Solid axle swap kit!!!!

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Well, being in the navy and standing a 4 hour watch from midnight to 4:00am w/ nothing to do but surf the net, I found something that I wish I would have known about a year and a half ago.

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It just goes to show that that you always find a better deal or what you really want after you settled for a lesser item. Anyway, I wonder if this kit provides good articulation and reliability.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

MORE!

In the July 2000 issue of Petersen's 4Wheel & Off Road I also found an article for a Super Flexy Bronco kiton page 53. I think by mixing the components of the two kits, a really good and strong solid axle swap can be fabed for the explorers. I was thinking of the James Duff replacement radius arms and and the axle from Broco Graveyard. Using spring over shock coils as used in the 2x4 article of Petersen's for there great travel and adjustibility. What do you guys think. Is this a good way to go or should I fab a 3 or 4 link solid axle? I'm thinking this would be easier since the only parts I have to fab are shock hoops and tabs to attatch them.

 

[sphaugh]

It would probably be worthwhile to request some digital photos of an actual explorer install - from broncograveyard or from fabtech. I'm certain that they'd provide pictures if you told them you intend to post them on this site = possible sales for them.

Fabtech seems to have a pretty solid reputation - so I'm curious about the conversion (although it's not something I see myself doing). Curious not so much for me - but more for guys who want to do what webmaster Rick has done, without fabricating every last piece from scratch. You gotta admit, the picture of Rick's right front tire perched up on a 30" high rock with the other 3 on the ground is pretty cool.

Lastly, I'm curious if it's compatible with all years or just a few; I'm wondering why this thread hasn't gotten more attention; I also wish my job was to search the internet...

 

[Rick]

I am going to contact Fabtech at the SEMA show to see if we can get something to put on the website. One of the main things that concerns me about the bolt on approach is that the engine crossmember doesn't get modified for clearence. This greatly limits the upward travel of the diff housing.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Originally posted by Rick
I am going to contact Fabtech at the SEMA show to see if we can get something to put on the website. One of the main things that concerns me about the bolt on approach is that the engine crossmember doesn't get modified for clearence. This greatly limits the upward travel of the diff housing.

The company is called Fabritech. I am not sure if it is the same or affiliated with Fabtech. I have e-mailed Jeff's Bronco Graveyard with questions concerning an aexplorer install.

As for the crossmember, no kit is complete and if I do go with this kit I will also be adding my own modifications such as notching the crossmember and substituting coil over shocks for the there awesome travel.

 

[Rick]

Their kit mounts a bracket right in the stock crossmember. I believe it is the track bar bracket.

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The bracket I'm talking about is on the top right.

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Yeah, I saw that in the installation instructions and I am not sure exactly what it does. I e-mailed bronco graveyard and added that to my list of questions. Like I said though, any kit in my opinion is a starting point, the rest is do it yourself mods.

 

[FMNavajo]

It's always nice to know that our country is in good hands with people like you standing watch on the Internet!!!

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

Here is my original e-mail & response

Hello, I have a 93 4 door explorer that I am very interested in converting to a solid front axle. I have some questions about your Fabritech kit.

1. Have you completed an install on an explorer yet and if so do you have any pictures? If not, how about a donor test vehicle?(LOL)

2. Does the kit come w/ the 12" longer radius arms for improved articulation?

3. Is the new axle a direct take out of a ' 77 or prior Bronco or do you have to move the location of any of the bracketry, especially where the c-bushings are on the axle?

4. How hard would it be to use coil over shocks vice replacement coils? I know this would involve fabbing upper mounts but I am wondering more about the connection to the axle.

5. Can I order an axle through you w/ an ARB air locker vice a Tracklock?

I have posted a thread concerning your kit which may also be of some interest to you. Here is the link directly to the thread: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=19266

Thankyou for your time on this matter and I sure I will have plenty of more questions for you later.


RESPONSE
9/12/00 2:23:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: chbrow12@vt.edu (Chris Brown)
To: Mcinchak2@cs.com

1. We have sold several kits for Explorers. However, I do not have any pics. We ask our customers to send some as we are finishing our web page and want to put them on. But to my knowledge, I do not have any of an Explorer. I do have several of Rangers.

2. It comes with all of the bracketry and steering components. The arms are longer and set further back with the rear radius arm bracket. The articulation is improved. We have sold several kits to people rock-crawling
and they were very impressed.

3&5. The front end used is out of any older box-style bronco. The later models have disc-brake front ends. We suggest those but if they are not found you can always convert it over. We often have front ends if you
cannot find one. We can build any front end you desire. The only restriction is what is available for the front ends(which is not very restricting). No modifications are required on the front end. It wraps the c-wraps at the factory location.

4. It would not be that difficult to use coil overs. However, we have not yet designed any of our kits to utilize them. We are looking into it for future kits, but there are several ahead of it. You could give us a call
and we could determine what you really want to do. But as for a bolt-on kit, it is not available by us at this time.

Thanks for your interest. Please let us know what we can do to help or any products you would like to see. Currently, we are building a web site. If you look up National Tire and Wheel and Jeff's Bronco Graveyard, you can see our products there.

Thanks again and I hope I have been of some help.
Chris Brown
FABRITECH Custom Trucks
Ph: (540) 825-1544
Fax: (540) 825-2898