97 F250 TTB 4x4

michiganfarmer · #1 08/30/10, 09:15 AM

My drivers side axle tube broke. Im considering swapping in a straight axle from an F350. Anyone ever do it? Ive measured, and the spring perches are the same.

It looks to me like all i have to do is match the gear ratios, and get a different drag link

fordy · #2 08/30/10, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michiganfarmer

My drivers side axle tube broke. Im considering swapping in a straight axle from an F350. Anyone ever do it? Ive measured, and the spring perches are the same.

It looks to me like all i have to do is match the gear ratios, and get a different drag link

..............The axles on a single rear wheel f250\350 should be the same axle ! The leaf springs should be heavier so I'd consider installing those as well ! The axle ratio should be indicated on the data sheet affixed too the frame and visable when the drivers side door is open . , fordy

michiganfarmer · #3 08/30/10, 09:51 AM

this is the front axle. Mine has that twin I beam junk. Id like to swap in a solid fornt axle

michiganfarmer · #4 08/30/10, 03:46 PM

I posted the parts I wanted on craigs list. A guy called and said he had an entire TTB assembly I could buuy for $100. He had just swapped in a dana 60.

Im gonna go check it out tonight

mightybooboo · #5 08/30/10, 07:25 PM

Nice find Max,good luck.

michiganfarmer · #6 08/31/10, 06:17 AM

I got it. I picked it up l last night.

The ford dealership wanted $2500 for the part. I did find one junk yard that had the part, and they wanted $400.

This guy had both axle tubes, both axle shafts, all the steering linkages with al new tie rod ends, new ball joints were in it,and new axle joints. There were no brake calipers or spindles, but I still got the part I needed much cheaper than anywhere els, AND I got other spare parts.

IM pretyt happy about it, except now i have a lot of wrenching to do, lol.

michiganfarmer · #7 09/13/10, 02:35 PM

I got it back together after lots of relearning thigs that I have forgotten. I havent wrenched professionally in 10 years.

I put the used axle tube in. WHat a job. The drivers side axle tube is also the differential cover... Id liek to meet the moron engineer who came up with THAT brainchild idea.

so.. got the old one out, seperated it from the diff, seperated the new used tube from the diff that it came with, cleaned all the oil off so RTV would stick, glued and bolted it back toegerther, and got it bolted back under the truck.

I had the new ball joints in the knuckle, so I slid them in the axle tube, and tightened the nut on the upper ball joint. THe shaft on the lower joint wouldnt come up far enough to tighten in the bushing.... GREAT! Now what? So I looked at it.... then looked at it some more... smoked a cigarette.... then another.... ma came down with a char, and we chatted for a while and I burned another 5 cigarettes. I called it a night.

The next evening I pulled the ball joints back out of the axle tube, and looked at them stupidly like, "will you go back together right if I try it again?". I put it back together... still wouldnt tighten up. I shuldda known THAT! Idiot. I pressed the ball joints out of the knuckle, and disconected the drag link. I pressed the ball joints into the knuckle that came with the axle tube, and put it back together... still wouldnt tigten up. I was on the verge of, well I dont know. I didintn wana give up, but Id had enough for an evenign, so I went home. While I was home and at work the next day I thguht about it. I had an idea. The bushing for the upper ball jount looked like it might be removable. I fugured either the lower bushing was shot OR I was suppose to remove the upper bushing, tighten the lower nut first, THEN install the upper bushing OVER the upper joint THEN tighten the upper nut.

I broguht my air hammer home from the shop to get the upper bushing out. I'll be d**ned.. It popped right out. I put the knuckle wiht the ball joints in it back in the axle tube without the upper bushing in. I tightened the lower ball joint nut, and viola, The upper nut tightened.

I put the axle shfat back in, bearing spindle back on, the wheel hub and bearings, calipers, and pads, bolted the tire on, and put the lock out back together, and drove it down the road.

Well, Im not dead yet so I guess I got it right.

mightybooboo · #8 09/14/10, 11:33 AM

thanks for the update,ive been wondering how it came out.Laughed at the smokes part,took me 2 last nite to figure out how to hold up new starter on the Cummins last night,ran a screw driver thru a blot hole to support the weight while putting another bolt in.

just gotta think it out.

Congrats on the big repair,well done!