Solid Axle Swap worth it?
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 87
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From: Kelowna, B.C
Solid Axle Swap worth it?
Hey all, Long time reader first time poster.
I have a 97 250HD with a 351w and zf5 tranny 4x4 3.55 gears. TTB front end
Going to be putting a 4-6" lift kit with 35-37" tires..
Going to be replacing all needed front end parts while doing the lift aswell.
Should i just throw a D60 out of a 350 while im doing it all anyways?? The only reason im considering it is becuase i dont want to deal with camber issues and what not.
Pretty straight forward swap right?? Seems like a no brainer... Thoughts?
S
I have a 97 250HD with a 351w and zf5 tranny 4x4 3.55 gears. TTB front end
Going to be putting a 4-6" lift kit with 35-37" tires..
Going to be replacing all needed front end parts while doing the lift aswell.
Should i just throw a D60 out of a 350 while im doing it all anyways?? The only reason im considering it is becuase i dont want to deal with camber issues and what not.
Pretty straight forward swap right?? Seems like a no brainer... Thoughts?
S
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Kodiak, Alaska
YES! you will have nothing but problems with the TTB i have a 6" lift on my truck and after 2 years of **** i finnally switched to the Dana 60 and love it! If you leave Dana 50 TTB the support in the middle will snap the mount bolts and leave you with a very scary wobble on your front end that feels like your wheel are going to fall off when it is actually you whole front axle in danger of falling off! so you will have to weld it back and if you skinp on sticks and dont use a stick per 2" of weld you will break the weld and snap the bolts... wobble... so you weld it back so it will never come off and you realize that the stress on the leafsprings has left them with a lack of spring and your front tires will look like your axle snapped in the middle about this time you will go out and buy a Dana 60 and realize you put 30 lbs of weld on the bracket holding the bracket on so you get to spend the next day grinding off the super weld you put on it off... sweet! dont waste your time with the TTB get the Dana 60 save yourself the headache! some people like the TTB but not me and definately not for a lifted truck!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 558
From: Central Wisconsin
As long as its from an 80-97 350 it'll be plug and play, otherwise you have to do a little fabricating which isnt a big deal if you can get an earlier one for cheap. That D50 wouldn't like them big tires on it at all and it would wear them out quick. And if you were aiming to replace all the wear and tear items anyway, it'd probly just be cheaper to put a good D60 in depending on what kind of deal you can get. Even a D44HD from a late 70's 3/4 ton would be a good replacement but, its the same as getting an earlier D60 though, it needs some fabricating.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Kodiak, Alaska
Also theDana 60 will bolt right up no problem just check your front drive shaft length, mine had to be shortened 1", and make sure you get the one with the gears you want.
Here is link to everything you ever wanted to know about the Dana 60.
Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
Here is link to everything you ever wanted to know about the Dana 60.
Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
now if its gonna be a offroad truck, skip the 60s and go straight to rockwells youll be money ahead later.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 87
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From: Kelowna, B.C
Thanks for the info guys. Ill probably just do the swap. Only think i can see if the track bar. Easy to bolt that bad boy in? Or am i going to need to make/weld up a bracket for the frame.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
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even 1000 hp sled pullers dont upgrade their d60. . .
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Kodiak, Alaska
You can build a track bar mount it is not that hard you just have to get your length right depending on your lift.you can also buy one they are about $100 for the 6" lift our just buy one measure it make your own and rerun it. It does need to be pretty tough I made mine out of 1/2 steel.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6,815
Likes: 708
From: Tobyhanma, PA
I did. Supposedly James Duff is building one. Haven't seen/heard anything since that magazine article. You'd think they'd try getting a feeler out for how popular itd b.
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