2WD solid axle
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2WD solid axle
I have a 1985 F350 dually with a very tired front suspension.
Is it feasable to fit leaf springs and hangers from a 4WD and fit a traditional beam axle?
If so what do y'all suggest? A chevy P30 looks a good choice but i havent had a chance to measure the spring pad spacing and track width yet.
I drove many thousands of miles back in England in an old leyland Sherpa truck, and I like the way the solid axle rode and a lack of tire wear is a bonus to.
Thanks in advance
Steve
Is it feasable to fit leaf springs and hangers from a 4WD and fit a traditional beam axle?
If so what do y'all suggest? A chevy P30 looks a good choice but i havent had a chance to measure the spring pad spacing and track width yet.
I drove many thousands of miles back in England in an old leyland Sherpa truck, and I like the way the solid axle rode and a lack of tire wear is a bonus to.
Thanks in advance
Steve
Junior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
you would need more than that. you would need the other parts of the 4x4 set up transfercase driveshafts. a front mount rear with the SAME gears as the rear. brakes if they are different. you would be beter off buying a wreck and swaping parts. but still lots of work
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
I think he wants to keep his rig 2wd, which is fine. I wonder if you couldn't use a solid I-Beam type axle from a motorhome or chassis-cab truck. A buddy of mine converted his 85 F350 2wd to 4wd... he went from the Twin I Beam to a straight axle Dana 60. It can be done I can't remember the exact reference points he used but the leaf spring mounting brackets can be had from any 80-96 F250 or F350 4wd. Then you could use stock Ford 4x4 front leaf spring and then hang the straght axle. I would think it's very feasable, you will have figure out what to run for steering linkage and run some different brake lines.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replys
I will have to work out a lot of details I know.
I will continue to search on the net for the various dimensions, center bolt spacing for the D60 should be around somewhere so I will have a start at finding a 2 WD beam axle with similar spring pad spacing.
Caster and ride height will be a crap shoot, but easly fixed with shims and shackles.
The existing setup has the steering gear in front of the axle and most 2WD solid beams have it out of the way at the back, but swaping stub axle assy's from left to right from the kingpin should sort that with just a drag link to consider as the axle SHOULD come with the track rod assy.
Please any more ideas on a 2WD axle, the net is full of 4WD stuff but 2WD is very hard to find
Thanks all
Steve
Please excuse my use of the automotive terms if I have them wrong as a lot of names are different where I am from in England.
I will have to work out a lot of details I know.
I will continue to search on the net for the various dimensions, center bolt spacing for the D60 should be around somewhere so I will have a start at finding a 2 WD beam axle with similar spring pad spacing.
Caster and ride height will be a crap shoot, but easly fixed with shims and shackles.
The existing setup has the steering gear in front of the axle and most 2WD solid beams have it out of the way at the back, but swaping stub axle assy's from left to right from the kingpin should sort that with just a drag link to consider as the axle SHOULD come with the track rod assy.
Please any more ideas on a 2WD axle, the net is full of 4WD stuff but 2WD is very hard to find
Thanks all
Steve
Please excuse my use of the automotive terms if I have them wrong as a lot of names are different where I am from in England.
