Semi-Floating Front Axle?
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Semi-Floating Front Axle?
Showing my lack of mechanical knowledge here (all my experience is with motorcycles) ... I was trolling some other site and, regarding some Dodge or GM truck, a post mentioned a "semi-floating SFA 4X4". Wouldn't an SFA 4X4, especially one with locking hubs (say, my 2012 F-250) have to be full-floating by design? I can't picture a short drive axle that holds the wheel in place, yet can be disconnected to run in 4X2?
If I'm right, should I join that site just to ridicule the person that posted that ...ha ha...
If I'm right, should I join that site just to ridicule the person that posted that ...ha ha...
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 546
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From: VA- Shenandoah Valley
Technically, they are all full-floating. On the Dodge and Chevy, the axle stub rides in the splined hole, but the weight does not ride on that stub. It rides on the unit bearing, which bolts to the outer knuckle. Am I correct in my logic?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Over There
Mildly on topic, by the logic put forth here is a corvette (C2-C4) rear end semi or full float?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: southeast PA
A semi float axle carries weight on the axle shaft itself. (Stock) Ford 9" for example, or the 9.75 used in the late model F150's.
A full floater carries no weight on the axle shaft itself. The weight is supported by a hub and spindle, and the only thing the shaft does is turn the hub. D80, Ford/sterling 10.5, GM 14 bolt ( though there were a few oddball semifloats)
A front axle can't be a semifloat and still turn (well I guess it could but the wheel mounting surface would have to be part of the axleshaft itself, and I've never seen that). The older front axles still used a spindle and tapered roller bearings up front. Now they've found that unit bearings are easier and cheaper to slap in on the assembly line. But while the shaft may keep the bearings from coming apart on the Dodge and Chevy, it doesn't carry any weight on the shaft itself. Thus making it full float.
I'm going to guess the person that posted what you read meant that they did a SFA (solid front axle) conversion in place of an IFS setup, they just wanted to sound "cool". But wound up sounding dumb.
A full floater carries no weight on the axle shaft itself. The weight is supported by a hub and spindle, and the only thing the shaft does is turn the hub. D80, Ford/sterling 10.5, GM 14 bolt ( though there were a few oddball semifloats)
A front axle can't be a semifloat and still turn (well I guess it could but the wheel mounting surface would have to be part of the axleshaft itself, and I've never seen that). The older front axles still used a spindle and tapered roller bearings up front. Now they've found that unit bearings are easier and cheaper to slap in on the assembly line. But while the shaft may keep the bearings from coming apart on the Dodge and Chevy, it doesn't carry any weight on the shaft itself. Thus making it full float.
I'm going to guess the person that posted what you read meant that they did a SFA (solid front axle) conversion in place of an IFS setup, they just wanted to sound "cool". But wound up sounding dumb.
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