Just curious, how hard it would be to swap out old axles for new ones if I ever got a wild hair. I understand it wouldn't be as easy with 4x4, but what would the issues be? I could imagine shock mounts, axle width, and rigging a new setup for disc brakes on the back might be kind of trying. Just an idea I'm playing with though. I have a 77 F-150 4x4 by the way.

 

This would depend on which axle you want to switch to. Select the right one for the rear, and it will be a bolt in installation. ( the rear will be the easiest). Minor driveshaft mods, and you are on your way. The front will require some work, however, it too can be made rather simple. If you purchase the lower (coil) spring mounts, and radius arm brackets, weld this to the new axle, the radius arms, and coils, as well as shock mounts can be re-used. Care must be taken here for proper caster geometry, as well as pinion angle. As for the disc brakes, just find an axle with discs on it already, and that part is a non issue.

 

I am curious as to why you would need to change your axles from the original 9"/Dana 44 setup? Are you planning to run larger tires or are you just not happy with the originals? Just curious.

I have a friend that put a Dana 60 under the front of his Bronco with the coil springs. I don't know if he bought new wedge pieces or used the ones from a Dana 44. I am not even sure what year truck he got the 60 from. If you want to know I could find out for you.

Steve

 

Mostly I'm just curious. I'm always looking for something new or different to try or think about on my truck. In fact, I currently live three hours away from it (school) so I can't exactly do much of anything with it right now. On the other hand though, I don't have to buy gas for it either.

 

You can always upgrade but what it the point? You really have a pretty good setup already. Your setup is one of the best ones every made.

 

Yeah, I know. Curiosity gets the better part of my free time though.

 

Well, you could torch off and unbolt or both all the great engineering that ford came up with in your coil spring front end. It is a great design - nice ride, good handling, and very strong. After you do that, you can put a new steering box in it and you can set it up for leaf springs and use heavier axles. Of course with that, you have lost your nice riding, good handling pickup that ford made - for a pickup with heavier axles. Personally, depending on your love affair with your truck, I would sell it and buy one with the heavier axles installed from the factory. They call these pickups f250s and f350s lol. It would be probably be cheaper and one of the few times that cheaper is better.

 

Yeah that's pretty good. I promise I'm not going to tear my truck apart. I'm just curious about the capabilities and what can be exchanged. Besides, I would paint my truck before I would ever start doing major modifications and parts swapping that I wasn't sure if I would like or not.