Dana 35 straight axle

[swynx]

Was just in the under construction section. A guy in there turned his Dana 35 ttb into a straight axle.

This intrigues me. What is all involved? Positive? Negatives?

 

[swynx]

From what I've gathered. You just box and truss it in and eliminate the swing arms.

If one was to do this would it help with the Dana 35 ttb problem area of wheel bearings and ball joints needing to be replaced so often?

I found a few pretty cool threads on this. Even one here on the site.

 

[legoms013]

From what I've gathered. You just box and truss it in and eliminate the swing arms. You have to add a track bar? I thought the radius arms took care of that.

Essentially yes, but much easier to say on paper than to actually do it.

If one was to do this would it help with the Dana 35 ttb problem area of wheel bearings and ball joints needing to be replaced so often?

Nope have to have a track bar now. And nope again, the problem of the narrowly spaced wheel bearings are still a problem. Balljoints arent usually an issue with either setup.

 

[4x4junkie]

This intrigues me. What is all involved? Positive? Negatives?

Positives? (thinking... ... ... still thinking ... hmmm... )

Negatives?
not done right, the welds can crack and the axle break apart and you go flying into a ravine or somebody else on the road...
It looks like ass
Solves no issues whatsoever that cannot be solved through other (safer) means



D35 wheel bearings are spaced narrower than say, a D44's, but in 20 years never once have I had any issue with them relating to this.
The use of cheap or "value'-orientated bearings is what usually leads to issues on these axles (that or overtightening the preload on them).

Same goes for ball joints. Use Raybestos "Professional Grade" joints and you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[legoms013]

Positives? (thinking... ... ... still thinking ... hmmm... )

Negatives?
not done right, the welds can crack and the axle break apart and you go flying into a ravine or somebody else on the road...
It looks like ass
Solves no issues whatsoever that cannot be solved through other (safer) means



D35 wheel bearings are spaced narrower than say, a D44's, but in 20 years never once have I had any issue with them relating to this.
The use of cheap or "value'-orientated bearings is what usually leads to issues on these axles (that or overtightening the preload on them).

Same goes for ball joints. Use Raybestos "Professional Grade" joints and you shouldn't have any issues.

I never really had a problem with the bearings or balljoints either, that wasn't my fault in some way. Use of quality parts makes a huge difference. It's too bad the D35 has the stereotypes that it does cuz it was always a good axle when I ran it.

 

[swynx]

I never really had a problem with the bearings or balljoints either, that wasn't my fault in some way. Use of quality parts makes a huge difference. It's too bad the D35 has the stereotypes that it does cuz it was always a good axle when I ran it.

Only reason I stereo typed tthe ball joints and wheel bearings is because I've heard alotofgossip about it eating the 2 with big tires. And some say its due to the lever action of the arms. When I redid my wheel bearings I couldnt touch the hub it was so hot.
After playing with my original and new bearings I realized they are just low on grease and had no more play than the new ones. I put them back in and have since had no problems. I bought rays bestows ball joints and wheel bearings. With greasable fittings.

IF prints were drawn up and a ttb was converted to sas professionally (I don't weld) Idk if there would be much travel gain. In my case I'm looking for down travel and not up travel. And you can get plenty of down travel from the ttb.

Some day it might be something ill put time/money into as the 35 is plenty strong for me but until I need more down travel ill stick with ttb. I myself thought it was a cool idea just likenathans 1 ton ttb. Maybe I'm to much a fan of the ttb.

 

[koda6966]

 

[swynx]

In all seriousness if your gonna go there might as well go all the way.

If you were to already have say a built ttb (locker gears Dana 44 outers) and had a custom shaft made to eliminate the extra u joint how much stronger would it be? Who makes custom shafts and for how much?

 

[swynx]

Contacted branikmotorsports motorsports. For custom axle shafts made out of 4340 chromoly it'll be 225 per side.