Need axle advice

[Sitting Bull]

I need some axle advice. Keep in mind I know very little about the inner workings of any axle, let alone comparing multiple types. I've swaped out a few axle shafts, u-joints, etc. but that's about it. FF, SF all that crap is over my head. I don't expect you to spend an hour typing stuff out, so just a quick summary of what I need would be great. I'll just leave it up to the great advice of y'all.

First...my goals...

1) I want to run 37" goodyear MTR's, or similar to that.
2) I want to have a selectable locker, preferably in the front and the rear.
3) I don't need it right away (saving the money for the tires)
4) I don't really want to get anything too custom. A little machine shop work is OK, but I would just assume to keep it simple.
5) 4:10ish gears
6) The wheeling done will be light, especially considering what y'all are doing.
7) Drums in the back, discs in the front
8) I want the WMS to be the same in the front, about 1-2" wider in the rear (than a Cherokee WT)

So, what I'm wondering is, can I just swap out my axles for a J-20? Will the front 44HD axle hold up with 37" tires? What I really don't want to do is sink alot of money into it just to upgrade again in the future. I'm usually the hit it once nice and hard type.

I've heard that front axles from a 79 F350 swap right in and already have 4:10 gears, is this accurate? Would axles from a 78 F250 be the same?

Specifically, I'm looking at this rig for the axles...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4522987654&catego ry=39415

Thanks for the input. I'll try to not get too annoying with all the questions.

[Peter Matusov]

Brad -
J20 axles are wider than WT Cherokee's, by about 2 or 3" per side.
IMHO, the 44HD will live up to 37s, unless you install some automatic locker (Detroit, EZ, etc.). You'll have to be rather gentle on the thin pedal.

[trickc]

Brad, what are you gonna put these in?? If youre planning on using sittingbull for this bare in mind that front axle is the wrong drop for your t-case unless youre swapping that too, oh and youre tranny.If youve got a later model 80-up rig to use these under they might be alright, I notice from one pic the front axle is missing its axle shaft on the one side.Just from the pics it all looks a little crusty to me.

[Sitting Bull]

Curtis, your right, I was backwards on the offset side. I'm planning on running them on my 79 rig, eventually.

[Stuka]

IMHO opinion 4.10 s are way to high for 37" tires. I would go 4.56 if you want any power and a decent crawl speed.

I also think J20 axles would work fine. Or you can get axles from a 3/4 ton chevy if you are gona goo SOA. a 70-80's 3/4 ton chevy will have a D44HD or 10 bolt up front, and a 14FF in back. These will hold up fine for a lot of things unless your skinny pedal happy and like to make it or break it

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Dodge D60 for the rear is supposed to be a bolt in, no relocating of the spring perches. You never mentioned if you wanted to go SOA or not, if so you can use the front axle from the same Dodge. However then you will get into the custom Steering and shackle flip for the rear to match the 7+ inches you will get with the SOA from the Dodge front axle. Though to get 37" tires under your Chero you will need quite a bit of lift. Start looking for a Dodge 3/4 ton

[waggin'ear]

The front axle on that rig is not a dana 60 FYI

[78 blu ox]

For a bolt in rear, what year does the Dodge need to be and is the WMS the same as a WT or NT?

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by 78 blu ox:
For a bolt in rear, what year does the Dodge need to be and is the WMS the same as a WT or NT?

From what I understand it is the mid 70's for sure, though I think the year range would run further than that. The Dodge axles match the WT's.

[ February 04, 2005, 05:58 AM: Message edited by: Crazy_Jeepman ]

[waggin'ear]

Dennis (oldyellowwagoneer) has a dodge D70 in his rig, GlennTX had a dodge D60 in the rear of his for a while. FSJeeper knows a quite a bit as well.

Hopefully these guys will jump in.

[Sitting Bull]

Originally posted by Crazy_Jeepman:
From what I understand it is the mid 70's for sure, though I think the year range would run further than that. The Dodge axles match the WT's.

-----

Ahhh...now THAT's what I'm looking for Pete. What type of Dodge? I just don't know there model names. How can I identify a D60 in the junkyard? Are the offset's the same? Are the FF's?

[Sitting Bull]

Originally posted by Stuka:
IMHO opinion 4.10 s are way to high for 37" tires. I would go 4.56 if you want any power and a decent crawl speed.

I also think J20 axles would work fine. Or you can get axles from a 3/4 ton chevy if you are gona goo SOA. a 70-80's 3/4 ton chevy will have a D44HD or 10 bolt up front, and a 14FF in back. These will hold up fine for a lot of things unless your skinny pedal happy and like to make it or break it

I'm not planning on going SOA. It will probably be 4" lift with some gratuitous saw-zalling.

[FSJeeper]

Swap bodies with me and you can run 37's with no lift!

The Goodyear 37's are great tires and weigh a lot less than Super Swampers. For light four wheeling, The 3/4 ton Dana 44's might hold up OK.
1 tons would be the way to go.

If you put a saws all to your body, well, I won't say what I think except it would be a crying shame!

[Sitting Bull]

Originally posted by FSJeeper:
If you put a saws all to your body, well, I won't say what I think except it would be a crying shame!

Don't worry Pascal, this is for project 2. I'm just trying to scrounge some parts together. One thing I've found out...state your goals, do your research early, and go through it one time.

Also, check your PM's, I've found somethin fer ya.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Brad Call me....I have a deal for you!.......Or have Jollie call me........ I would rather talk to her anyhow. LMAO!! Oh check this out.............I thought of you right away!!! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Does this Topic ring any Bells? ROTFLMAO!!!!! By the way you could show up on MIRC so I can tease you real time! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Sitting Bull]

Cool, I'll give ya a shout tomorrow Pete. The kids are sick...we're not having fun right now...