Eaton HO72/HO52 vs. 14 Bolt FF

[60sIron]

Great post! The drums on my Eaton have been turned to the max. And they're small. I'd love to impove the brakes. It looks that by swaping brakes with a 14 will move the wheels out about an inch on each side. Anyone know if changing to discs will increase the track? I what to keep the wheels where they are.

[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by 60sIron

Great post! The drums on my Eaton have been turned to the max. And they're small. I'd love to impove the brakes. It looks that by swaping brakes with a 14 will move the wheels out about an inch on each side. Anyone know if changing to discs will increase the track? I what to keep the wheels where they are.

Your brakes, either drum or disc will not affect your wheel mount surface (WMS) on the eaton. Some later 14 bolt full float (14Bff) axles do have slide on drums, but the swap I covered does not include those.

[Jvanloon]

Have some questions about the ho52 locker. I'd like a locker for my 72 K20, and I don't feel like swapping and machining axle shafts to use a 14bff Detroit. My only option then is the factory locker? What type of locker is it? Cable selectable? And how strong/reliable are they?

[truckeez]

And has anyone seen any of the unwanted 8 lug dually ho72 rears anywhere out there?? like close to N texas

[Captainfab]

The original lockers that were in the HO52/72 were Detroit Lockers. They are just about indestructible but some people don't like the noise they make and the wiggling when they lock and unlock when turning.

Originally Posted by Jvanloon

Have some questions about the ho52 locker. I'd like a locker for my 72 K20, and I don't feel like swapping and machining axle shafts to use a 14bff Detroit. My only option then is the factory locker? What type of locker is it? Cable selectable? And how strong/reliable are they?

[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by Jvanloon

Have some questions about the ho52 locker. I'd like a locker for my 72 K20, and I don't feel like swapping and machining axle shafts to use a 14bff Detroit. My only option then is the factory locker? What type of locker is it? Cable selectable? And how strong/reliable are they?

If you have a 72 axle then the 14 bolt No-Spin and axle shafts will swap right in without modifications. You may get lucky and find a No-Spin for the Eaton as well. The factory locker is a Detroit No-Spin (Detroit Locker) and the 14 bolt locker that fits the Eaton is the Detroit No-Spin (Detroit Locker). They are automatic .

[Jvanloon]

I'm still a little unclear. Not a fan of Detroit lockers, so what would it take to use a ARB 14bff locker? That's when I need to switch to the 14bff axle shafts and turn .250 off the splined end? Or is it only the 14bff Detroit that works for some reason?

[SS Tim]

The HO72 and HO52 use a single split case for both open and NoSpin applications. The NoSpin simply replaces the spider assembly in an open unit and was often dealer installed. Most differentials like the ARB have a dedicated case that to my knowledge have never been made to fit the Eaton HO72/HO52 series. A 14-bolt replacement carrier will not fit a HO52/HO72 series chuck.

[jbclassix]

Originally Posted by Jvanloon

I'm still a little unclear. Not a fan of Detroit lockers, so what would it take to use a ARB 14bff locker? That's when I need to switch to the 14bff axle shafts and turn .250 off the splined end? Or is it only the 14bff Detroit that works for some reason?

Tim posted a picture of the detroit locker. Here is a 14 bolt ARB locker. Like Tim says, it has a dedicated case. If you don't want to have to hassle with machining .250 off the axleshafts (which you dont have to with the detroit) you wont want to even consider retrofitting a 14 bolt ARB to the Eaton. If you search the pirate there is a picture of one machine shop that fit an ARB to a Eaton. You have to machine the carrier bearing surfaces down and in toward CL and machine a new ring gear surface, then new holes for the eaton ring gear since they are completely different from the 14 bolt.

[RedRoad]

If swapping a 14bolt to replace a HO52 do you have to lengthen/shorten the drive shaft?