sharksanddanger
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Location
- Reidsville
Well I decided after my 3rd rearend it was time for a change. I decided I wanted something a little bit better and wider and a tad bit lower..
Here was my plan:
- Old rear axle taken out, 4-link rebuilt to a double triangulated 4-link with no panhard, all 1 1/4" heims threaded into some 2" .250 wall DOM tubing. Axle moved back about 2"s more with coils retained on bottom. Also outboard the coils about 5"s on each side to try to help with stability.
- Front axle swapped out, extend the radius arms to push the axle a little father forward, maybe 1.5"s or so. I may also have to move my steering box forward or swap it out for something else but I won't know that for sure until the axle is under there..
Here is my parts list:
Rear Axle- 14bt FF with 5.38s/detroit/disks trussed and set up for DT 4-link(I know you are thinking why 5.38s if already troubles with rear ends but have read lots of people with no problems so I figured I'd give it a try)
Front Axle- HP HD 44 8 lug with 5.38s/welded/ chromollys/ warn external hubs.
Tires- 39.5x13.50-17 Iroks mounted on 17" H2 wheels
A bunch of brackets from PP and Ballistic and some 1 1/4" heims.
Anyways, onto the pictures.
Old axle taken out with poorly designed 4-link
It was a HUGE PITA to grind off all the old brackets, spent two damn days doing that until I purchased a torch since the plasma wasn't cutting it, literally. Had to cut a whole bunch of tuff where the gas lines were and that was no fun.
Here is my little axle truss.. Bent it out of 1/2"x 4 flat stock and cut the ends to slide over the 14bt.
Here is a shot of the axle under the truck with only the coils mounted.. I had them retained top and bottom but I will be not retaining them at the top.
Here was my plan:
- Old rear axle taken out, 4-link rebuilt to a double triangulated 4-link with no panhard, all 1 1/4" heims threaded into some 2" .250 wall DOM tubing. Axle moved back about 2"s more with coils retained on bottom. Also outboard the coils about 5"s on each side to try to help with stability.
- Front axle swapped out, extend the radius arms to push the axle a little father forward, maybe 1.5"s or so. I may also have to move my steering box forward or swap it out for something else but I won't know that for sure until the axle is under there..
Here is my parts list:
Rear Axle- 14bt FF with 5.38s/detroit/disks trussed and set up for DT 4-link(I know you are thinking why 5.38s if already troubles with rear ends but have read lots of people with no problems so I figured I'd give it a try)
Front Axle- HP HD 44 8 lug with 5.38s/welded/ chromollys/ warn external hubs.
Tires- 39.5x13.50-17 Iroks mounted on 17" H2 wheels
A bunch of brackets from PP and Ballistic and some 1 1/4" heims.
Anyways, onto the pictures.
Old axle taken out with poorly designed 4-link
It was a HUGE PITA to grind off all the old brackets, spent two damn days doing that until I purchased a torch since the plasma wasn't cutting it, literally. Had to cut a whole bunch of tuff where the gas lines were and that was no fun.
Here is my little axle truss.. Bent it out of 1/2"x 4 flat stock and cut the ends to slide over the 14bt.
Here is a shot of the axle under the truck with only the coils mounted.. I had them retained top and bottom but I will be not retaining them at the top.
