1988 f250 4x4 IFS front axle
#1
1988 f250 4x4 IFS front axle
Hello, I have a 1988 Ford F250 4x4 Diesel 5 speed that I have been playing with as a project. It has the Dana 44 IFS front axle in it. I was wanting to change this to a solid axle. Does anyone know which solid front axles will fit into this truck as a bolt in, year wise or if any years are a bolt in (proper width, etc.) Thanks for your help, its greatly appreciated. Kirk
#3
It's more likely that you have a D50 front end, but none the less, I've done the swap.
It's actually pretty straight forward. I used a Dana 44HD from a late 70's hi boy as a front axle. If you use a Dana 60 from a 4x4 F350 around the same year (it will be a king pin front end, which is tougher) it should pretty much be a bolt in deal. Anyway though, you need to get a straight axle, a drag link for it, some kind of steering set up (when I did mine we made tie rods for it that are thicker for off roading). When I put in my axle I also lifted the truck with F350 springs from a 90.
The downside of using the older axle in my truck, was that the spring perches were to close together on the 44HD and had to be moved over, but that was only about a 7 minute job.
All in all, a SAS will probably take you a couple days. When I did mine, it took me and two other guys (both of which had done the swap with hi boy axles before) about 2 and a half days to get her back on her wheels. Taking the old axle out took about 3 hours, maybe less. Taking the other axle and measuring it out and centering it, moving the perches over and such, took probably 4 or 5 hours. Bolting the axle itself in to the new U bolts and putting the bigger springs in took about 3 hours or so. Putting in the steering and drag link probably took 4 or 5 hours (that includes making the tie rods though). And it was good to go from there. I think it was definitely worth the time and effort to do. It rides way better than the D50 did
It's actually pretty straight forward. I used a Dana 44HD from a late 70's hi boy as a front axle. If you use a Dana 60 from a 4x4 F350 around the same year (it will be a king pin front end, which is tougher) it should pretty much be a bolt in deal. Anyway though, you need to get a straight axle, a drag link for it, some kind of steering set up (when I did mine we made tie rods for it that are thicker for off roading). When I put in my axle I also lifted the truck with F350 springs from a 90.
The downside of using the older axle in my truck, was that the spring perches were to close together on the 44HD and had to be moved over, but that was only about a 7 minute job.
All in all, a SAS will probably take you a couple days. When I did mine, it took me and two other guys (both of which had done the swap with hi boy axles before) about 2 and a half days to get her back on her wheels. Taking the old axle out took about 3 hours, maybe less. Taking the other axle and measuring it out and centering it, moving the perches over and such, took probably 4 or 5 hours. Bolting the axle itself in to the new U bolts and putting the bigger springs in took about 3 hours or so. Putting in the steering and drag link probably took 4 or 5 hours (that includes making the tie rods though). And it was good to go from there. I think it was definitely worth the time and effort to do. It rides way better than the D50 did
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Dana 60 from a 85 1/2 to 97 F-350 is a direct bolt in.
if you can, look for an axle out of a 85 1/2 to 91 F-350, this will be a kingpin axle, and then when you go for front end or brake parts all you will have to do is ask for parts for a 88 F-350 4X4
you will want to get all the parts associated with the front axle. track bar and mounting bracket, steering components, and springs if you can get them.
you can use the 250 springs, but it will ride better with the 350 springs.
if you can, look for an axle out of a 85 1/2 to 91 F-350, this will be a kingpin axle, and then when you go for front end or brake parts all you will have to do is ask for parts for a 88 F-350 4X4
you will want to get all the parts associated with the front axle. track bar and mounting bracket, steering components, and springs if you can get them.
you can use the 250 springs, but it will ride better with the 350 springs.
#6
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#9
There was a long drawn out thread on here before on what triggered whether or not a F250 got a D44 or D50. I do not remember the details, but long story short it is best to just look at the hubs to figure out what you have. Ford seems to have no real rhyme or reason in the methodology from year to year or gas versus diesel and other factors.
#11
Not true at all. Yes, you automatically got the Dana 50 with the extended cab but you also got it with the snowfighter package even with a regular cab.
#12
GNR, do you have any pics of your truck from before you swapped the axle?