Project needing RWD solid front axle
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Junior User
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From: New Orleans
Project needing RWD solid front axle
I'm building a 1931 Model AA with a bunch of superduty parts. Currently I have the original front axle with 2002 F250 superduty hubs bolted to it with the original front spring, but the geometry is off. I have a couple of options like bending the axle etc, but since the orignal axle is the weak point, I'm thinking about replacing it with something a little sturdier.
I've been trying to research the solid front axle in the heavier duty F350-550 from a 2 wheel drive truck, but everytime I search I keep coming up with the 4WD front axle.
I saw a single pic of an axle that might be worth doing more research about, but don't know what truck it was under. I need a solid NONDRIVEN front axle with superduty hubs. Preferably with the 8 x 170mm bolt pattern, but figure I can always get or make adapters to bump it back down from the 10 on 225 to the 8 on 170 pattern.
Do these exist? Solid (IE not IFS) nondriven front suspension with 8 on 170mm bolt pattern? What truck would I pull it from.
Let me know if this posts sounds clear, because trying to research monobeam/solid front axle, only brings me to 4WD sites and threads.
Thanks
Scott
I've been trying to research the solid front axle in the heavier duty F350-550 from a 2 wheel drive truck, but everytime I search I keep coming up with the 4WD front axle.
I saw a single pic of an axle that might be worth doing more research about, but don't know what truck it was under. I need a solid NONDRIVEN front axle with superduty hubs. Preferably with the 8 x 170mm bolt pattern, but figure I can always get or make adapters to bump it back down from the 10 on 225 to the 8 on 170 pattern.
Do these exist? Solid (IE not IFS) nondriven front suspension with 8 on 170mm bolt pattern? What truck would I pull it from.
Let me know if this posts sounds clear, because trying to research monobeam/solid front axle, only brings me to 4WD sites and threads.
Thanks
Scott
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From: Stephensville WI
Have you tried this outfit?
F650, F750, 8500 Lb. front axle complete drum to drum New take off assemblies | eBay
F650, F750, 8500 Lb. front axle complete drum to drum New take off assemblies | eBay
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From: Plover, WI
I will check a couple of cab n chassis trucks that I see in the morning. I did notice in older brochures online that Ford used an axle from Westport Axle that was rated at 7500 lbs, used kingpins, was a monobeam design and was leaf sprung, in the F53 cutaway chassis. Might have to check into that.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
Otherwise, an older straight axle from a 50's or 60's F series might be appropriate, although you might require some engineering to mate it to the 8 x 170mm hubs.
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From: New Orleans
The original axle is bent, which isn't that big of deal.
Let me clarify, I don't think that the original axle is that "weak" but my king pin set up to get the superduty hubs bolted to the solid axle is the weak point in my setup. I had to machine some serious spacers with mild steel and flip the hubs around to get them even close. The original plan was to form up the spacers to get it close and then get a machine shop to make the spacers out of some harder steel for final application. I'll shoot a pic of the setup I have when I get home today.
That is one serious axle on eBay, but for that price I'll machine a new axle with the IFS ball joint twin I beam endings onto a solid beam.
I was just hoping that I could find a solid axle from the f350 dually or f450-550 cab and chassis that I've seen a few comments about. Seems like it would be less fab work and would have hubs close to what I want. Wish I could find more research on it.
Let me clarify, I don't think that the original axle is that "weak" but my king pin set up to get the superduty hubs bolted to the solid axle is the weak point in my setup. I had to machine some serious spacers with mild steel and flip the hubs around to get them even close. The original plan was to form up the spacers to get it close and then get a machine shop to make the spacers out of some harder steel for final application. I'll shoot a pic of the setup I have when I get home today.
That is one serious axle on eBay, but for that price I'll machine a new axle with the IFS ball joint twin I beam endings onto a solid beam.
I was just hoping that I could find a solid axle from the f350 dually or f450-550 cab and chassis that I've seen a few comments about. Seems like it would be less fab work and would have hubs close to what I want. Wish I could find more research on it.
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From: New Orleans
So here is the pic, its F250 superduty hubs with the ball joints removed. I swapped the passenger and driver side then flipped them upside down. Then I machined some spacers, or bushings if you will, that fit where the ball joints were and its being held together with one inch all thread (But only for mock up).
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From: New Orleans
Oh and I found one reliable looking article that states 2002 F450 and 550 had a monobeam, Dana front axle that I am assuming is nondriven since its only a 2wd truck. All of that comes from the ford fleet body builders manual https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...2/fsersdcd.pdf
Super Duty F-450 Regular Cab 4x2 Dual Rear Wheel Chassis Cab
Super Duty F-450 Regular Cab 4x2 Dual Rear Wheel Chassis Cab
AXLES:
Front Axle — Type Monobeam, Dana
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From: New Orleans
Anyone know a good site to find part diagrams for F450s.
I got a B line on an 1999 F450 2wd truck in a yard about 60 miles away. I want to try and look at what the front axle is suppose to look like.
I got a B line on an 1999 F450 2wd truck in a yard about 60 miles away. I want to try and look at what the front axle is suppose to look like.
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Night shift reporting for duty, sir!
The F-450/550 Monobeam front axle for 1999 through 2004 Superduties is a simple tube. Not a drop center I beam like the older 50's and 60's trucks. Not a drop center I beam like the F650/F750 or F53s. Nope. It's a tube, that extends straight across from wheel to wheel at the hub center level, that uses the same king pins and wheel ends as the 4x4 versions, only without interruption of a differential carrier.
The tube diameter is the same as that of the 4x4 axle. Only it is empty of any axle shafts inside. So essentially just picture a Superduty 4x4 axle without a pumpkin, and that would be what your 1999-2004 F-450 two wheel drive 4x2 front axle will look like... suspended with by same leaf spring design as the 4x4.
The F-450/550 Monobeam front axle for 1999 through 2004 Superduties is a simple tube. Not a drop center I beam like the older 50's and 60's trucks. Not a drop center I beam like the F650/F750 or F53s. Nope. It's a tube, that extends straight across from wheel to wheel at the hub center level, that uses the same king pins and wheel ends as the 4x4 versions, only without interruption of a differential carrier.
The tube diameter is the same as that of the 4x4 axle. Only it is empty of any axle shafts inside. So essentially just picture a Superduty 4x4 axle without a pumpkin, and that would be what your 1999-2004 F-450 two wheel drive 4x2 front axle will look like... suspended with by same leaf spring design as the 4x4.