23+ Front Axle change too?

M

MSparks909

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Current Rides #1
2014 Ford F250 6.7
Was browsing another popular Ford forum and came across a post where a bunch of 23+ users are saying their front axles are no longer the Dana M256 (Super 60) that was offered in the 17-22’ trucks. The M256 axle has 10 diff cover bolts while the new axles seem to have 14 diff cover bolts now…the new axle is also physically smaller, the pinion is smaller, etc. The folks on that forum are theorizing it’s a new Dana M235 front axle (basically a Dana 50 pumpkin). If so that is a definite downgrade in strength over the previous M256 axle.

If you folks with 23/24 Tremors could look underneath your trucks and count your diff cover bolts we can see if Ford did in fact keep the M256 in the Tremor Super Duty’s or if they downsized to the M235 as well. Ford also took away one of the locking hubs on non-Tremor F250/350s. The passenger side hub is now always engaged and the spider gears constantly spin. Seems like quite a bit of quiet cost cutting going on…
 
IMG_0861.jpeg


14 bolts on my 23 XLT F350, 2 are hidden by the big ol sway bar.
 
The best way is to pull the BOM number. This should be stamped into the front of the long side tube.
 
MSparks909 said:
Was browsing another popular Ford forum and came across a post where a bunch of 23+ users are saying their front axles are no longer the Dana M256 (Super 60) that was offered in the 17-22’ trucks. The M256 axle has 10 diff cover bolts while the new axles seem to have 14 diff cover bolts now…the new axle is also physically smaller, the pinion is smaller, etc. The folks on that forum are theorizing it’s a new Dana M235 front axle (basically a Dana 50 pumpkin). If so that is a definite downgrade in strength over the previous M256 axle.

If you folks with 23/24 Tremors could look underneath your trucks and count your diff cover bolts we can see if Ford did in fact keep the M256 in the Tremor Super Duty’s or if they downsized to the M235 as well. Ford also took away one of the locking hubs on non-Tremor F250/350s. The passenger side hub is now always engaged and the spider gears constantly spin. Seems like quite a bit of quiet cost cutting going on…
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As far as the hubs are concerned also seems like the passenger side will be subjected to more wear than the drivers side.
 
Blade420Play said:
You need to get up under there and do some cleaning 😉
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At least he's wearing good Under Armour socks. Do I see bourbon spots on the floor? Hearing about these '23's makes me love my '22 even more!
 
MSparks909 said:
Was browsing another popular Ford forum and came across a post where a bunch of 23+ users are saying their front axles are no longer the Dana M256 (Super 60) that was offered in the 17-22’ trucks. The M256 axle has 10 diff cover bolts while the new axles seem to have 14 diff cover bolts now…the new axle is also physically smaller, the pinion is smaller, etc. The folks on that forum are theorizing it’s a new Dana M235 front axle (basically a Dana 50 pumpkin). If so that is a definite downgrade in strength over the previous M256 axle.

If you folks with 23/24 Tremors could look underneath your trucks and count your diff cover bolts we can see if Ford did in fact keep the M256 in the Tremor Super Duty’s or if they downsized to the M235 as well. Ford also took away one of the locking hubs on non-Tremor F250/350s. The passenger side hub is now always engaged and the spider gears constantly spin. Seems like quite a bit of quiet cost cutting going on…
Click to expand...
My 23 is the M256 and both hubs still engage.
 
TARZAN said:
My 23 is the M256 and both hubs still engage.
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Good to know. Glad the Tremor option kept the M256 and both front selectable hubs!
 
Optimus said:
At least he's wearing good Under Armour socks. Do I see bourbon spots on the floor? Hearing about these '23's makes me love my '22 even more!
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The only thing, mechanically, I'd like to have out of the 23 is the larger water pump on the 7.3. Otherwise it seems like the drivetrain on the 22 and older is the better setup.

There was a good video posted here a few months ago discussing the 22 vs 23 7.3 changes.
 
idrivea2022tremor said:
The only thing, mechanically, I'd like to have out of the 23 is the larger water pump on the 7.3. Otherwise it seems like the drivetrain on the 22 and older is the better setup.

There was a good video posted here a few months ago discussing the 22 vs 23 7.3 changes.
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Agree. I've always avoided the first year of a new generation, hence my decision to go with the '22.
 
idrivea2022tremor said:
The only thing, mechanically, I'd like to have out of the 23 is the larger water pump on the 7.3. Otherwise it seems like the drivetrain on the 22 and older is the better setup.

There was a good video posted here a few months ago discussing the 22 vs 23 7.3 changes.
Click to expand...

The 23’ uses a smaller water pump than the 20-22’ trucks.
 
There's a build sticker on the front axle. Big huge thing you can't miss. Just take a pic of it.
 
On the other forum I’m on most think the new axle is the M235/dana 50, I might of gotten the nomenclature numbers wrong…..Even though the axle documents below say its supposed to be the m256. Just like the rear axle maybe they blind fold each other as they pick the parts so we never know what we are going to get?
IMG_6444.jpeg
 
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