advantage of going to a full floating axle (2 Viewers)

[alberta mac]

I've read people have changed their axle out and put in a full floating axle !

What are the advantages and why someone would make this change ???

 

[3_puppies]

if you break an axle shaft the wheel stays in place.

 

[69LC]

On a semi float, the axle shaft drives the wheel and supports the vehicle weight on one bearing.

With the full float there is a hub with two tapered bearings to carry the load. The axle shaft only drives, and as 3_puppies said if you break a shaft at least the wheel will still roll.

 

[billmc]

^This is the main benefit these days. The real reason they were sold that way was for inceased load capacity in case you want to stick something really heavy on the back like a ZPU-2.

 

[SuperDuperCruizer]

The biggest thing I don’t like about the FF is the spindle is part of the axle housing. It’s not removable/replaceable like the spindles on the front axle.

That being said, I’d still rather have a FF over a SF.

I’m not recommending to do this; however, to give you an idea of how the components function independently; You could remove the axle shafts, third member & rear drive shaft if you wanted to drive around in front wheel drive a bit.

 

[bikersmurf]

The downside is the six retaining bolts sometimes loosen off and then break... especially if you don't use a paper gasket. Don't ask me how I know

The major benifit is axles and third can easily pulled without the use of a jack... and the vehicle driven without them also.

 

[69LC]

Someday, my narrowed and shaved 14B will be under my truck and it will be brutish strong to handle a turboed LS 6.0...

 

[brian]

The downside is the six retaining bolts sometimes loosen off and then break... especially if you don't use a paper gasket. Don't ask me how I know

Yeah that sucks too.

 

[71-CRUISER]

I upgraded my studs to 10mm studs from a 100 series. Huge upgrade from the 8mm studs and very straight forward.

 

[alberta mac]

Thanks for the wisdom guys !

 

[White Stripe]

Cruiser sf axles are pretty tough. The weak link being the course spline pinion. A sf axle with a fine spline pinion and fresh axle shafts will hold up to pretty big tires with a locker. However after years of use offroad the components do fatigue and will break. If it's a stockish 40, a sf axle is plenty strong for many years of reliable use.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

A FF is much easier to put wheels on/ off since you can rest the wheel on the hub. Not worth the cost of a swap but it does save your back from picking up a huge tire and trying to line it up on the studs. It’s like a bonus to all the points others have already stated.

 

[bigtreads]

The shafts of the full floater neck down just before the bearing surface unlike the sf shafts. So when it comes to straight HP handling the sf is actually a bit tougher. Weight carrying obviously the full float wins.

 

[POPO AGIE]

The SF axle shafts also had different diameters along the shaft length also. I have converted an FJ60 to FF with custom axle shafts and drive flanges.