i just picked up a 94 f250 and i am thinking i want to swap out to a solid axle before i lift it. what i have read online is that most of the 80-96 model f350 4x4s ran solid axles with leaf springs and that i can use the trac bar and steering from the f350 on my f250... this seems like it would be an easy swap, but it also seems like it maybe too good to be true. has anyone actually done this swap? can yall share any pointers?

here is the thread i got what i consider my best info so far: http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content/topic,105244.0.html

 

My buddy did the swap on his 1996 F-250 7.3. Pretty straight forwards. He got an axle out of a 1983 F-350 cause it had Kingpins instead of ball joints.

 

ooohhh... i like king pins!! i was talking to a buddy of mine just now and he said the older axles had hub units on them? i thought they had greasable bearings... ???

 

I believe anything pre-97 had the bearings you can change

 

Sweet. Thanks!

 

There is no way the axle came from an 83. In 80 Ford went to a TTB on all models. It wasn't until 86 that Ford went back to the D60. Prior was just a D50 TTB. If it was the 86-91 axle then your friend is right. Its the 2nd most sought after axle in a production truck.




Now this swap is straight forward IF you get the right axle. The spring perch width is almost dead on on any of the 86-97 D60 axles. I don't remember if the track bar works or not, but aside from that the axles will bolt right onto your springs.

You don't want an 78/79 D60 as the spring perchs are not in the right location (too narrow). The 86-91 D60 axles had king pins instead of ball joints. The 92-97 axles were ball joint, but otherwise the same. All of the axles prior to 99 (when they went to the Superduty name) have serviceable wheel bearings.


As far as finding a D60 good luck. They are usually hard to come by in most areas, and they usually start at $1000 for one that needs rebuilt. I've got an 86-91 axle sitting at home that I paid $850 for that needs new wheel bearings and king pins (about $600-700 for both). If its been upgraded the axle can easily sell for $3000. If you're lucky you can find one in a junkyard or buy an old parts truck. Up in my area all the D60 axles get yanked before the truck hits the yard and sold for high $$$. The swap is worthwhile to do regardless of the expense.

 

Could be then, it's his, not mine. His was $1400 installed though.