Front axle swap
#1
10-25-2018, 07:12 AM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes
on
16 Posts
Front axle swap
I have been looking through the threads for options to get the front axle of our 55 f 350 to a more user friendly 8 by 6 1/2 bolt pattern.
Purchased some used f 250 rotors and calipers from a 2005 and hoped to find bearings to adapt but there isn’t any that will do the job.Thought about going out and having bushings made and adapting the calipers brackets.(still a possible option)
We have also looked at putting newer front hubs off a 73-79 but would require changing the steering box.
Now wondering about just putting an f 250 front axle in as a replacement as this truck will still be used but not as heavily as it was in the past life.
The front axle and steering seems fairly tight (we have not driven it yet) and it only has around 30,000 miles on it.
This truck is a single wheel version so the front hubs can’t be turn like GB did.
We have received good feedback before and look forward to your ideas. Thanks
Purchased some used f 250 rotors and calipers from a 2005 and hoped to find bearings to adapt but there isn’t any that will do the job.Thought about going out and having bushings made and adapting the calipers brackets.(still a possible option)
We have also looked at putting newer front hubs off a 73-79 but would require changing the steering box.
Now wondering about just putting an f 250 front axle in as a replacement as this truck will still be used but not as heavily as it was in the past life.
The front axle and steering seems fairly tight (we have not driven it yet) and it only has around 30,000 miles on it.
This truck is a single wheel version so the front hubs can’t be turn like GB did.
We have received good feedback before and look forward to your ideas. Thanks
#4
10-25-2018, 03:06 PM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes
on
16 Posts
170 is probably more accurate. Thanks
They are twin I beam but my understanding is that they are still king pins. Not sure if there camber would be off or not. It was a suggestion that I thought was worth looking at.
Something else I was wondering about was if the 6 x 7.25 could be redrilled to 8 x 6 1/2 and use a different drum backing plate and brake shoes.
The f250 axle I would look for would have to be a 53 - 56.
Thanks for the feedback.
They are twin I beam but my understanding is that they are still king pins. Not sure if there camber would be off or not. It was a suggestion that I thought was worth looking at.
Something else I was wondering about was if the 6 x 7.25 could be redrilled to 8 x 6 1/2 and use a different drum backing plate and brake shoes.
The f250 axle I would look for would have to be a 53 - 56.
Thanks for the feedback.
#7
10-25-2018, 07:57 PM
The last year for kingpins on the F-250/350 was 1986 and E-250/350 was 1991. The Twin-I-Beam kingpin angle was 4 degrees from 1965-1979 and 8 degrees from 1980-86 on the F-150/250/350.
Econolines used the 8x6.5" bolt circle till they were discontinued in 2014.
Ford used the same front wheel bearings on the 2wd rotors from 1976 till 2006 in the F-250/350 and till 2014 in the E-250/350.
Econolines used the 8x6.5" bolt circle till they were discontinued in 2014.
Ford used the same front wheel bearings on the 2wd rotors from 1976 till 2006 in the F-250/350 and till 2014 in the E-250/350.
Trending Topics
#9
10-25-2018, 11:26 PM
#11
10-26-2018, 07:51 AM
#12
10-26-2018, 08:06 AM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Southwestern Ontario
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes
on
16 Posts
You are probably right about the width changes in the later years. Couldn’t use there front axles as they are twin I beams anyway. Had only thought of using the spindles but will go with Scott’s suggestion to use a 53 - 56 f 250 axle as we will not be working this truck as hard it was on the farm.
Wish we had your skills Bobby or what others on this site have, this truck would already be completed.
Wish we had your skills Bobby or what others on this site have, this truck would already be completed.
#13
10-26-2018, 08:20 AM
#14
10-26-2018, 08:31 PM
Aren't the axle widths (wheelbase widths) the same up through 1972?
I don't know about the larger trucks but I thought that, at least with the 1/2 tons, that the trucks got a few inches wider in 1973 when they introduced the new body style.
Good luck on your conversion
Bobby
I don't know about the larger trucks but I thought that, at least with the 1/2 tons, that the trucks got a few inches wider in 1973 when they introduced the new body style.
Good luck on your conversion
Bobby
I only suggested the 53-56 parts so the OP wouldn't have to mix and match.
As a side note, does anyone know the differences between the F100 and F250 axles for 53-56?
#15
10-26-2018, 09:01 PM
I did some digging, just for grins, and according to the Ford parts manual the axles and spindles are the same for 53-56 F100-250. Steering parts too. On the F350 everything changes. Even the front spring U bolts are a 1/4" wider. One would have to take some measurements to be sure, but near as I can tell, if the holes for the U bolts in the axle were filed an 1/8" or so outward from each other, the 250 parts should be able to fit to the 350 springs with the 350 U bolts. It would definitely make easy work of swapping to the 8 lug pattern, if that was the goal.