Converting to straight front axle

[1nfinity]

I was planning on changing the front axle to a straight axle, and was wondering if anyone has advice for doing so. I have an '85 XLT. I was planning on using a Dana 44 or so, but am not sure how to go about selecting an axle. Are there any other body types that use the same size axle??

Thanks for any help,

1nfinity

 

[ocalabronco]

try this out. if you go up to the top of this page, you'll see a function button called SEARCH. i bet if you type in SAS, you'll pull up some really good info. what were your plans for the rig? before you start going crazy on the swap, you need to ask yourself if you really need the solid axle, or if you want to do it because it looks cool. try that search and those questions, and then come back and i'll give you all the info i can muster

edit: ***** the search function, it sucks. not to detract from broncozone.com, but go over to FULLSIZEBRONCO.COM and go to the forum. there is a dedicated SAS (solid axle swap) forum that you can read to your heart's content. i highly suggest searching SAS over there, and also reading all of the stickies at the top of the forum page. good luck

 

[BLADE262US]

One thing with the SAS is that you will have to cut some of the crossmember away in order for the diff housing to clear unless you go with a really big lift . Im not to hot on the idea of cutting the frame anywhere unless it cant be helped . This is not a job for a beginer and it will be quite expensive to have a garage do it and most probably woundnt due to liability . I dont know how good your fab skills are but if you feel you are capable the first thing you need to find is a dana 44 axle out of a 78 or 79 bronco or F150 this will be the easiest as it already sets on coil springs and radius arms so it cuts down on the fab time if your set on a dana 60 those were set on leaf springs so theres 2 ways to do this either you take all the coil spring stuff off the front of your truck and hang leaf springs or you I think can buy the coil spring pads and radius arm mounts for the C bushings and weld them to the dana 60 so that it uses coil springs and radius arms you will also need to figure somethingout for the track bar . So I guess if your capable or have a big wallet and its how you want your truck go for it just do alot of reading on the subject so you dont jump in both feet and drown . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[JrodssTexas]

I was also wondering how you can fabricate brackets for the front springs? If you dont have a welder?If you can just take them off of a f-350 or what? But I was wanting to have them made so I can make a custom MONSTER.

B)

 

[BLADE262US]

You cant fabricate anything like that without a welder its a must and you could take the brackets off an F350 but they would have to be cut off that axle and welded on your new axle and an F350 probably has a dana 60 anyway so youd want to use that axle if you have it . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[ocalabronco]

One thing with the SAS is that you will have to cut some of the crossmember away in order for the diff housing to clear unless you go with a really big lift .

not so much. you can run 6" of lift and not need to clearance the xmember. its is a good idea to do so, however, so you dont slam the track bar into it on a jump or whatnot. you dont need to remove the entire thing, i only removed half of the front lip on mine and i didnt even need to.

  you feel you are capable the first thing you need to find is a dana 44 axle out of a 78 or 79 bronco or F150 this will be the easiest as it already sets on coil springs and radius arms

thats all he really needs to know. if you know your truck, have the allowance for a week or two of downtime, its not all that bad. even if you dont go with the dana 60 route with leafes, its not THAT challenging. moreso just techinical

just do alot of reading on the subject

best advice right there

 

[ocalabronco]

I was also wondering how you can fabricate brackets for the front springs?  If you dont have a welder?If you can just take them off of a f-350 or what?  But I  was wanting to have them made so I can make a custom MONSTER.B)

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go to a welding/fabrication shop and have them build on for you. or have a mobile welder come to you and weld stuff up. thats what i've done, though i am running coils

 

[JrodssTexas]

go to a welding/fabrication shop and have them build on for you.  or have a mobile welder come to you and weld stuff up. thats what i've done, though i am running coils

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Thanx for the info