4x4 axles come in all shapes and sizes for recreational and competition wheelers. From the heavy-duty 21⁄2-ton Rockwell to the classic lightweight Dana 30, each axle has its own definitive qualities.

Hot rods lax the limits of stock axles. Sixties racers learned this when traction caught up with horsepower and they started tossing slicks into the stands. Axle manufacturers quickly learned how to ...