full-float, and stock disc brakes so need for a $200-$400 aftermarket disc brake kit. 14-bolts have a huge overhang which is why a differential housing shave is preferable. Biggest benefit to the 14-bolt is if you want to run the 8x6.5 lug pattern where the Sterling 10.5 uses a metric bolt pattern. But then I’m partial to the Sterling 10.25 that is arguably just as strong as the 14-bolt, is full float, uses an 8x6.5 bolt pattern, has a speedo sensor on the differential housing, and doesn’t have as large an overhang like the 14-bolt does. Ps. Love your channel @MerricksGarage. I just want to give fellow off-roaders another great option.

[@MerricksGarage]

No worries man! This channel is all about information. The more the better. The overhang on the diff is a deal breaker for many but I just took a band saw to the diff and cut off the lip without doing the whole 13bolt conv

[@helmethead2041]

I just got a dana 60 and 14 bolt. Its goin to be my winter project to get them under my 85 k5.

[@MerricksGarage]

Perfect axles for a blazer.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Good information between simi float and full float axles bro @Merricks Garage

[@dalejohnson9342]

The axle nut is set differently on the axle depending on the year of the 14 bolt. I am not sure why they have done this, but it is a good idea to bring them down carefully so you do not over-tighten them.

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea it is a touch thing. I always test the hub when the wheel is on. Set the drag without the wheel and then throw in the wheel and double check

[@tfukink]

Hey Merrick,, congrats on the mag ban overturn. Pew pew pew

[@MerricksGarage]

Ha ha. Yup. Although a year or so ago the ban was lifted for a week and everyone went cray cray buying pmags etc ha ha. I am all set!

[@tfukink]

Cool vid btw, im strippin down a 14b now for my K5. Pearches, disc conversion, bearings, truss. As is the story with everyone,, wish i had more time for it.

[@othoapproto9603]

Thanks, great advice.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Great video James Brother @Merricks Garage

[@sgtbigtoe7640]

Great vid Merrick, I've always been told not to tourqe with extensions if possible, they will flex a bit and can effect tourqe

[@forresterpaige7767]

Sometimes you need to

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea you are correct. Torque sticks are great for extensions but not in my budget lol!

[@1999samtheman]

@@MerricksGarage at this level of torque im sure its not a problem

[@forresterpaige7767]

Merricks Garage 100 bucks is out of your budget? Ouch

[@lacrosseguides7264]

Nice I have a gmc jimmy and it is awesome

[@LScout800]

I used the disk brakes and bracket off of the rear of an e-250 for my disk break conversion. It gave me disk breaks, and a working e-break for way less that the brackets cost alone for a conversion.

[@xredman002]

now there is a video worth watching

[@Tier1Norseman]

I'm putting two of these on my M35A2 Deuce and a Half. 😂

[@stevenbridgman7446]

I’m just wondering what do you think the root problem of the blow by. Seems you just changed two bearings.

[@MerricksGarage]

I think it was a plugged breather line. I replaced that too

[@Tookloss223]

What would you prefer for a wheeler 10.5 or the 11.5 14 bolt

[@MerricksGarage]

whichever one you come across. They are both awesome and will work great for wheeling, but the 11.5 is a huge huge axle

[@nikracic5439]

@@MerricksGarage Hey Merrick, great channel. if you had access to both 10.5 or 11.5 (same price) which would you go with for a K5 driver & wheeler? thanks

[@WoodsTexasbbq]

Fantastic content! Thank you.

[@MerricksGarage]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@H20Toie]

So when did the front fender get so modified :) it looked so good just a short time ago

[@MerricksGarage]

lol, when I went off road!

[@crew4x4]

With the offset pinion on a 14 bolt once you center it have you seen if the tires poke out on one side more then the other by like an inch ? Can’t seem to get mine perfect

[@azaelnoris5911]

What trucks carries the GM 14 bolts, full float, with disc brakes??

[@MrCnewton10]

Great video for beginners

[@jameshall4385]

I hope your jr cameraman works cheap. You better check his union card. Great video

[@MerricksGarage]

He works for ice cream and rides in the monster truck!!

[@jamescason7783]

Do I am wanting to build my 99 suburban, off road, towing and recovery. I am trying to figure out what axles and if 4 link will be strong enough for towing? My family is getting into disaster relief volunteer work and we want to build this before I take my family with me. Thoughts or recommendations to look into would be greatly appreciated.

[@MerricksGarage]

Four link is 100% strong enough. One ton axles for sure

[@danna140]

Your jack-stands what make and weight are they please ?

[@MerricksGarage]

these are the harbor freight 12 tons. Not on recall

[@georgecerda7802]

Have you considered whether the diff cover is contributing to the overheating/puking?

[@MerricksGarage]

Nah, if anything it is increasing fluid and therefore cooling capacity.

[@bradywilliams2666]

@@MerricksGarage Actually this guy maybe right. Gale Banks did a few videos on this. A lot of the aftermarket covers do not let the oil flow correctly.

