Ideas regarding axle swap/replacement

[LittleBigFoot]

Last night I bent up my 8.8" hydroplaning into a curb at 35 mph. It doesn't look too bad but the spiders were on it's way out and now the wheel mounts crooked. I han't made a good diagnosis yet cause I'm at work (but that doesn't stop me from playing around here!) What I'm getting at is:

I'm looking for a 31spline 8.8" from a sploder, but that's just not extreme enough for me!

I'm thinking of using a full size 8.8" or 9" and running spacers/pattern adaptors up front and keeping my Dana35. This got me thinking even more.

I've been considering SASing my Ranger using a Wagoneer Dana 44 that I have laying around. This is a 6 lug axle (chebby and yotas)

I might swap 6 lug Chebby full size axle in and run adaptors up front (only till I can afford to swap in the waggy 44.)


I would of course ditch my 2.5" blocks and run 2" shackles. Idears?

 

[kennykenny]

My only input is no spacers...have your wheel pass you at 75mph and you'll understand lol.

 

[mhughes165]

x2, spacers/adapters are badddddd

 

[metalmacguyver]

x3




Just put a sploder axle under it and keep throwing your fawking money at the Heep. Finish one project before you start another. I would rather have a stock truck and a built truck rather than two trucks on jackstands.......

 

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm gonna call bullshit on spacers being bad. Anything poorly installed will perform like shit.

The Ranger will see mostly street use so I'm not too worried about spacers.

A buddy of mine with a V8 4 door rubi up on 37s is running spacers all around and has never had a problem with them on high way (daily driver) use and even at Moab crawlin'.

The proper amount of torque and some lock tite is all it should really take.

 

[metalmacguyver]

In an ideal world, sure..........

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't think the stress on your front unit wheel bearings (about $200 per side to replace) is worth it when you can get an Explorer axle for cheap that will match everything else and have the same strength. I payed $100 for mine with disc brakes and springs included.

If you truck is going to mainly be on the street fullwidth axles will be nothing more than a pain for your fellow motorists as you chuck rocks at them.

 

[mhughes165]

I'm gonna call bullshit on spacers being bad. Anything poorly installed will perform like shit.

The Ranger will see mostly street use so I'm not too worried about spacers.

A buddy of mine with a V8 4 door rubi up on 37s is running spacers all around and has never had a problem with them on high way (daily driver) use and even at Moab crawlin'.

The proper amount of torque and some lock tite is all it should really take.

all it takes is hitting that one pothole just right, or that....one curb?? to lead to a VERY bad day with some spacers, granted there are some people that get lucky and they dont have a problem, but more often then not they do....theres a reason spacers are illegal for road use in every state

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

all it takes is hitting that one pothole just right, or that....one curb?? to lead to a VERY bad day with some spacers, granted there are some people that get lucky and they dont have a problem, but more often then not they do....theres a reason spacers are illegal for road use in every state

All it takes is a well placed pothole at the right speed to mess up the fine needlebearings with the stock wheel spacing and take out a wheel bearing. Ignore that (or drown out its protests with mud tires) and you will lose the wheel altogether.

Like I said before spacers or a goofy offset will only make this more likely to happen.

 

[PaleBlue90]

Last night I bent up my 8.8" hydroplaning into a curb at 35 mph. It doesn't look too bad but the spiders were on it's way out and now the wheel mounts crooked. I han't made a good diagnosis yet cause I'm at work (but that doesn't stop me from playing around here!) What I'm getting at is:

I'm looking for a 31spline 8.8" from a sploder, but that's just not extreme enough for me!

I'm thinking of using a full size 8.8" or 9" and running spacers/pattern adaptors up front and keeping my Dana35. This got me thinking even more.

I've been considering SASing my Ranger using a Wagoneer Dana 44 that I have laying around. This is a 6 lug axle (chebby and yotas)

I might swap 6 lug Chebby full size axle in and run adaptors up front (only till I can afford to swap in the waggy 44.)


I would of course ditch my 2.5" blocks and run 2" shackles. Idears?

smooth move exlax lol. i would just toss a sploder axle in. its easy just about a direct bolt in, and then you wont be in my boat lol