Dana 35 axle shaft clearance issue.

[tw205]

I swapped the Dane 28 for the 35 in my 85 BII. It has a skyjacker 6”suspension lift. Was in build process so haven't driven it till now. Been testing all the new components and have run into an issue. Left axle beam pivot bolt is contacting right side axle shaft. Right side axle shaft is close but not touching the right side axle beam. I can cut the bolt to make clearance but I’m unsure if something is off. Any of y’all with a 35 in your rig have the same clearance.

 

[Shran]

Wut in tarnation...

Is your passenger side beam touching the drop bracket??? Something is way out of whack there.

 

[don4331]

Should the bolt be in from the back?

Bolt head being thinner than nut + exposed threads.​

​

And Agree with @Shran something's out of whack as parts are way too close together.

 

[Curious Hound]

Should the bolt be in from the back?

Bolt head being thinner than nut + exposed threads.​

​

And Agree with @Shran something's out of whack as parts are way too close together.

That would still be too close. Something is very wrong here.

Need more pictures of lots of different angles. Both sides.

 

[tw205]

Everything’s new aside from the truck. I got the Dana 35 off a 90 BII. I’ve only motored around the block a few times.

 

[Curious Hound]

What radius arms are you using? How are they mounted at the frame end? How does all that look?

The radius arms can push or pull the outer ends of the axle beams.

 

[tw205]

I’ve been back there looking around. The lift was bought in pieces. The lift brackets in front are shyjacker class II. I used drop brackets for the radius arms as well. I’m wondering if Extended radius arms would fix my issue.

 

[Shran]

Oh I see, it was an optical illusion in the first pic but still those are way too close together.

I believe one fix could be to remove your radius arm drop brackets and drill new holes for them through the frame but about 1/2-1" further back. That would pull the beams back a little but your axle shaft is also really close to the "window" in the beam... you could cut some of that out for clearance to fix that.

 

[tw205]

If I cut the bolt immediately after it protrudes from the nut I get my clearance there. As far as the axle shaft , it’s close but make no contact. I just don’t understand how this could be. Or is it how it’s supposed to be with what I have assemble. IDK.

 

[tw205]

With the lift changing the caster and still have 0 degree ball joint sleeves, could this make the axle closer to that housing opening?

 

[tw205]

I’m fixin to find the tech support number at Skyjacker. I am at a loss, and that’s sayin sumpin

 

[Curious Hound]

I wonder if the radius arm drop brackets could be on backwards. It's hard to see the exact geometry of them. It looks like they push the radius arms forward instead of dropping them straight down. It wouldn't take much to get the clearance you should have.

Here is a picture of my setup. D35 axle with Skyjacker 6" lift. You can see I have about 1.25 -1 5" clearance between the bolt head and the axle shaft. I stuck my thumb in there to give an idea of scale. I have the extended radius arms instead of radius arm drop brackets.

 

[tw205]

I wonder if the radius arm drop brackets could be on backwards. It's hard to see the exact geometry of them. It looks like they push the radius arms forward instead of dropping them straight down. It wouldn't take much to get the clearance you should have.

Here is a picture of my setup. D35 axle with Skyjacker 6" lift. You can see I have about 1.25 -1 5" clearance between the bolt head and the axle shaft. I stuck my thumb in there to give an idea of scale. I have the extended radius arms instead of radius arm drop brackets.

View attachment 99737

The radius arm drop brackets have corners that wrap around. You really can’t put them on backward.
Thanks for the picture. Exactly what I was hoping to see. After climbing all under there the better part of my day, I think my axle housing may be bent. Pulled out not pushed under. I can’t really see a bend but I don’t have another to compare. The UJoint on the axle shaft is very close to the housing like it would be if say a chain hooked to the axle to pull someone out or be pulled out and sent it. We all know people like that. Anyway. If y’all got any other thoughts I’m happy to hear em. I’m gonna maybe pickup another 35. IDK. I’ve gone over the entire thing. That’s all I can come with.
It’s the right side axle shaft that is out of bounds.

Not the left side mount. The axle shaft attaches at the spindle and the u joint at the intermediate shaft. That u joint is close to the housing. The spindle is centered in the knuckle. I think it’s bent like a boomerang forcing the inner shaft to be closer to the housing.

 

[bobbywalter]

bracket could be bad or frame is not right.

you can put the passenger side bracket on the wrong side of the k member with certain brackets.

 

[bobbywalter]

show us the passenger side bracket mounting and style