Any opinions on what is better a 10.25 or a 14 bolt?? Going in a driver/towing vehicle that will be pulled on occassion. Planning on making 500 - 550 hp. Going to need a spool or posi for one or the other. I don't want to weld it since it will be a driver, but I also don't want to spend $500 on a unit. Which one has more options out there,and which one will hold up better??

i would go with the 14 bolt,lots of them out there for parts,you can buy a detroit locker cheaper and are much easier to install, more aftermarket options like disc brakes and stuff, did i mention they are easy to find and cheap.

i dont know for a fact but i believe the 14 bolt is much stronger also

14 bolts are cheaper, just as strong(maybe more so), and have greater aftermarket support. That being said, I chose to put a sterling under my F250. To me, putting a 14 bolt in the rear of my Ford would be on par with putting a 454 under the hood. It's a matter of personal preference in my opinion.

-Jared

My vote is for the 10.25. Like the 14 bolt, there is plenty of them available cheap, and they are as strong as a 14 bolt. I personally pulled for 3 years and put over 700 ponies through one and didn't break it.

Also, which ever you go with I wouldn't put a spool in it since it will be a daily driver, you'll break the rear for sure. Ford a dd, I'd recommend a Limited slip or a locker.

Alan

I've never looked over the internals of the Sterling. Do they have a more robust pinion shaft than the whimpy Dana 70? The Dana 70 is a peice of crap as far as I am concerned. We had one under our Street Stock truck 600+ horse. It was fine as long as it was an automatic, but when we changed to a stick... and if ever we had much bounce it would twist if right off. Did I mention it was a piece of crap?

Done now! Bret

I don't know anything about a Sterling' but I do know of a 14 bolt that is taking 800+ and surviving, not saying it is the best but it should take 600 easy especially if it is a part time puller. Like everyone is saying parts are plentiful and cheap. Walt

If you're wanting to stay all Ford then go with the sterling. Otherwise the 14 bolt is stronger (especially if you replace the pinion snout bearing with an aluminum-bronze bushing) and you won't find an easier axle to work on.

Brett, I don't have any experience with the D70 so I can't comment. I can tell you that a friend of mine is running a big motor(not allowed to say how big)in street/altered street classes with a clutch and a 10.25 and so far he has broke one axle shaft.

As for the 14 bolt being stronger, well, I'll have to respectfully disagree.

We been runnin a sterling 10.25 for three years pullin with a diesel where the torque loads are double anything you gasser guys are makin ie we make around 1200 ft lbs tq. and we are runnin 8200 lbs compared to your 6000 or so

No issues at all

As to parts - lots of chices

We went with the bolt in mini locker from Detroit - twice as strong as a regular locker and is a 30 minute job compared to hours and special tools to change a complete carrier.

Cost - if you watch Ebay from $200-$300

14 bolt will need fabrication to install - the sterling is a bolt in

either axle is fine to use they both have their ups and downs. one thing that can be said no matter which one a person decides to use it that to keep everything tight and not have any slop cause thats when stuff will start to break

the axle sizes are very close 1.5" the sterling does neck down a little,the pinion gear in a 14 bolt is much stronger and larger than a sterling,the 14 bolt has a carrier that splits in 2 so its very simple to install lockers,and there are no shims for the side bearings they have adjustable collars.

most of all dont for get in 1999 the bolt pattern changed to metric on the fords,to stay 8x6.5" you need to go 1998 and older.

So... does the Sterling have a stouter(heavier) pinion than does the Dana 70?

Bret

Yes.

-Jared

dont use a 70 they are not as strong as a 14 or a sterling stay away

Well, I'm going with a 14 bolt. Your guys' pros on both rearends were very interesting, but I ended up stripping out a 76 Chevy truck that I originally thought I was going to sell complete. That being said, I started doing some looking around for a used 14 bolt posi/locker and haven't really been coming up with too much. Everything that I am finding is new or rebuilt, nothing wrong with that except they are in the $450 range and up. Just curious if anyone on here has something used, but good that they are trying to sell?? Or if anyone has a good outlet to pick something up more in the $200-$300 range?? Haven't been finding much on ebay, but maybe I'm not searching with the right words. Any help is appreciated.

these are on ebay now,auction number,280410021497,390083882712