Front axle swap
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 23
From: Southwestern Ontario
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
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 23
From: Southwestern Ontario
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.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Twin-I- Beam introduced: 1965 F100/250 2WD & 1967 F350.
1953/96 F250, 1997 F250 H/D & 1967/97 F350's have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle.
1999 and later F250/350's have metric wheels.
1953/96 F250, 1997 F250 H/D & 1967/97 F350's have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle.
1999 and later F250/350's have metric wheels.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 12
From: Saskatoon SK Canada
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.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 23
From: Southwestern Ontario
Good information.The hubs we have are from a 2005 E 250 not an f 250 like was stated. The king pins on the 2005 are a totally different beast and not even close to being compatible.
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Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Personally, i would forget about swapping axles or spindles. Just find a 53-56 axle from an F250 and use that setup. Should be close to a bolt in deal....
Any newer axle will be way too wide.
Any newer axle will be way too wide.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 23
From: Southwestern Ontario
I was wondered if that would be the best way to go. From the information found on this site it sounds like new brake parts can still be sourced, now just need to source an axle to move forward. Thanks Scott.
l will be watching your new build with interest as with the past builds.
l will be watching your new build with interest as with the past builds.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,984
Likes: 9,838
From: Rio Rancho, NM
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
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 23
From: Southwestern Ontario
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.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,984
Likes: 9,838
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Don't sell yourself short Rick.
I'm not sure how much is skill or the willingness to jump in and tackle some crazy idea. Keep us posted on this project, I'm sure others will find it beneficial
Bobby
I'm not sure how much is skill or the willingness to jump in and tackle some crazy idea. Keep us posted on this project, I'm sure others will find it beneficial
Bobby
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
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?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,165
Likes: 4,767
From: Burbank, WA
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.