Front axle for SAS...not another noob question

[alkaline747trio]

Tired of getting put out by 4-cylinder Wranglers w/ 31s and 2" body lifts due to my IFS, so I am gonna put that solid front axle in. Thing is, I don't have to worry about lift laws here in NC, so I want to go just about as wide as I can, and I was wondering, what axle would be a good choice (so that I wont have to do any more welding than I would with a cut down axle) that can pull 38.5 x 18.50 "sand" tires and is about 8"-12" wider over all.

I plan to support it with coils in the front, along with dual shocks to give about 8"-10" lift (all that is mainly to clear a few of the creeks and pass over 2 big boulders that I normally have to drive around and It would look really sweet!).

I have good fab./welding experience and equipment, along with some friends that are "advanced" welders.

 

[bmxking5]

Do a search. Most people use the High Pinion Dana 44.

BTW-You don't have IFS, you have TTB 95+ have IFS

 

[Robb]

A TTB is IFS

If your gonna ride 38s hard, I would just bypass the D44 up front, and go straight to D60s F/R or D60/14B or whatever. That tall and wide of a tire is gonna beat almost anything smaller to death if driven.

 

[james t]

A D44 will NOT last under 38x18's if you wheel it. You will want a D60. Most are 66-67" WMS to WMS, which will be about 6-7" wider than what you are at now..... excluding whatever backspacing you run on wheels. Good luck, Ford D60's are going for about $1000.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Would I really need the D60? The tires I plan to get are the TrXus tires, which aren't really that aggressive in their tread pattern. I also plan to put an Atlas II 3.8:1 transfer case (that might not have much to do with how the axles hold out though).

Also, does it matter about the axle whether the diff. is off-centered or dead-centered on the '94? And just about any axle (as long as it is strong enough) will work in the rear of my truck, right?

 

[bmxking5]

A TTB is IFS

I always thought/read that the TTBs were sort of in between a straight axle and IFS. I guess I was wrong.

After I re-read your post and saw that you said you wanted to run 38.5x18.5 , I agree that you would need a Dana 60 if you ever plan to wheel it.

 

[alkaline747trio]

Guess I need to go scrounging. What trucks came with the D60's front and rear, or what had it front/rear?

 

[alkaline747trio]

Btw, tires are 38x15.50 (read wrong column..lol) Also, anyone know any tires that preform about the same but are 36x18?? 38's are gonna be a pain to fit, I just want the width really, but no boggers/tires w/ bad road manners.

 

[Ryan1]

Btw, tires are 38x15.50 (read wrong column..lol) Also, anyone know any tires that preform about the same but are 36x18?? 38's are gonna be a pain to fit, I just want the width really, but no boggers/tires w/ bad road manners.

Dick Cepek Fun Country Kevlar.....they will cost you some dough though

Ryan

 

[Con Seann3ry]

I always thought/read that the TTBs were sort of in between a straight axle and IFS. I guess I was wrong.

After I re-read your post and saw that you said you wanted to run 38.5x18.5 , I agree that you would need a Dana 60 if you ever plan to wheel it.

TTB is definately IFS but it's kind of a compromise between solid axel and standard A-frame(?) ifs.

 

[james t]

TTB = Twin Tractor Beam

In other words, Ford figured why not take a solid axle and make it into a giant pair of scissors.


It is actually a form of IFS, and honestly works pretty damn good up to about a 33" tire. Locked on 35's is pushing it, but its longevity will depend on the driver.


alkaline- about the only really wide "sand" tires or all terrains i know of in the 36-38 range would be the Dick Cepeks mentioned above. They are rather expensive. If you could stand to go just a little narrower, id check out the super swamper trxus STS's. From what ive seen they work great in the sand. Understand..... with a really wide 36-38" tire you're going to need a LOT of lift to keep the fronts out of the fenders when turning.... unless you're willing to narrow the front clip or just throw the fenders in the trash alltogether.

 

[alkaline747trio]

I know that wide tires are going to need a lot of lift, but wouldn't having a wide (8"-12" inches over stock wide) kinda take away some of the necessity for having to go abot 8" or 10" lift?

Also, I know about the TrXus STS tires, I WAS going to go with those, but at 36", they didn't have the width I wanted. So, now I am going to go with the 35x17.50-15 Mickey Thompson Baja Belted.

Another question I have is, I want to have something like these ( http://www.kartek.com/prod-windows/all/shocks/saw/56000-314.htm ) as my front shocks, with coils mounted on the shocks (like this: http://www.kartek.com/prod-windows/all/shocks/saw/saw-56000-114-coilover.jpg to give you a visual). Would the only thing I have to do would be fab. the mounts for it?

 

[nissanboy]

you also need to check those lift laws.... in NC we actually arent allowed to modify the suspension at all. Most the time though a cop will stop anythign that looks enormous, and if your tires do stick outside the fenderwell thats ok if you have flaps to prevent ecessive debris from slinging all over the highway.

i got a friend that wheels a tacoma who is a police officer in Wake county, he keeps us all informed over on the NC4x4 forum

 

[alkaline747trio]

As far as I know, there are no written lift laws, or anywhere I've been that enforced it (guess Wake doesn't like it's 4-wheeleing community).

Around here, Stanly county, there are no issues. My neighbor has a '85 Bronc w/ over 12" lift and 44's. He widened the axles about two foot (seriously, 1 foot wider on each side!), and is yet to be stopped by a cop or anyone.

If I do end up with problems, I will just get Alabama or Georgia tags (have land in both, could technically get a liscense in either) and not worry about it. I'm gonna go through with my plans, and if any smokeys end up on my case, I'll just tell them it is for farm use and all fines will be waivered.

 

[appx91]

Lift laws in NC are as follows. No truck or suv is to be lifted more than 6 inches over stock ride height. Like they really are going to inforce that, but I help out at High Country 4x4 and the new laws just came in and thats the way it reads.

As far as your axle question goes...I would say run a 44 front with chromolly innner and outter shafts. Run a 60 rear with some nice new shafts no real need for chromolly rear if you are going to wheel like you say.

I am swapping in a 44 front and 60 rear. I am prolly gonna wheel a little harder than you and I am going to run 10 inches of lift with 7 of them being susp. and 3 being BL. I am going with chromolly shafts front and brand new rear shafts. I am going to run 36x14.50 TSL's. I will be able to fully stuff those. If you have any question just let me know man I have my susp. drawn up and everything and I could help you out as far as comming up with what you need. Also I am in NC and I would suggest looking at High Country to do your swap if you are not doing it yourself. They are the cheapest and best in NC.

 

[jimbo74]

you want road manners and a tire that big? um, conflict of interest there...

 

[Robb]

Ironically, this thread was very "noob."

 

[Jefe]

Ironically, this thread was very "noob."

Yup.

Another question I have is, I want to have something like these ( http://www.kartek.com/prod-windows/all/shocks/saw/56000-314.htm ) as my front shocks, with coils mounted on the shocks (like this: http://www.kartek.com/prod-windows/all/shocks/saw/saw-56000-114-coilover.jpg to give you a visual).

Thats called a coil-over.

 

[nissanboy]

road manners with super huge tires is gonna need a Full Hydro or Hydro assist steering along with steering stabilizers.

 

[ExplorerJimbo]

i dont know about the rest of you guys with IFS still on your x... but i still have the IFS and my friend has a jeep with some 31's on it and my x can out do him anyday of the week... but its still a great time wheeling with him its not like its a comp...