solid axle swap
#14
01-08-2010, 03:40 PM
#15
01-10-2010, 12:24 AM
My best advice would be to buy a book on suspensions and gain a thorough understanding of how how they work and the forces involved. As far as design is concerned there really is no practical difference in the performance of a solid axle vs an independent one on a 3/4 ton truck. The failings are in each manufacturers application and their balancing act of assembly time/cost yadda yadda .....
#16
01-10-2010, 02:10 PM
Diesel Bomber
everyone who says you get crappy quality out of a straight axled truck must not ever been in a nice one. they way i build mine ride like a cadillac. and dont buy the ORU kit if your doing it, your paying for the brand. check out Off-Road Direct - Lift Kit and Custom Suspension System Specialists they build kits that only require 3" of lift when installed. call them and tell them you want to use powerstroke super duty springs. theyre 3" wide and handle the weight of the diesels. plus they are almost a foot longer than the springs everyone else uses so ride quality is all there. my truck right now is sooo smooth and i can tuck each and every tire into the fender well, not bad for a 1 ton spring and axle truck.
as for the ifs not holding up, i totally know what your talking about. i will never own another ifs truck in my unless its one hundred percent stock.
the kit for these trucks from offroad direct is only like $750 including high tower shock mounts, spring plates, all the hardware and everything. do that, spend a grand on a nice dana 60, get some springs, shocks, steering, and brake lines and your rollin. you can do the complete kit for about 3 grand. you can make it all yourself its alot cheaper
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
the difference in that though is that with the IFS, you have a bunch more things that can go bad.
IFS: control arm bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arms, etc etc etc
straight axle: leaf spring bushings are really the only part to go out and that isnt often at all.
as for wheel bearings and what not youll have them in your axles either way, but ive gotten 150,000 miles out of dana 60 bearings.
the way it comes down in maintenance if a straight axled front end will require like 1/4 of the attention ifs does, and when it does, its not even close to the same price its way cheaper.
as for the ifs not holding up, i totally know what your talking about. i will never own another ifs truck in my unless its one hundred percent stock.
the kit for these trucks from offroad direct is only like $750 including high tower shock mounts, spring plates, all the hardware and everything. do that, spend a grand on a nice dana 60, get some springs, shocks, steering, and brake lines and your rollin. you can do the complete kit for about 3 grand. you can make it all yourself its alot cheaper
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
IFS: control arm bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arms, etc etc etc
straight axle: leaf spring bushings are really the only part to go out and that isnt often at all.
as for wheel bearings and what not youll have them in your axles either way, but ive gotten 150,000 miles out of dana 60 bearings.
the way it comes down in maintenance if a straight axled front end will require like 1/4 of the attention ifs does, and when it does, its not even close to the same price its way cheaper.
Last edited by tltruckparts; 01-10-2010 at 02:10 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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K50 (01-11-2010)
#17
01-10-2010, 08:17 PM
I don't know if you are aware of this fact but solid axles have ball joints (or Kingpins) and tie rod ends too.
I will agree that an IFS is more complex than a leaf sprung SA but is it more complex than a 4 Link?
And maintenance is a wash. Especially if you have a more complicated SA or a better built IFS. Its all in the application.
I will agree that an IFS is more complex than a leaf sprung SA but is it more complex than a 4 Link?
And maintenance is a wash. Especially if you have a more complicated SA or a better built IFS. Its all in the application.
#18
01-11-2010, 10:44 AM
Diesel Bomber
everyone who says you get crappy quality out of a straight axled truck must not ever been in a nice one. they way i build mine ride like a cadillac. and dont buy the ORU kit if your doing it, your paying for the brand. check out Off-Road Direct - Lift Kit and Custom Suspension System Specialists they build kits that only require 3" of lift when installed. call them and tell them you want to use powerstroke super duty springs. theyre 3" wide and handle the weight of the diesels. plus they are almost a foot longer than the springs everyone else uses so ride quality is all there. my truck right now is sooo smooth and i can tuck each and every tire into the fender well, not bad for a 1 ton spring and axle truck.
as for the ifs not holding up, i totally know what your talking about. i will never own another ifs truck in my unless its one hundred percent stock.
the kit for these trucks from offroad direct is only like $750 including high tower shock mounts, spring plates, all the hardware and everything. do that, spend a grand on a nice dana 60, get some springs, shocks, steering, and brake lines and your rollin. you can do the complete kit for about 3 grand. you can make it all yourself its alot cheaper
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
the difference in that though is that with the IFS, you have a bunch more things that can go bad.
IFS: control arm bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arms, etc etc etc
straight axle: leaf spring bushings are really the only part to go out and that isnt often at all.
as for wheel bearings and what not youll have them in your axles either way, but ive gotten 150,000 miles out of dana 60 bearings.
the way it comes down in maintenance if a straight axled front end will require like 1/4 of the attention ifs does, and when it does, its not even close to the same price its way cheaper.
as for the ifs not holding up, i totally know what your talking about. i will never own another ifs truck in my unless its one hundred percent stock.
the kit for these trucks from offroad direct is only like $750 including high tower shock mounts, spring plates, all the hardware and everything. do that, spend a grand on a nice dana 60, get some springs, shocks, steering, and brake lines and your rollin. you can do the complete kit for about 3 grand. you can make it all yourself its alot cheaper
---AutoMerged DoublePost---
the difference in that though is that with the IFS, you have a bunch more things that can go bad.
IFS: control arm bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arms, etc etc etc
straight axle: leaf spring bushings are really the only part to go out and that isnt often at all.
as for wheel bearings and what not youll have them in your axles either way, but ive gotten 150,000 miles out of dana 60 bearings.
the way it comes down in maintenance if a straight axled front end will require like 1/4 of the attention ifs does, and when it does, its not even close to the same price its way cheaper.
i had a dodge with SFA, rode like a TANK, and i spent a whole bunch of $$$ replacing parts on a truck that lived on the highway(80%highway-20%offroad) with the same KM's as my current Chev and i havnt spent a penny on front end parts yet, they are like new...
If you wana spend $3000 on an outdated and rough riding technology then go right ahead, i'll spend a few hundred on my soft ride and still be able to do everything i want to do with my truck
#20
01-11-2010, 12:24 PM
Diesel Bomber
