Front axle??

Well, I did some hardcore wheelin last week and hit some bumps that got my tires about a foot off the ground and coming down wasn't the best thing for it. I noticed when I was done that the front 2 tires looked bent outwards so I just figured they needed to be aligned since I just got my new tires put on and didn't have them aligned yet. So I went to the shop and they said that my front axle was bent on both sides and I need a whole new one. They want $2500 for parts and labor. My question is can I get an axle for my '94 Explorer that is stronger and can handle the big ditches and everything that goes along with wheelin? I have a friend that can install an axle for me so I dont have to pay for the labor and he can get his hands on any axle, but I didn't know if you HAVE to go with the stock axle that you would get from the Ford dealership? And would it matter if the front axle is stonger than the back? The the guy who owns the shop was tellin my dad and I how the Explorers aren't meant to be taken off road and I shouldn't even think of trying to turn it into an off road vehicle. Now my parents have the idea that I shouldn't be wheelin and should stay on the road, but I want to have some fun, and I'll be damned if my Explorer isn't going to be built to take off road!

 

[914x4sport]

:fire: Man I hate when people say the Ex shouldnt be driven off road...i got stuck in this huge mud hole on the side of the highway before I had my bfg's..Well this cop pulled over and started d%(k'n me around cuz I was stuck on the side of the road, knowing that there was nothing to give me a ticket for(he didnt witness me mudding, I was simply stuck because I had to pull off the road to check something under the hood(wink wink) ) He just made me hang around and listen to him tell me that the ford explorer was only meant for socker moms, and that if I had a J**P like HE had than I wouldve never been stuck(he also said that its ashame that Im no longer a minor, because he couldve callled my parents and told them but"Oh they probably drive fords too, it wouldnt do any good"his own words) ...Of course it all went downhill from there, two other cops showed up(what else are they going to do at 2:30 am? They couldnt possibly do anything USEFUL that time of night, like patrol downtown, then of course 3 Florida State Troopers show up responding to an ACCIDENT CALL, someone called 911 when they saw me stuck on the side of the road!...Now I had also called a freind of mine before they got there to pull me out with his Raised 4-runner...When he gets there the officers take a break from thier talking about me and eating doughnuts(NO LIE) To tell him that A) His Toyota would never have the power to pull me out and B) That it would be a hazard to pull me, because he would be out in the road and could get hit while towing me( Mind you there are now 6 OFFICERS ON THE "SCENE" nobody in there right mind could miss us) So the officer advises me that I need a wrecker immediately to come and pull me out, And asks if I have a preferance on towing service...NO, I dont call that many wreckers, he just happened to have a number of a "freinds"wrecker service who came and charged me 75 bucks to pull me three feet forward...Man talk about an abuse of power... :fire: Wow, that was a long rant...sorry....I just got home from worrk and am really tired and remembering that made me really angry...I say anyone that thinks an Ex is incapable can go to h#ll!

 

[CHH777]

John,

$2500 is ridiculous. Look around for a used Dana 35 from someone who has upgraded to a Dana 44 or check your local wreck yards. Good luck with the parents...

 

[Goober]

If your going back stock, check the 'For Sale' forum. There are a few fellows here who went solid axle and may have the remnants laying around. OR you might just do the same thing...for $2500 you'd be pretty close on doing the solid axle conversion and getting a beefier front end in the process.

As for the Explorer not being off-road worthy...have them check out this site of 5100+ members who say otherwise. Good luck!