[@MerricksGarage]

Yea but it’s been on for years now. I am sure it does affect some though

[@Tier1Norseman]

I'm going to put a 454 Big Block Chevy with an auto tranny in my M35A2 Deuce and a Half with two sets of these real axles and a decent front so I can put simpler rims/tires on my rig. Adding a custom fuselage OH-6 Loach/Cayuse crew cab on. 😎

[@atleder1]

What’s the importance of backlash? Why is having a little a desirable trait for a diff?

[@MerricksGarage]

so backlash is the very small amount of space between the ring gear and pinion. As they mesh, its necessary to maintain a gap large enough for oil to fill to prevent metal on metal contact. While it may seem like a lot, we are talking .007" or .18mm . Really really tiny! This tiny gap, that is present in all parts of the vehicle is necessary to the diff or engine seizing up due to heat and friction. Too much backlash actually shock loads the system and will lead to premature failure. In some severe cases teeth get chipped etc etc. All BAD

[@tonycantrell9547]

What would be the equivalent for a front axle?

[@MerricksGarage]

For me? A GM kingpin Dana 60 🤘🏻👍🏻

[@Carman-2012]

If you have a money you can make a 14bolt front axle 😎

[@dred5375]

The 14 bolt has a third pinion bearing, that's where alot of the ring and pinion strength comes from! Ford 9" also has the third pinion bearing also! There is nothing equivalent in strength, not even a 14 bolt up front, it would be low pinion, either custom or dana 60!

[@Carman-2012]

@@dred5375 ok ! That's your opinion bud. I personally have flat out wrecked front low pinion 60s, the only way i have kept mine together now is rcv shafts. My 14bolt is stock besides the arb and brakes🤔

[@dred5375]

@@Carman-2012 uhmmm... I think you read my post wrong! I agree the 14 bolt is badass, but putting one up front is like driving in reverse all the time! A low pinion up front is weaker! So what I was saying is not even a 14 bolt up front compares to the strength you have in the rear! Only a custom built dana 80 front would come close! In the strength department, the only way to beat a 14 bolt would be Rockwell's, and those things are stupid big and bulky!

[@frankthedank7578]

If I remember right the carrier bearing retaining bolts should be 135 ft lbs

[@shadowopsairman1583]

I would like a Full Float AAM 11.5 GM 14 Bolt for my 2006 Silverado 1500 1/2 Ton with disk brakes and 6 lug hubs to work with my wheels. The paint is torque stripe.

[@MerricksGarage]

Go watch my one ton axles video. I think you’ll dig it! 😜🤘🏻

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Fords super duties Come with Dana Full Floaters even the Ford 2005 Excursion came with a Dana Full Floater @Merricks Garage

[@apexpredator_jku]

Ground clearance on a 14 bolt is it's major drawback. I've seen more 14 bolt pumpkin hang ups than a phone scam artist from call centers in Mumbai. A good 14B shave kit will gain an extra 1.5" of clearance.

[@MerricksGarage]

I just cut the lip with a band saw and smoothed it out. Still have all 14 bolts and never get hung up. The 13 bolt shave is a lot of work

[@bradywilliams2666]

@@MerricksGarage Yep make it smooth and let it slide. They do hit. But that's what bigger tires are for. That being said I think I'm going to go ahead a do a full shave on my next one.

[@MerricksGarage]

The way it slides from my pinion guard down to diff cover is totally smooth. I removed at least .75” and there is nothing to get hung up. It has never held me up once. But on the other hand, with that lip there, you gunna get hung up!!😜

[@bradywilliams2666]

@@MerricksGarage I ground my crawler's down to the 14th bolt smooth as a baby's ass. And still drag on 40's. Just bump it harder.

[@scrappyjackalope9558]

Torqueing the carrier caps does not preload the carrier bearings like you describe. You set the preload with your adjustment rigs just like setting the backlash, the adjustment ring is a dual purpose item. Maybe you missed showing that step but folks with zero experience will be completely mislead by this video being it does not show that aspect of moving the adjustment rings.

[@chris092183]

1:06 Tell the kid that's parked in front of your house in the Honda Civic to cut his music off.

[@MerricksGarage]

I don’t think he is there anymore but I can go check

[@moejr14]

Hey man is the 11.5 inch 14 bolt worth building for a rock crawler?

[@MerricksGarage]

Absolutely. It is the new 14 bolt with some upgrades. I have one in the burb.

[@moejr14]

@@MerricksGarage but how is the aftermarket support for it?

[@michaelsmith9046]

I believe it's 52 ft lbs for spindle nut

[@nickg7827]

And to this day I have yet to find my Dana 60 front.

[@MerricksGarage]

well you cant be looking that hard, they are out there. They aren't cheap anymore though!

[@bradywilliams2666]

If you have some fab skills you can convert a SD 60 to pass. drop.

[@ChevyK5blazer]

You must be a Maiden fan

[@MerricksGarage]

up the irons!

[@stefandwoodham]

Too tight?! No such thing