05+ front axle with early stock wheels?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
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05+ front axle with early stock wheels?
I have nice new 16" tires on powdercoated stock steelies under my 2003 F350 4x4. I need to rebuild the front axle and i have an arb air locker to install. I think I'd be smarter to rebuild a newer axle and swap to coils. I'm sick of the terrible turning radius this thing has.
If I used my 285/75R16's on stock steelies will the wheel offset work fine on the newer axle? Will 16" wheels clear the brakes on the newer axle?
Thanks!
If I used my 285/75R16's on stock steelies will the wheel offset work fine on the newer axle? Will 16" wheels clear the brakes on the newer axle?
Thanks!
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
Likes: 57
Yes, it's a single rear wheel truck.
Researching it more indicates it's only 1.25" different in offset. The wheels I'm running are the base level steelies Powdercoated black.they are 7" wide and sit inside the fenders 2" with 285/75r16 cooper STT pros.
Researching it more indicates it's only 1.25" different in offset. The wheels I'm running are the base level steelies Powdercoated black.they are 7" wide and sit inside the fenders 2" with 285/75r16 cooper STT pros.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 217
take off a wheel and move it out two inches of space between the existing hub face and back of the wheel. That should give you a good idea where you’re gonna be sitting.
that’s a lot of money spent just to get slightly better turning radius.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
Likes: 57
I think they’re gonna stick out more than the 1.25 inches due to the wider axles on the newer trucks
take off a wheel and move it out two inches of space between the existing hub face and back of the wheel. That should give you a good idea where you’re gonna be sitting.
that’s a lot of money spent just to get slightly better turning radius.
take off a wheel and move it out two inches of space between the existing hub face and back of the wheel. That should give you a good idea where you’re gonna be sitting.
that’s a lot of money spent just to get slightly better turning radius.
It will cost me less to install the later axle.
I have also done brand new Ford front leaf springs twice and they are sagging badly again.
And yes, the turning radius is a big difference. This truck cannot even turn the tires to the factory locks. The steering stops have never been touched. The stock size tires hit the springs. The coil spring trucks are night and day difference wrt turning radius.
The newer axles are just way, way better all around. The knuckles are way better, balljoints way better, better brakes, better tie rods.
The axle just bolts in. It's not any kind of a big deal to do it. I just would like to use the wheels and tires I have $1600 into.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 217
My front axle has 460,000 miles on it and needs everything. I can buy a complete 2007 front axle with 60K miles on it for $850 and I can get all the brackets to mount it for free.
It will cost me less to install the later axle.
I have also done brand new Ford front leaf springs twice and they are sagging badly again.
And yes, the turning radius is a big difference. This truck cannot even turn the tires to the factory locks. The steering stops have never been touched. The stock size tires hit the springs. The coil spring trucks are night and day difference wrt turning radius.
The newer axles are just way, way better all around. The knuckles are way better, balljoints way better, better brakes, better tie rods.
The axle just bolts in. It's not any kind of a big deal to do it. I just would like to use the wheels and tires I have $1600 into.
It will cost me less to install the later axle.
I have also done brand new Ford front leaf springs twice and they are sagging badly again.
And yes, the turning radius is a big difference. This truck cannot even turn the tires to the factory locks. The steering stops have never been touched. The stock size tires hit the springs. The coil spring trucks are night and day difference wrt turning radius.
The newer axles are just way, way better all around. The knuckles are way better, balljoints way better, better brakes, better tie rods.
The axle just bolts in. It's not any kind of a big deal to do it. I just would like to use the wheels and tires I have $1600 into.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 601
Likes: 86
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Despite whatever backspacing one goes with, the brakes are larger. A 16" wheel won't work on the '05+ axles, that's why the smallest size Ford offered from '05 forward was a 17" wheel.
I'd totally rock the 16" wheels if they fit. Cheaper tires. But sadly, 17" wheels are the minimum size that fits.
I'd totally rock the 16" wheels if they fit. Cheaper tires. But sadly, 17" wheels are the minimum size that fits.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 217
Despite whatever backspacing one goes with, the brakes are larger. A 16" wheel won't work on the '05+ axles, that's why the smallest size Ford offered from '05 forward was a 17" wheel.
I'd totally rock the 16" wheels if they fit. Cheaper tires. But sadly, 17" wheels are the minimum size that fits.
I'd totally rock the 16" wheels if they fit. Cheaper tires. But sadly, 17" wheels are the minimum size that fits.
17s hover around that same price as 16s. The 8nly reason I know this is I bought a dually and it needed rear tires so I went looking.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,647
Likes: 891
From: north of Minneapolis, MN
If you're up for it, the coil spring axle is a sweet. There's a fair bit of work involved beyond getting it mounted though. Brake lines, steering connection, drag link to pitman arm.
