Axle Pitfalls (1 Viewer)

[bustanutley]

It works, you just have to mount everything pretty far inboard. I think his lowers are bent inward as well.

 

[freds40]

I've seen a lot of guys are bending their lower links in to clear the steering. I'd love that kind of steering though.

 

[Sputnik40]

Like Poser said if you are going to upgrade from built yota axles (assumption) and buy junkyard 1 ton axles you are still going to be running Junkyard axles. And stock front D60s are not that strong in factory form. It takes a bunch of money to make it worth while, money better spent starting from scratch, for the front anyway. I would be looking at spidertrax housing and 50deg steering knuckles.

For the rear, a junkyard axle is fine, 14bolts rock, D60 require upgrading to big shafts, and D70s are used by crazy people that blow D60 R&P.

Personally for 40” tires if your front axle is built I would continue using it and throw an atlas in your truck and see how it holds up. My cruiser front is still holding together very well, but, I am going to be upgrading the last thing this winter, the housing

If you do get a junkyard front 60 to do a budget build, stock 35 spicer shafts are the way to go and upgrade the knuckles, they break way to easy.

I have been watching this thread for ideas and solutions to my rear axle build delimma. Similar to the above comment - my front has 30 spline longs, 6 bolt knuckles, 4x4 labs high steer, chromoly drive gears, ARB, new cryo'd 4.56 gears, drilled the hubs for 6 studs (4 large, 2 stock), etc. Just ordered the axle spacer (which should help me max out my steering without rubbing springs) - and will be installing knuckle ball gussets and some other improvements when I do that mod.

I've pretty much settled on a 14-bolt for the rear - cheap, silly strong, going to do the shave mod to the housing and ring gear, etc. and can shorten to create the offset diff needed for my Orion HD. EXCEPT - I want to stick with my 6 bolt wheels. My options have been to have the stock hubs shaved down - or find someone who makes custom hubs. Got sucked into the ruff-stuff 14 bolt spindle/hub upgrade discussion - but it becomes a snowball $$$$ when you figure you might was well order some 40 spline axles, then you need to have some side gears made for whatever carrier/locker you use, etc. etc.

I know I'm hijacking - but if anyone knows of a 6 x 5.5 FF 14 bolt solution - please let me know .

 

[bustanutley]

I was unaware Ruffstuff was going to hopfully make cruiser housings and new improved bells, badass, thanks for the link locrwln1.

 

[locrwln1]

I was unaware Ruffstuff was going to hopfully make cruiser housings and new improved bells, badass, thanks for the link locrwln1.

Glad I could help. As we say in our club, "We are here to help you spend your money."

Jack

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Glad I could help. As we say in our club, "We are here to help you spend your money."

Jack

LOL-but in reading this, I've saved some. There are 14 bolts everywhere, including one in Bakersfield that is on CL for free. I'm going to pick up the next one of these that comes up with 4.11 gearing.

The front is much harder. With the RuffStuff bits and a Currie 9in 3rd, you can spend some coins in a hurry!

I'm going to look out for a Chevy D60 and go from there.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Glad I could help. As we say in our club, "We are here to help you spend your money."

Jack

We should print that on our next round of Tee shirts.

 

[chicago]

I was looking at the 14 bolts...Christ on a BIKE those are CHEAP!
Im not quite ready to go with 40 in + tires YET, but...
Great read!

K

 

[chicago]

Here you go.

The Ruffstuff 9" Axle Housing! - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

You can build them as money allows, just setting back and collecting parts, plus he is local to you and Sean (River City) will do any build up you might need. Plus your choice of axle spline count and center section is only limited by your budget (True Hi9 cough, cough)

Jack

MAN that chick needs to EAT!
Give her a BURGER...QUICK!

 

[Mace]

Like Poser said if you are going to upgrade from built yota axles (assumption) and buy junkyard 1 ton axles you are still going to be running Junkyard axles. And stock front D60s are not that strong in factory form. It takes a bunch of money to make it worth while, money better spent starting from scratch, for the front anyway. I would be looking at spidertrax housing and 50deg steering knuckles.

Ohhh come on.. Price a Spidertrax front complete 50 deg steering axle.
D60 = 1000
Hy steer = 300
35 spline stubs = $300
Drive slugs = $200.
And whatever locker you want.
Vs 5 to 7K or more for the spidertrax??

For the rear, a junkyard axle is fine, 14bolts rock, D60 require upgrading to big shafts, and D70s are used by crazy people that blow D60 R&P.

