Solid Axle Swap
Section Moderator
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 9
From: Concord, CA
You can use pretty much any axles you want, as long as they're reasonably close in width and the diff is on the correct side. The Wagoneer axles are a good choice because they don't have an axle disconnect, like a lot of Dodges, or any other cast parts of the axle tube (like some Fords that came with radius arms). You can make almost anything work, but some will take a lot more work.
Is there some reason you don't want to use the Waggy axles? It's not like they're hard to find, or especially expensive.
Is there some reason you don't want to use the Waggy axles? It's not like they're hard to find, or especially expensive.
Section Moderator
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 9
From: Concord, CA
I got my front axle from a Jeep-only wrecking yard and had it shipped to me (yes, I probably paid too much). My rear axle is out of a 3/4 ton Chevy and I found it on craigslist for 100 bucks. It's too bad all the Chevy front axles have the diff on the wrong side, because they're a dime a dozen.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
I got my front axle from a Jeep-only wrecking yard and had it shipped to me (yes, I probably paid too much). My rear axle is out of a 3/4 ton Chevy and I found it on craigslist for 100 bucks. It's too bad all the Chevy front axles have the diff on the wrong side, because they're a dime a dozen.
Section Moderator
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 9
From: Concord, CA
My rear axle uses different lug nuts, but it's the same bolt pattern.
Take a look at whatever axle you're thinking about using. Is the diff on the driver's side? Does it have a ton of coil spring or 4-link brackets you would need to cut off? Does it have a central axle disconnect? Is it an appropriate width? If all those things check out, it will probably work.
Do you know what kind of suspension you want to use? Four link with coilovers would be the best (and most complicated, most expensive, and easiest to screw up). The simplest would be a radius arm front end from a Ford, keeping the stock radius arms and coil springs. Leaf springs would fall somewhere in between. Obviously, your choice of suspension will have some bearing on which axle you choose.
With "custom" stuff like a SAS, you can either do it just like somebody else did it, or do a bunch of your own research. Spending some time with a tape measure should tell you most of what you need to know.
Take a look at whatever axle you're thinking about using. Is the diff on the driver's side? Does it have a ton of coil spring or 4-link brackets you would need to cut off? Does it have a central axle disconnect? Is it an appropriate width? If all those things check out, it will probably work.
Do you know what kind of suspension you want to use? Four link with coilovers would be the best (and most complicated, most expensive, and easiest to screw up). The simplest would be a radius arm front end from a Ford, keeping the stock radius arms and coil springs. Leaf springs would fall somewhere in between. Obviously, your choice of suspension will have some bearing on which axle you choose.
With "custom" stuff like a SAS, you can either do it just like somebody else did it, or do a bunch of your own research. Spending some time with a tape measure should tell you most of what you need to know.