I put a 2007 coil under my 2001, I also upgraded the steering gear to a 2015 model (that was time consuming), but it turns like a new truck and with one finger on the wheel. Totally worth it in my opinion.
I put a 2007 coil under my 2001, I also upgraded the steering gear to a 2015 model (that was time consuming), but it turns like a new truck and with one finger on the wheel. Totally worth it in my opinion.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 217
If you're up for it, the coil spring axle is a sweet. There's a fair bit of work involved beyond getting it mounted though. Brake lines, steering connection, drag link to pitman arm.
I put a 2007 coil under my 2001, I also upgraded the steering gear to a 2015 model (that was time consuming), but it turns like a new truck and with one finger on the wheel. Totally worth it in my opinion.
I put a 2007 coil under my 2001, I also upgraded the steering gear to a 2015 model (that was time consuming), but it turns like a new truck and with one finger on the wheel. Totally worth it in my opinion.
i had a guy at work do a complete swap but he had the complete donor truck.
when my axles needed rebuilding I looked at swapping. It was gonna cost me way more than rebuilding what I have. I know it rides better which was my main reason to swap. It was a long distance truck so I wanted the better coil ride. . When I drove my buddy’s I didn’t notice a huge improvement in steering radius but I didn’t do any tight turns where I would notice. The ride was great though.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 132
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the coil spring axles out here are insanely expensive. Considering you need to do both axles or find a front axle with identical rear axle abduction rear spacers it can be cost prohibitive. A axle out here runs 12-1500 (and it needs a rebuilt) for a front one and about the same for a rear. So its 3k for a set before you even get into the suspension parts or rebuilding ut. Granted the rebuild cost is not a huge factor if your current axle needs to be rebuilt too.
i had a guy at work do a complete swap but he had the complete donor truck.
when my axles needed rebuilding I looked at swapping. It was gonna cost me way more than rebuilding what I have. I know it rides better which was my main reason to swap. It was a long distance truck so I wanted the better coil ride. . When I drove my buddy’s I didn’t notice a huge improvement in steering radius but I didn’t do any tight turns where I would notice. The ride was great though.
i had a guy at work do a complete swap but he had the complete donor truck.
when my axles needed rebuilding I looked at swapping. It was gonna cost me way more than rebuilding what I have. I know it rides better which was my main reason to swap. It was a long distance truck so I wanted the better coil ride. . When I drove my buddy’s I didn’t notice a huge improvement in steering radius but I didn’t do any tight turns where I would notice. The ride was great though.
Here in the northwest coil sprung Superduty front axles sell for $500 to $1000 depending on time of year.
My BIL just bought a complete 2010 ZF6 F350 4x4 with 70k and a scattered 6.4 for $2500.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 217
The ride is no different whatsoever. Leafs ride same as coils if they are sized properly for the truck. I have zero complaints about the leafs themselves. Its just the matter of how Ford decided to place them so far outboard on the Superduties which dramatically effects how tight you can steer.
Here in the northwest coil sprung Superduty front axles sell for $500 to $1000 depending on time of year.
My BIL just bought a complete 2010 ZF6 F350 4x4 with 70k and a scattered 6.4 for $2500.
Here in the northwest coil sprung Superduty front axles sell for $500 to $1000 depending on time of year.
My BIL just bought a complete 2010 ZF6 F350 4x4 with 70k and a scattered 6.4 for $2500.
my buddy’s truck rode a lot smoother than mine. Maybe it was the different rate or my work out sprigs. I switched to a set of Deaver V code spec front sprigs and the ride seemed to be a bit better but it was new vs 18 year old sprigs.
if yiu can get a complete truck like your BIL you can not only get the axles and parts yiu can part the rest of the truck and make more than yiu ever got into it. I parted out a 2003 crew cab v10 and made aboit 9500. I couldn’t sell the truck for half that if I tried. The motor was trashed.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 601
Likes: 86
From: Colorado Springs, CO
The '05 to '07 coil spring trucks are an easier conversion than the '08+ trucks. Mostly due to coil bucket fitment on the '99 to '04 frames. That and the VSS situation is different on the '08+ rear axles. The sweet spot is the '05 to '07 units. A complete donor truck is the only way to go. That's what I ended up doing.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,647
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From: north of Minneapolis, MN
I sourced a 2007 coil assembly (minus the spring buckets) for $500. I did put 4:10's in it and replaced the BJ's and axle u-joints. Then I found a 2008 rear with 4:10's limited slip and only 35 miles for $600. I did run in to an issue with the shock mounts on the axle being different than my 2001 frame.
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