When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Yesterday I went up to Georgia to Joel's house (runningman777) and in exchange for a days labor, he gave me the front diff, and front suspension off of a four-wheel drive truck. I am going to convert my twin i-beams to four-wheel drive. I'm thinking about doing it this weekend. I will not have my transfer case yet but, I will have the front end in place. I also have some blocks to put underneath the rear tires so I won't be looking like I'm squatting in the back compared to the front. Are these front axles open? Kind of like a one-wheel peel? Just curious.
You went from wondering about a wander, to busting out a ball joint, to a full blown 4WD conversion in the space of a week.
I'm subscribing.
It looks like you have a Dana 50 front axle there?
It also looks like you have the early 99 anti-sway bar design, based on the style of frame connectors and axle bushing strap locations. Eventually, you'll want to switch the sway bar attachments on the axle and frame to the updated designs, to prevent the problems that Ford found and issued a TSB for.
The stock front differentials are open. With a 21 year old axle, one never knows if or how it may have been modified inside, but it is improbable that what you have is anything other than stock issue.
That's a pretty complete set up. as far as the inclusion of all the bracketry, shock towers, spring hangars, reinforcement plate, lateral track rod, steering linkage, etc.
You went from wondering about a wander, to busting out a ball joint, to a full blown 4WD conversion in the space of a week.
I'm subscribing.
It looks like you have a Dana 50 front axle there?
It also looks like have the early 99 sway bar design., based on the style of frame connectors and axle bushing strap locations. Eventually, you'll want to switch the sway bar attachments to the axle and frame to the updated design, to prevent the problems that Ford found and issued a TSB for.
It did come off of a early 99 truck. I assumed it was a Dana 50. The stickers are all scratched off and whatnot. I was going to put this on my truck this weekend but, unfortunately much to my surprise..... The steering box is different. The truck that I got this from had a messed up steering box from a wreck. Jason also said there was an X member that I should have grabbed off of that truck but I am not 100% sure as to what he was talking about. I didn't unbolt it from any x-frame or anything of the sort. And there wasn't anything under it. The only thing holding it to the truck was the shocks and leaf springs.
I think the brake calipers are sticking and holding the rotor still as well. Luckily I just replaced the rotors on my truck along with calipers and brake lines so there's nothing to worry about there. I'm going to rebuild both hubs before I put it on the truck as well. The ball joints look okay but I was told they were bad. I was also told it needed new tie rods because the wreck messed them up but they look fine to me. Do you know if this is a factory bend on the steering arm?
You went from wondering about a wander, to busting out a ball joint, to a full blown 4WD conversion in the space of a week.
I'm subscribing.
It looks like you have a Dana 50 front axle there?
It also looks like have the early 99 anti-sway bar design, based on the style of frame connectors and axle bushing strap locations. Eventually, you'll want to switch the sway bar attachments on the axle and frame to the updated designs, to prevent the problems that Ford found and issued a TSB for.
The stock front differentials are open. With a 21 year old axle, one never knows if or how it may have been modified inside, but it is improbable that what you have is anything other than stock issue.
That's a pretty complete set up. as far as the inclusion of all the bracketry, shock towers, spring hangars, reinforcement plate, lateral track rod, steering linkage, etc.
do you mind elaborating what you mean about the updated design? I didnt know they had one
To OP I am in the middle of the exact swap! Feel free to shoot me a message and ask any questions.
The stock front differentials are open. With a 21 year old axle, one never knows if or how it may have been modified inside, but it is improbable that what you have is anything other than stock issue.
I was asking because mine was acting like an open differential and I wasn't sure if that's how they were supposed to be. The case is not been open so Joel didn't know if it was damaged or not. I wanted to be sure!
That's a pretty complete set up. as far as the inclusion of all the bracketry, shock towers, spring hangars, reinforcement plate, lateral track rod, steering linkage, etc.
We managed to get it off of the truck in one piece! I put everything back on loose to keep up with everything.
He was pulling the motor out of a wrecked truck for his truck, even after the wreck everything still drove and steered fine. Only problem was the frame got messed up.
do you mind elaborating what you mean about the updated design? I didnt know they had one
To OP I am in the middle of the exact swap! Feel free to shoot me a message and ask any questions.
The E99 sway bar bracket on the RH (drinker's side) hangs way below the axle centerline. The LH one does too but it's cast iron instead of a piece of steel flat bar and holds up a little better to rocks, etc.
The E99 one is easy to tell as the bar is constructed in one plane...it'll lay flat on a floor. The 99.5-up ones are bent around to clear the differential housing as they are mounted closer to the axle's center line.
Also, the track bar (panhard) mounting is different as the bolts used are smaller diameter.
The E99 sway bar bracket on the RH (drinker's side) hangs way below the axle centerline. The LH one does too but it's cast iron instead of a piece of steel flat bar and holds up a little better to rocks, etc.
The E99 one is easy to tell as the bar is constructed in one plane...it'll lay flat on a floor. The 99.5-up ones are bent around to clear the differential housing as they are mounted closer to the axle's center line.
Also, the track bar (panhard) mounting is different as the bolts used are smaller diameter.
Good to know! Thanks for the write up. I was wondering myself. You cleared it up for me!
I just ordered a four-wheel drive pitman arm at O'Reilly's. 32 splines. Will the four wheel drive pitman arm fit the factory steering gear? I heard some of them have different splines. If so, which brand steering gear do you guys prefer?
The E99 sway bar bracket on the RH (drinker's side) hangs way below the axle centerline. The LH one does too but it's cast iron instead of a piece of steel flat bar and holds up a little better to rocks, etc.
The E99 one is easy to tell as the bar is constructed in one plane...it'll lay flat on a floor. The 99.5-up ones are bent around to clear the differential housing as they are mounted closer to the axle's center line.
Also, the track bar (panhard) mounting is different as the bolts used are smaller diameter.
Where is the best place to get the updated sway bar? Got a picture of the trac bar bracket? Mine is cast arm with 12mm bolts. I don't know if my axle is e99 or not
If so, which brand steering gear do you guys prefer?
Many of us have been very happy with BlueTop noted in the link below. I had 2 AutoZoo gears and they were as loose as a... Well, they were not good at all and leaked from day one.
Where is the best place to get the updated sway bar? Got a picture of the trac bar bracket? Mine is cast arm with 12mm bolts. I don't know if my axle is e99 or not
Just a PSA - not trying to come across mean...
WHY? There's no difference in the performance nor is there any reason to change it unnecessarily. The bushings are the same and the end links are the same. The ONLY difference is where it sits in relation to the axle centerline and how low the axle brackets dangle. To change the sway bar, the LH spring clamp (lower bracket) has to be changed and a new piece of 1/4" flat bar has to be welded to the RH side so the bushing mount can be raised 1.5". Whoop-e-dee-doo. It IS NOT a bolt-on "upgrade".
Not everything is an "update" or "upgrade". Those two words are just as useful as the word "probably" and cause more headache and heartbreak than any other words in the English language.
Many of us have been very happy with BlueTop noted in the link below. I had 2 AutoZoo gears and they were as loose as a... Well, they were not good at all and leaked from day one.
