ok so i went to change my ball joints only to realize that my front drivers side axle is busted off at the u-joint. called the local parts store and they cant get them right now for some reason. not te mention they wanted 470 bucks if they could. so i hit up craigslist thinking **** it ill kill 2 birds with 1 stone cause the previous owner welded the front diff i figured i would see if i could find someone parting out a 4x4 and get the whole front axle from them. well i found 1 about an hour and a half away for 150 bucks. my question/s is will a 96 4x4 front axle fit under a 94 4x4 frame? i dont see why not but figured i would ask the pros here. as far as i can tell it should go right back where the old one came out with no type of modification. i have a 1500 and the new/used axle is also a 1500. please let me know if im going to run into any issues here as im going to go pick up the axle tomorrow or thursday. thank you!

 

I have heard rumors of some changes in the axles from year to year, but, I am unable to come up with any solid information. I would think, worst case, you could at the very least score the parts you need from the new axle, to repair your current one.....

I think.

 

from my understanding as long as it is a 94-97 it *should* work. 98 and later has a different style torsion bar and wont mount up the same. correct me if im wrong, please, lol

 

Since 2nd gen dodges don't use torsion bars you would be wrong.

You are right that the '96 axle should work though.

Make sure that the new front axle is the same gear ratio.

 

If its the same gear ratio itll work....at least the inards will lol

 

ok i am wrong on the torsion bar, but there is something that i cannot name that mounts from axle to truck differently on newer axles.

is it going to be a big deal if the gear ratio is not the same as my old one?
how so if it is, sorry for sounding like an idiot but i cant get it in my head how the ratio being different would make a difference other than maybe mpg? please enlighten me!

 

Yes! Very big deal. Ratio must be the same in the front axle as it is in the rear axle. My mind isn't being very creative at the moment but if you lay a 12 ounce pop can on it's side and a 2 liter bottle on it's side and roll them, the 2 liter bottle is going to make less revolutions to get to it's final destination than the 12 ounce pop can. Kind of the same concept with the different ratio's One axle is going to spin slower than the other and won't keep up.

 

Different ratios cause "driveline wind-up". Basically front driveshaft turning at a different rate than the rear driveshaft, and something has to give.

If you engage 4x4 on a tractionable surface (like dry pavement, or even a dry hard packed road) you will likely be looking for axle parts again.

For the same reason all tires must be the exact same size, even the spare (just in case!).

Good luck!

 

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great! how do i go about figuring this out? is there an easy way for me to find out what the ratio is of the diff in the axle im looking at? something i can explain on the phone so i dont have to make a pointless 2 hr drive? appreciate it!