front axle swap

[matt5liter]

hey guys i am looking at a truck its a 97 f250 wit a 7.3 powerstroke truck needs a few small things like front end bearigns and glow plugs and a few other small things. but i was thinking instead of puttin bearings in the front end i would just look for a solid axle out of a f350 but i was wondering if it would bolt rite up to the springs and would all the stearing hook up i dont know much about ford trucks mostly their cars i like them so im going to try their trucks now.



Thanks Matt.

[hugeredford]

It will bolt right in but you will need a track bar mount and f350 steering linkage

[fordnut85]

I don't know for sure about yours but when I went solid on my 85 F-150 I found that the cross members are different and you have to have some kind of lift to keep the diff from hitting the crossmember. Also you will have to remove the pivot brackets and the rivets can be a real PITA

[DirtyDiesel]

Originally Posted by hugeredford

It will bolt right in but you will need a track bar mount and f350 steering linkage

yep bolts right in and its not completly neccesary to have a track bar i dont have one on my truck and its got a dana 60 under it. but ill give you for warning it will ride quite a bit stiffer than it does with the wobble master front end in there.

[pipelayerjdh]

Originally Posted by DirtyDiesel

it will ride quite a bit stiffer than it does with the wobble master front end in there.

Gotta love 'em!

The swap is really easy if you have a good place to do it. I would suggest concrete, it gets aggravating on dirt. It cane be done in a day with a little help. Make sure you have everything you need, like U-bolts, etc. Have you found a front Dana 60, they can be hard to find?

[DirtyDiesel]

Originally Posted by pipelayerjdh

Gotta love 'em!

The swap is really easy if you have a good place to do it. I would suggest concrete, it gets aggravating on dirt. It cane be done in a day with a little help. Make sure you have everything you need, like U-bolts, etc. Have you found a front Dana 60, they can be hard to find?

yeah a Dana 60 in decent shape down here is few and far between. and if you find one be prepared to spend a pretty penny on one unless the person you get it from doesnt know wat they have.

[fordnut85]

I know I will probly get blasted for this but after I did the swap I kinda wish I had the TTB back. I got more flex and better tire contact with it then I do with the solid. To tell you the truth the only reason I went with the solid was it was alot cheaper to build, lift or maintain.

[DirtyDiesel]

yeah you got a point but i love my dana 60 and i wouldnt go back to that wobbly POS for nuttin. mainly cuz i know how to work on a dana 60 alot better than a wobble master front end. but everyone has there preferences

[dereku]

yeh i got a solid sixty too paid bought 750 out in ohio, but not to make an argument with dirtydiesel here i feel that the track bar is almost a necessity. I didn't have one for a few days and i had the death shake when ever i turned or hit a good pot hole. it even exploded my pitman arm ball joint. I custom made a hyme joint track bar and its very nice, the flex issue you have can easily be changed with a good 6in lift my truck looks about the same as dirtys here.

[DirtyDiesel]

yeah prooly but the lift on my truck is homemade and it rides stiffer than a wedding night cuz the springs are outa like and f-550 or somthing like that wit the bottom leaf from the stock leaf pack. but my truck doesnt have the shake or anything like that prolly just the viagra stiff springs i got in there.