Diamond Axle, Front Axle Installed (1 Viewer)

[PKP80]

My 80 series journey like most is a long and expensive one, but after bending my front factory axle in Pismo I finally got a new Diamond Axle housing under her thanks to the very talented and professional team @kibbetech.

My rig has seen its far share of mods, but as she sits now, here are the essentials;
- Triangulated 4 link rear
- Custom Gas tank
- 3-link front on a now Diamond axle
- Front Suspension 14" Fox 2.5 DSC Coilovers
- Rear Suspension 16" Fox 2.5 DSC Coilovers
- Full interior Cage with Racing seats and harness
- Bumpers/Sliders Custom
- Dual Battery relocation to the rear
- 40" rubber on TG Beadlocks

The process of recreating the tabs, mounts, etc. on the new Diamond axle was not easy, but these guys made it look super straight forward. Cycled everything to make sure bumpstops were engaging properly and all the downward and upward travel was being utilized. She is getting a few more changes until she comes home and hopefully hits the trail again after a dry spell of 6 years due to wife and kid excuses.

Next will be a TURBO via @NLXTACY , but of course I'm going to have to mess with that too .

 

[nukegoat]

Hydro assist reacting on the frame? Why?

Also if swapping axles, why not something beefier?

 

[scottryana]

Kibbetech builds some pretty sweet trucks, nice work

 

[maxamillion2345]

Ive seen hydro assist to the drag link before but its a mistake imo. I think you’ll have problems.

Nice setup though.

 

[Tapage]

Come on .. we need more pics of the brackets and links .. ( from the rear too ..! ) those welds looks really neat .. later we will need flex pics too .. ( well at least me about the pics )

 

[PKP80]

Ive seen hydro assist to the drag link before but its a mistake imo. I think you’ll have problems.

Nice setup though.

I've been running Hydro on my Drag link for years, I prefer the location.

 

[PKP80]

Hydro assist reacting on the frame? Why?

Also if swapping axles, why not something beefier?

Nuke, I like the hydro setup as it sits and having run it the more traditional way.

I played with the question of axles my options were to go the Diamond round ($1,000) or a full front and rear upgrade full width which would probably bring me to (~$12-16,000). I think new axles will be justified once the truck has over 500hp and an Atlas X case. In the mean time I miss my rig and want to get it on the road/trail.

 

[PKP80]

Come on .. we need more pics of the brackets and links .. ( from the rear too ..! ) those welds looks really neat .. later we will need flex pics too .. ( well at least me about the pics )

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Here are a few build pics. The axle finish welded and a pass through we made for the exhaust through the frame.

 

[Heckraiser]

Neato

 

[jcardona1]

Stoked to see this thing back on the road! I follow those guys on IG, Kibbetech does some amazing work.

Are you changing the steering around or is it just not yet connected? I see high-steer arms but also the lower arms. Slee setup?

 

[maxamillion2345]

I've been running Hydro on my Drag link for years, I prefer the location.

I’ve just seen it cause problems for other people and of course you’re putting all steering force on one knuckle. If you’re happy with it though thats great.

Nice build though, really. Look forward to seeing the rear.

 

[White Stripe]

Ive seen hydro assist to the drag link before but its a mistake imo. I think you’ll have problems.

Nice setup though.

What problems would their be having it on the drag link? It keeps the ram further away from the rocks.

 

[maxamillion2345]

What problems would their be having it on the drag link? It keeps the ram further away from the rocks.

Weird angles and behavior through suspension range of motion. Breaking ball joints on the drag link. Pushes body around (to some extent through deflection of stuff)instead of tires when its bound up vs being directly on the axle and inline. And of course you’re more likely to break a knucle vs splitting the load between both. I’m not saying it can’t be done or that it doesn’t work... but why not put it on the tie rod?

As far as ram vs rocks. Most sit above or behind tie rod. Or build a skid. Mine sits a little above and behind my tie rod. I’d have to try hard to get into it and I’d wreck my tie rod anyway. But its 2” .250 dom

I’m not trying to rain on his parade, just some helpful thoughts...

 

[-Spike-]

What problems would their be having it on the drag link? It keeps the ram further away from the rocks.

You're putting all the force through the drag link to the passenger tire, then through the relay rod to the driver's side. With the ram on the relay rod the force is split between the two sides and never goes through the drag link, lessening the chance of bending it. It's a more direct path

 

[White Stripe]

Ok so when the tires are bound up it would push the frame rather than the tires basically.

 

[nukegoat]

Nuke, I like the hydro setup as it sits and having run it the more traditional way.

I played with the question of axles my options were to go the Diamond round ($1,000) or a full front and rear upgrade full width which would probably bring me to (~$12-16,000). I think new axles will be justified once the truck has over 500hp and an Atlas X case. In the mean time I miss my rig and want to get it on the road/trail.

Thats fair enough - when is this atlas and 500 hp happening?

 

[nukegoat]

You're putting all the force through the drag link to the passenger tire, then through the relay rod to the driver's side. With the ram on the relay rod the force is split between the two sides and never goes through the drag link, lessening the chance of bending it. It's a more direct path

More importantly its reacting the steering linkage against the axle. Running it on the drag link is hack IMO

 

[PKP80]

Thats fair enough - when is this atlas and 500 hp happening?

the HP will come with the Turbo upgrade hopefully by winter of this year. Atlas, needs the Blackbox and a whole lot of work and I am over the truck being worked on right now.

Stoked to see this thing back on the road! I follow those guys on IG, Kibbetech does some amazing work.

Are you changing the steering around or is it just not yet connected? I see high-steer arms but also the lower arms. Slee setup?

I was running SLee's highsteer, but was able to relocate the tie rod to the rear again so it's back in the back.

 

[TachedOutOffRoad]

That thing is hot

 

[shocktower]

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Here are a few build pics. The axle finish welded and a pass through we made for the exhaust through the frame.

View attachment 1757808

View attachment 1757809

Did you also have them set caster/cut and turn the knuckles to a 4 degree ??