Full size axles?

Jeepster Jim · #11 05-09-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chains20

That is great idea! do you know what the width is then? i am not too concerned with the axles needing to be wide but would like to have atleast d44's since I will have a V8 and (if I calculated right) 35's. Another thing i was wondering was if one was to switch to coils instead of using leaf springs could the need to shorten the axles be helped?

Thank you all

I think my diff width is around 57.5"
I'm not sure on the coil spring stuff.

ACOfficer · #12 05-09-2007, 10:09 PM

I just shortened a Dana 44 from a 75 Chevy blazer. I took 4 inches out of the long side and used a shaft from an 80's wagoneer. I did it in my garage and it was pretty easy. Read this article: Narrowing a front Chevy Dana 44 for a SOA Scout II

I pretty much followed the same method and it was relatively easy. I only outsourced the welding. Cost me $30. Taking the 4 inches out left me with a 63.5 WMS-WMS and you can use the stock spring location.

chains20 · #13 05-10-2007, 09:23 AM

Good information! Thank you both. the 57.5" width is pretty close to stock right? I cant seem to find the paper i wrote the widths on.

Thank you for all of the help

Jeepster Jim · #14 05-10-2007, 03:48 PM

66'-70 is 50"

72'-73' is 51 1/2

'85 dana 30 wide axle 56 1/2"

chains20 · #15 05-11-2007, 11:34 AM

Wow not as close as i was guessing. that means i would have to do front and rear. Can any body give me an estimated cost for a project like this? Im thinking that th 57.5" will be the way i go. Also does anybody have agood resource to find out axle shaft lengths so maybe I could find some stock axle shafts for the back?

Thank you still

Jeepster Jim · #16 05-11-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chains20

Wow not as close as i was guessing. that means i would have to do front and rear. Can any body give me an estimated cost for a project like this? Im thinking that th 57.5" will be the way i go. Also does anybody have agood resource to find out axle shaft lengths so maybe I could find some stock axle shafts for the back?

Thank you still

If you have a stock Commando D-44 rear diff, that will work fine. You can go to a WIDE D-44 diff such as out of a late 80's cherroke, CJ-7????? Not postive on that. BUT make sure the rear diff is at least 1 1/2" narrower then the frt. this is for tracking purposes.

LCAC_Man · #17 05-11-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeepster Jim

If you have a stock Commando D-44 rear diff, that will work fine. You can go to a WIDE D-44 diff such as out of a late 80's cherroke, CJ-7????? Not postive on that. BUT make sure the rear diff is at least 1 1/2" narrower then the frt. this is for tracking purposes.

Yeah, a widetrack CJ-7 axle would be a good choice and pretty easy to find.
The Scout rear axle would also be a good choice.
How big of a tire do you plan to run? Below 35" the rear 44 will be fine but if your looking to go bigger you may want to look at some larger stuff.

chdorsey · #18 05-12-2007, 09:16 AM

This page has a lot of good info on widths of axles from various vehicles:
Best Junkyard Axle Swaps - Tech Articles - JP Magazine

I'd try to find a rear axle that you don't have to shorten. That will save you a LOT of money. I'd think widetrack CJ, Scout II Rear, or maybe even the Isuzu Dana 44 (has disk brakes already on some (maybe all, I'm not sure) of them. I have a narrowtrack Waggy front and Scout II rear in mine. Tires stick out some but are within the legal limits with flares.

Chris

oldjeepguy · #19 05-13-2007, 10:24 PM

So Jim. What would an inch and a half narrower do for tracking?

Tim · #20 05-14-2007, 01:37 AM

Not sure what it'll do for tracking, but with a narrower rear end you will be able to turn sharper than if both axles are the same width. My front is 62" while my rear is 60".