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Seriously contemplating swapping a full floating rear axle into my 2005 E350 cargo/work van--it was originally a Club Wagon further designated as "Bus: Not School Bus" for whatever that means. Here's the serial tag:
This van has undergone a DIY conversion from a wheel chair lift equipped people hauler to full work van--it does have the raised fiberglass roof with required upper roll cage supporting structure. The weight as driven daily has grown from 6,200# empty (2980 front, 3220 rear) to 8,460 (3,380 front, 5,080 rear) with E-Rated 245/R75-16 tires. When it was most recently weighed it was loaded as it will see daily---never two anything and loads will remain pretty close to current weights, occasionally adding maybe 200# for a short run.
I'm thinking a full floating rear axle might give me a better safety margin----I hate running that close to recommended maximum axle ratings. I'd like to add a leaf spring which would give me an additional 1,200 pounds weight handling capacity but don't want to exceed the safe load of the rear axle itself.
I'm sure someone has swapped a full floating axle into an E- or F-Series so looking for what's typically required. How do I search for a plug-n-play rear axle---if that's possible? Does this require a new drive shaft and brake lines etc?
I did it on a 1981 F250 that had a Semi-Float that failed, I replaced it with a Full Float that I took out of my 1979 F250 that I had regeared to 4.10. If I remember right I was able to use the brake assemblies off the 79 axle, I also had to use the yoke off of the original rear end. I did a lot measuring before I attempted it, that was also back before the internet so information was harder to come by.
I did it on a 1981 F250 that had a Semi-Float that failed, I replaced it with a Full Float that I took out of my 1979 F250 that I had regeared to 4.10. If I remember right I was able to use the brake assemblies off the 79 axle, I also had to use the yoke off of the original rear end. I did a lot measuring before I attempted it, that was also back before the internet so information was harder to come by.
Denny
Yeah definitely having the interwebs at our disposal these days makes this "easier" if only to know what might go wrong during the swap. As I'm digging into this there's a lot of hands-on experience with others who've already done it. So far I have it down to a simple plug n play IF I get the proper axle. The external parts of the rear axle swap right over so I'm not into buying a lot of extras like calipers etc etc.
Another benefit of using the 'net if finding a usable axle for a fair price. Locally I find them for $700+, I'm talking with an outfit who have several with lower mileage they'll sell for $150 each. I do assume I'll go through whatever I buy with new bearings etc and a general thorough inspection, make any repairs before installation.
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