Personally for 40” tires if your front axle is built I would continue using it and throw an atlas in your truck and see how it holds up. My cruiser front is still holding together very well, but, I am going to be upgrading the last thing this winter, the housing

Cruiser housings are not that strong. Diamond makes really nice housings. And they are not that bad priced...

If you do get a junkyard front 60 to do a budget build, stock 35 spicer shafts are the way to go and upgrade the knuckles, they break way to easy.

IMHO, unless you are playing with ford knuckles, don't upgrade till you start seeing cracks. The GM knuckles typically have stress cracks way before they fail. I may be a puss, but I have yet to break a knuckle.

And Sputnik, 40 spline shafts.. Really?? If you are gonna do that to a rear axle. Don't start with a 14 bolt. Spend the money on a completly custom axle.

 

[Sputnik40]

And Sputnik, 40 spline shafts.. Really?? If you are gonna do that to a rear axle. Don't start with a 14 bolt. Spend the money on a completly custom axle.

Damn, looks like I'm losing my sarcasm....

Just want a 6 x 5.5 solution so I don't have to run mixed wheels - that and I really don't want to buy any more Walker Evans "made in China" beadlocks but can live with what I have (yes I know my girlfriend is Chinese thank you ).

I only wish I could buy a custom axle - just the Currie 9" diff alone is scary to my pocketbook.

 

[fj40charles]

i guess it all depends on what kind of budget you're working with..........

for the front, i'd go for a gm60 or if you have some extra $s, get a high pinion housing and have it built up. you can use a ford, gm or dodge 60 as a donor for the outers or piece them together. i'm pretty sure you've seen my neighbors jeeps, he has the currie high pinion centers in them and built the rest himself. i'd be mor than happy to put you in touch with him....

as for the rear, you could go with the same centersection as the front. or you could get a d60 and weld 14bolt spindles to it for the 35 spline shafts. cheap way to get a beefy rearend.

hth

georg @ valley hybrids

Andrew,

I would look at buying the parts to build your D60 front axle. Buy a HP center section, aftermarket knuckles and C's. You'll have all new parts and custom width/configuration. I have HP D60 axles on my junk and I will still hit the driveshaft from time to time.

I'd use a GM or Dodge D60 for the 6 hole spindles and availability of parts.

Charles

 

[Mace]

(yes I know my girlfriend is Chinese thank you ).

Chinese chicks are hott...

 

[Dusty]

i believe my d60 front is darn near bombproof with drive flanges, yukons and crossover steering to protect the nuckles. (vs highsteer) Mine has help up fine with 42's and lots of weight.

i sure wish i had highpinions though

 

[freds40]

Just want a 6 x 5.5 solution so I don't have to run mixed wheels

Just rework a set of 14 bolt hubs for 6 lug. That's what I did on my FJ60.

 

[mookie]

Sputnik , what's your plan to compensate for the width difference between the 14 bolt rear and the LC front axle?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Sputnik , what's your plan to compensate for the width difference between the 14 bolt rear and the LC front axle?

Did you see Freds40's build thread? Tour de Force on what to do with a 14 bolt in this situation.

 

[OGBeno]

Does your wife know about all of this Andy?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Does your wife know about all of this Andy?

Yep-she's on board.

 

[PKP80]

HardcoreDrew, lol. How about Rockwells front and rear with some 46" rubber, lol. I would do a D60 front and D60/70 rear with all the upgraded parts and I also would not run tires under 42". If the motto is do it once and do it right I think that would be the route to take. The question I would ask is whether or not down the line once the project is complete (1-3 years), would the difference in cash spent really have mattered? From my own experience when I rebuilt the 80, the answer has been no.

If you truly have no desire for 40+ tires, I don't see why you couldn't and wouldn't go with diamond axles with 80 series chromo shafts (I believe Ben from Slee is running that axle setup with 44's). Given the light weight of the 40 (and probably some cutting that will take place) it shouldn't be an issue. You'd also have parts more easily available to you since you wheel primarily with Toy/80 peeps (on and off the trail).

I'm looking forward to the 60 on the Con this year hopefully, this 40 build soon, and hopefully one day some more suspension and love on that 80, (although I think Jeff may head that last build). I wont be at SnT this year, but at least I wont be involved if the So Cal 80 bunch decides to camp in the wrong place and then whine about their forwarned choice. Have a Metal Tech pint for me and tell Marlin to make a freakin crawlbox already! Any followup with Inchworm? Cheers