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Dana 44 Solid Axle Swap. Tons of pics. Build thread

  #21  
Old 10-17-2011, 01:52 PM
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Old 06-05-2012, 12:29 AM
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Default Inspired me to do it to my Dakota

I'm a big fan of this build. I hate the IFS it has on it. Thanks for all the info.
 
  #23  
Old 06-05-2012, 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Dakmaxx1218
I'm a big fan of this build. I hate the IFS it has on it. Thanks for all the info.
Thanks. I'm glad I could help.

IFS is not bad at all. I would prefer IFS if it was all HD parts due to the flex and higher ground clearance. Heck just look at the Humvee, they have IFS and IRS IIRC.

What is bad is how cheep the manufactures get and start putting smaller/weaker parts on them. Like the small 7.25in front ring and pinion that was the weak point that I killed several times. Never busted an axle shaft or CV half shaft or anything else besides the ring and pinion, even with hard use and 33in tires and a 5.9 V8 and hard trails.
 
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Old 08-29-2012, 01:32 AM
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Ok you're right email was a bad idea. Your message also went to spam. Any I have my rear end done getting ready to order mounts for the front. Why did you decide to do the shackles on the rear of the springs? A suspension shop here says its better with them on the front, then the front axle doesn't pull away from the front driveline.
 
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Old 08-29-2012, 02:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Dakmaxx1218
Ok you're right email was a bad idea. Your message also went to spam. Any I have my rear end done getting ready to order mounts for the front. Why did you decide to do the shackles on the rear of the springs? A suspension shop here says its better with them on the front, then the front axle doesn't pull away from the front driveline.
The shackle would work great on the front of the axle especially to level out the springs in my situation, but not for what I put it through.

Most factory front leaf springs are setup in the front, which is fine for everyday driving.
But when offroading and your going forward once you hit an bump or a rock the front axle tries to move forward when the momentum is pushing it rearward. That can cause binding and breakage.

The best solution is to mount the shackle on the rear of the spring so when your going forward and you hit a bump or rock the axle moves with the momentum rearward. Yes the driveshaft does need play in order for this setup but that is not a hassle if your already getting a new or modifying your driveshaft.

In fact it is one of the first modifications most Jeeps do with front leaf springs, along with a SOA swap.

Now to think of it the Jeep Grand Wagoneer I got the axle from, I believe it has the shackles on the rear anyways.
 
  #26  
Old 08-30-2012, 09:48 PM
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Wow that's very impressive ur truck looks like mine but about a thousand times better lol what kind of money did u spend to do all of this cause I'm interested and may do this to my 95 Dakota
 
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Old 08-31-2012, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Vinny- collins
Wow that's very impressive ur truck looks like mine but about a thousand times better lol what kind of money did u spend to do all of this cause I'm interested and may do this to my 95 Dakota
Thanks. All together this swap maybe costed $2,000, with all the work done by myself with an mobile welder to weld on the frame work once I was ready for it.

It took me 6 months to complete due to over estimating the time and money. So it took a while to build up the funds once I passed what I have saved. And with only working on it a few hours a week after the first few weeks.
 
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Old 08-19-2013, 05:35 PM
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Default Almost Done

 
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Old 08-21-2013, 06:57 PM
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Looks good Dakmaxx1218. Start a new thread with tons of details and pictures of your swap.
 
  #30  
Old 08-21-2013, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Crazy4x4RT
Looks good Dakmaxx1218. Start a new thread with tons of details and pictures of your swap.
What he said. Looking forward to seeing more.
 

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