i want to know if i can put 2500 axles on my 97 1500 sport w/out major modification.

 

ok first...

give us some info bout ur truck either in ur sig or just post it

otherwise ur gonna hear it from zman lol

and if ur gonna do the axles why not do the suspension too?

 

well i tried adding a signature but it wouldnt save. my truck is a 1997 1500 sport, extended cab, 360 magnum, automatic, 3.55 gears. as for the suspension i plan to a a couple inches of lift plus the axles from a 2500 if its possible without having to cut up my truck.

 

You forgot the most important piece of this equation.. is it 4 wheel drive already?

Can it be done? Sure. Can you keep the stock 1/2 ton style suspenions, Sure. Can you convert it to 3/4 ton suspension at the same time, Sure.

All options require some minor to moderate fab work. You can definitely do it without making any visual changes to your truck (cutting it up as you say). At a minimum you need to be able to do some minor fab work or have someone who does. Its not going to be bolt off bolt on.

I havent done an axle swap on these trucks, but I have on other vehicles, mostly Jeeps. The main things you need to address are (obviously) Suspension linkage and placement taking into account driveline and steering angles (if the front control arms don't line up), brakes (may need to upgrade the hydraulics, may not), connecting it to the driveline (may be albe to get a conversion u-joint to mate your current shafts to the yokes set up for a larger U-joints I assume the 3/4 tons use).

It should be easier since you're going, I assume, from the same model 3/4 ton to the same model 1/2 ton.

 

Yep, you sure can. It's nearly a bolt on deal as long as you get axles from a 2nd gen 3/4 ton. There will be some differences though (like rear leaf spring pads are 3" wide on 3/4-1 tons vs 2.5" on half tons) but nothing too major. You will have to modify the drive shafts for them to work (or possibly get a conversion u-joint if the shafts are the correct length).

But one thing is for sure, make sure you are getting a Dana 60 front and 60/70 rear. Although most 3/4 tons are, there were a few light duty models with an 8 lug Dana 44.

 

yes you can! Cause Mine is like that!

 

well darn, I wish I would have done that when I blew out my rear axel now! haha

 

got any pics?

 

thanks for the info every body.

 

Hoping everyone can help with a project of mine because I am stuck. I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD with a 5.9L automatic. The rear end was going out so I proceeded to do that 2500 axle swap. On the rear is now a Dana 70 I believe was a 96 or 97 Dodge 2500 4WD with a Cummins. Did not really have any issues in the rear, grinded down the perches to use the stock leaf springs but added some camper leaf springs to it for a stack of seven. Driveshaft was cut and a 1410 yoke was added and balanced. Now the front has been quite a pain. Everything is bolted up, with a 3 inch coil spacer, cummins springs, new wheel bearings, rotors, calipers and pads. Bought rough country shocks for a 5in lift all around. The problem I am having is with the front stabilizer or damper. The one that came original on the truck is still bolted on the front Dana 44. The one on this Dana 60 seems from pics on the net is it bolts to a frame bracket on the passenger side. I have called a couple places trying to find that bracket so that I might have it welded on to my truck. If anyone has any ideas or info for me so that I can finish it I would be extremely grateful. I just started the account so try to PM or I hope that it notifies me to anyone's response on the forum.