Driving off front axle only
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Driving off front axle only
Hi, I'm new to this forum and need some advise. I have a follow up question to an earlier post by wille3R.
Can an 86 F-250 front end be used as the ONLY drive axle? Friends have told me "NO" because the gears are not heat treated on the correct side. That does not seem logical to me. This will be a front wheel drive only car hauler with GMC type motorhome airbag rear suspension. I know turning sharply will need to be done carefully. My concern is putting lots of miles on this rig with just the front axle pulling it down the highway. Am I nutz?????? Is this feasible???? Any and all advise is appreciated.
Thank you, Sopp
Can an 86 F-250 front end be used as the ONLY drive axle? Friends have told me "NO" because the gears are not heat treated on the correct side. That does not seem logical to me. This will be a front wheel drive only car hauler with GMC type motorhome airbag rear suspension. I know turning sharply will need to be done carefully. My concern is putting lots of miles on this rig with just the front axle pulling it down the highway. Am I nutz?????? Is this feasible???? Any and all advise is appreciated.
Thank you, Sopp
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From: Southwestern Michigan
Driving off front axle only
It can be driven that way, but it wont handle like a fwd car. I would advise against it. If you have a high pinion (above axle centerline) on the front axle then you do drive on the correct side of the gear though.
Post Fiend
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Driving off front axle only
The 80-up TTB axle is high pinion, so you're OK there.
I ran my truck on the front axle for a solid month when I first put it together.
It's doable, however, I would be very carefull of the U-joints, no FWD burnouts or any of that stuff(been there, done that, thankfully didn't break anything).... LOL
Evan
I ran my truck on the front axle for a solid month when I first put it together.
It's doable, however, I would be very carefull of the U-joints, no FWD burnouts or any of that stuff(been there, done that, thankfully didn't break anything).... LOL
Evan
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From: Southern Oregon USA
Driving off front axle only
As far as running on the front end for an extended time. Its no big deal. The gears are the same on the coast and the drive side concerning any heat treating.
If you are wanting to build a FWD car hauler, look into an early Olds Tornado front clip to swap in. With a 455 and a T400 style FWD transaxle, it will be strong enough to pull with and will take a bit of weight. There is a Chevy dually running around here that is set up similarly. It is very trick and from what I have heard, it works great.
Jason
If you are wanting to build a FWD car hauler, look into an early Olds Tornado front clip to swap in. With a 455 and a T400 style FWD transaxle, it will be strong enough to pull with and will take a bit of weight. There is a Chevy dually running around here that is set up similarly. It is very trick and from what I have heard, it works great.
Jason
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Driving off front axle only
As far as what's wrong with it now. I'm starting with a '42 Dodge COE with no drive train at all. I can't use the Toronado setup 'cause it would stick the fan 8" in front of the grill.
I've put a 3.55 geared axle from an '86 F-250 under it. It's getting a 6.9 Deisel and c-6 trans. I've never liked the height that vehicles ride when on a conventional truck or a rollback. Much prefer the low ride of a car trailer. After looking at the rear airbag suspension on a GMC motorhome, I decided to build this project. When I let the air out of the bags, the rear will drop down where no ramps are needed to load cargo. Flip a switch and the air pumps the suspension back up to normal ride height. OK, I'm lazy, I'm also disabled to a point where this system would make life a lot easier. I'm also the type of person who hates to drive down the road and meet a vehicle just like the one I'm driving. Dare to be Different!!!!!!
That's my story(tip of the auto collection iceberg). I'll continue building and give this a try. If it works, I'm a happy hauler, if it doesn't, back to the drawing board(where this project was born).
Thanks for the quick replies. Sopp
I've put a 3.55 geared axle from an '86 F-250 under it. It's getting a 6.9 Deisel and c-6 trans. I've never liked the height that vehicles ride when on a conventional truck or a rollback. Much prefer the low ride of a car trailer. After looking at the rear airbag suspension on a GMC motorhome, I decided to build this project. When I let the air out of the bags, the rear will drop down where no ramps are needed to load cargo. Flip a switch and the air pumps the suspension back up to normal ride height. OK, I'm lazy, I'm also disabled to a point where this system would make life a lot easier. I'm also the type of person who hates to drive down the road and meet a vehicle just like the one I'm driving. Dare to be Different!!!!!!
That's my story(tip of the auto collection iceberg). I'll continue building and give this a try. If it works, I'm a happy hauler, if it doesn't, back to the drawing board(where this project was born).
Thanks for the quick replies. Sopp
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Driving off front axle only
Sounds like it will be an awesome car hauler, Good idea !! I am just unsure of the longevity of using the axle that way. But I guess you never know till you try it.
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From: san diego usa
Driving off front axle only
The front axle isn't made for high speed highway driving. The main reason is that the outer axles are connected with u-joints, and unless you are going perfectly straight, there will be a torsional harmonic vibration at the wheel. When the joint is at an angle (turning), the joint will speed up and slow down every time it goes around. That puts considerable stress on the joint, and the faster you drive it, the more stress you get. With the high loads from being the only drive axle, your u-joints probably won't last that long.
That's why all front wheel drive vehicles use CV joints.
That's why all front wheel drive vehicles use CV joints.
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Driving off front axle only
Not the early 80s Olds Toronado and the other GM clones of it. It was a V-8 FWD with u-joints. I've always thought it would be a lot of fun to make a little tracked vehicle with that drivetrain. 
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From: san diego usa
Driving off front axle only
Oh yeah... I remember those, almost bought one in high school. True they use u-joints, but they have one on each end of a halfshaft... this cancels out the vibrations because they are positioned out of phase like a driveshaft. A typical 4x4 front drive axle has only one u-joint being driven by an axle that is turning at a constant velocity, so the outer stub is subject to torsional vibration when the steering wheel is turned.
Post Fiend
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From: Memphis, TN
Driving off front axle only
Originally posted by LW555
A typical 4x4 front drive axle has only one u-joint
A typical 4x4 front drive axle has only one u-joint
Yeah, I know it still won't cancel out the velocity fluctuations. 
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Front Wheel Drive Ford
I am also in the process of considering options to create a front wheel drive hauler. Is there a body of literature on this? Can someone describe the basic setup and the components used? (would like to use a late model V-8 or Triton V10)
Last edited by jskf; Mar 7, 2006 at 10:44 AM. Reason: Add additional description
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It sounds like you guys know what you'r talking about. I don't know what a Front wheel drive car hauler is, but when I was running around with my TTB Bronco 2 using only front wheel drive, I could light up the tries easily, due to the weight transfer from front to back when accelerating. I wouldn't want to run front wheel drive long term. Four wheel drive is the way to go! Good luck and ohh watch the torque steer too.
Tim
Tim
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From: Senoia, GA
what if you reversed the whole setup and have your steer axle at the rear and the drive axle at the front, like a fork lift! you'd get some pretty cool turning ability and you wouldn't have to worry about your gears going out on the front end. only thing to be careful about is driving at high speeds. i have no idea what kind of effects you may encounter past 45 or 50 mph.... anyone ever raced a forkliff? 
being different is cool
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being different is cool
thats how new and improved ideas are born!-cutts-
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What I really need is a low center of gravity, which would preclude using a 4X4 front axle. Also, the speed range is in the 60-70mph -- A CV Joint arrangement might be a better way to go. Are there any robust transaxles that could be adapted for Ford engines?
Jim
Jim