Setting up rear axle gears up front

[Ozwynn]

off topic question but how do you set up a rear axle (the diff) to be a front axle?

 

[4x4junkie]

off topic question but how do you set up a rear axle (the diff) to be a front axle?

Take the tubes out of the chunk and replace them with ones that have Cs for the knuckles? (not sure I understand your Q)

 

[Ozwynn]

well ...... say I want to run a GM 14 bolt in the front. how do I set up the gears. what needs to be done to the gears for use in a front axle

 

[4x4junkie]

The gears are set up the same way, front or rear.

However in such cases of lo-pinion gears being used up front, you'd probably want to put more attention to getting the pattern to look it's best on the "coast" (concave) side of the gear teeth, rather than the "drive" side (this is due to the "coast" side actually being in drive mode while going forward).

That help?

 

[Ozwynn]

yeah ......... I guess I was asking a dumb question. for some reason I was thinking that the rotation had to be reversed (I didn't understand reverse cut gears, but i think I got it now) ........ sorry I just quit drinking caffeine and my head has been foggy for about a month.

 

[4x4junkie]

No, just the spiral bevel of the teeth is reversed on a "hi-pinion" gearset. They rotate the same direction LP or HP

 

[Ozwynn]

No, just the spiral bevel of the teeth is reversed on a "hi-pinion" gearset. They rotate the same direction LP or HP

ok but why does that make it stronger?

 

[4x4junkie]

ok but why does that make it stronger?

In a front axle application, you're driving on the actual "drive" side of the gear teeth.

I suppose it could be argued it's then weaker if you are in reverse, although 99.9% of the time you're going forward, so seems that would be the direction you want the most strength.

I'm gonna split this topic, it's not really related to the Q here

 

[lzarnch]

???

so could you run a rear axle up front if you had axle tubes with knucklesand all that? would it still turn the right direction when in 4wd? i dont get it?

 

[bottledgt]

yup its the same damn thing, just rotated 180.