Changing Dana 28 to Dana 35 question ?

[raggedyann]

Changing Dana 28 to Dana 35 , my vehicle is a 1987 STX , Donor is a 1990 with the 35
I have everything bolted up and question is Will I need to use the 35 tie rods, draglinks etc.. or will my 28 stuff work ??
what about the pitman arm on steering box ? will it need changed also ?

 

[4x4junkie]

You need the D35 draglink & tierod (longer), however the pitman arm is the same.

 

[adsm08]

I am aware of two trucks with D35 front axles that are using 28 steering stuff. My old shop foreman converted his 2wd 89 to a 4x4 with a 35 and used all his original links.

My own truck is a mish-mash of 28 and 35 steering links, and I am using the D28 drag link because I the joint was spinning and I couldn't get it unbolted from the pitman arm. I even have the one tie rod bottomed out and the toe just barely in on that side.

 

[4x4junkie]

It was a long time ago, but I distinctly remember the D28 linkage being too short (it would work, but there was barely any thread engagement on the adjustment collars, the driverside one in particular).

 

[raggedyann]

I just used the 35 assembly. the 28 dropped right in but I never noticed wheel alignment.
I removed the rear differential from the 90 since my pinion seals leaking and figuring since the 90 front end was a 35, the rear would be 8.8 but its same as my 87. standard 7.5 I think

 

[adsm08]

It was a long time ago, but I distinctly remember the D28 linkage being too short (it would work, but there was barely any thread engagement on the adjustment collars, the driverside one in particular).

I have seen that posted and I call BS. I am using a D-28 drag link, as I said I could not get it out of the pitman arm so I just went with it. IIRC I am using the 35 ends, I have normal, proper thread engagement on the driver's side, and on the passenger side I need the low end of my feel gauges to tell you how much space there is between the drag link and the rod end.

If I took it all apart and centered everything up a little better before I started the alignment I could probably get things a little more even, but I had the dash out right before I did the axle and got some stuff put together a little weird. I had to center stuff, align it, then flip the steering wheel over so it wasn't upside down.