Bench testing options for a axel swap on my SUV. Looking for options with really good brakes front and rear. electric or air actuated locker availability for the rear. Im looking for a single vehicle with both front and rear so I will have a matched set for wheel compatability. Would love manual hubs for the front if anything is available stock or aftermarket. And would like the pumpkin on the drivers side .
What trucks fit this description?
If you want late model; Ford and Dodge have the last two solid front axles available.
I guess it doesn't have to be LATE model. I'm really just looking for capable disk brakes. The issue I am finding with the really late model stuff is they only show up on the biggest trucks in the lineup and they are very wide.
I do keep seeing suggestions about late 70's ford pickups having Dana 44 axels. Some even seem to have locking hubs. Anyone know if there are any brake upgrades that work on that axel from newer platforms?
Does anyone know of a good database for axel dimensions and such?
If you didn't need a drivers pumpkin on the front I'd say go buy a ratty '80s Chevy CUCV M1008 1-1/4 ton military truck, and harvest the Dana 60 and 14 bolt from it. The 14 bolt has a good chance of coming with a Detroit in it already.
If the giant drums on a 14 bolt aren't sufficient for your stopping needs, there's a ton of aftermarket disc brake conversions, utilizing a bolt on or weld on bracket, and off the shelf calipers and rotors.
Do you know how wide your axles need to be?
Late model stuff has mostly gone to unit bearing hubs, and semi-float axles, not as sought after in the offroad community as the '70s-'90s stuff.
For driver pumpkin, Dana 60 front you need a '78-'99 3/4 or 1 ton Ford truck, they went to ball joints around '92, so if you want king pin get an older one. Expect to pay a lot of money for a king pin Ford D60.
If you want a driver pumpkin, Dana 44 front, you've got a few more options, '79 or older 3/4 ton Fords, '77 or older if you're going to remove the radius arm mounts. '80s to early '90s Wagoneer "narrow tracks." A TJ or JK Rubicon will have a D44 front and rear, drivers drop front, but likely too narrow.
Rear axles are easier, every 3/4+ and even some 1/2 ton trucks will have a D60, D70, D80, 14B, Sterling, AAM, etc. under it. Width will be an issue, dual rear wheel (DRW) axles are narrower, and often the front axle will be wider, than the same axle on a SRW truck.
There's tons of info on the web for mixing and matching, knuckles, hubs, spindles, cutting tubes, retubing centers, etc. to make the axle that's "just right for you."
There's eleventy billion GM 10 bolt fronts (almost a D44) in junk yards, and trailer parks across the country, you should be able to get a few cheap enough that you could practice pulling the tubes out of the pumpkin and swapping inner Cs to either side to build yourself a driver drop 10 bolt.
Whatcha buildin'? How heavy duty do you need it to be? 3/4 ton heavy duty, or 1/2 ton? Jeep ZJ, WJ and I think TJ have disks front and rear and have lockers available. How about Land Rover / Range Rover stuff?
We just put a Dana 60 on the front of my brother's 97 F-250.....for sale now on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-F-250-XLT-Standard-Cab-Pickup-2-Door-/111657634680?forcerrptr=true&hash=item19ff504b78&item=111657634680
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