4wd axle on a 2wd?

[jesilvas]

I've been wondering recently what all would be involved in putting a solid 4wd axle on a 2wd truck? My main reason to do it would be for more weight carrying capacity and easier to change brake rotors. Cause the dually rotors are a PAIN, huge, and expensive. More than usual.
Just wondering how much of a pain it would be

[dieseldan2005]

So you don't want the 4x4 then? Just the axle for the reasons you stated? I don't think that swap would be that difficult unless you plan on hooking it all up. That would get really expensive then.

[Jarrod B]

[jesilvas]

No I really don't care about the 4x4, just for a heavier front axle and easier and cheaper to replace front rotors.
I know I need the axle, leafs, and rotors. But different shocks, steering components, or anything else? I don't know much about 4x4 except for looking under trucks when I'm changing oil at work.

[dieseldan2005]

The only other thing i would say would be to make sure you get manual hubs on the axle. That way there is no chance of the axles turning going down the road. Jarrod's pics are interesting. I am not sure if you need different steering parts, i would imagine you would. Shocks would probably be different too. I would just check on oreilly's website and see if when you search for shocks if a different part number comes up for a 4x4 vs a 4x2.

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by dieseldan2005

The only other thing i would say would be to make sure you get manual hubs on the axle. That way there is no chance of the axles turning going down the road.

What if I just pulled the axle shafts and everything out of the axle tube itself?

[Solid98]

Just how fast are you burning through brake rotors that this swap makes sense?

[jesilvas]

I'm not burning through em. I did have a bearing that locked up and burnt up the inside of the hub. Which meant a new rotor/hub assembly. PERFECTLY good rotor and I don't wanna have that happen again. That and I think it'd be cool

[choctaw]

Dirk just did this conversion and IMHO it wasn't worth it, but he thinks it was, so that's all that matters.

It was very intense and a pain.

[dereku]

It will cost more than 2 new rotors and new pads for sure.