I was just wondering if anyone has done a straight front axle swap and how difficult it would be? Also wondering if anyone knows of any kits a place makes to just make the job alot easier?

Just seein whats out there for my future upgrade! thanks

 

You have the front dual I beam right? When i back up it splays my wheels out, but they straighten right out when i go forward. . . weird. I would like to swap myn out also!

 

what ive heard is easiest is using the front axle from a 77.5-79 f150 the coil buckets are the correct and its pretty much a bolt on job.
i could be wrong though

 

search fullsizebronco dot com's solid axle forum.

 

if you want to sink about $2500 into just the kit, without a d44, they make it

 

The 76 to 79 D44 is almost an exact bolt in for any 80-96 F150. If you get the radius arms, radius arm bracket, track bar, and track bar mount from the donor truck you'll be set. Pretty much every "kit" I've seen for a a D44 swap has been extremely overpriced for what you get. This swap is easily doable in a weekend for under $500. Heck I can round up all the parts from the local pick-n-pull for about $100, which includes the axle.

 

u can do it for under $500 in a weekend but u'll be using junkyard parts, unknown condition and taking huge short cuts. u need springs ($100-200), shocks ($100), rebuild axle ($2-400), brakes ($300), etc...

i spent a little over a grand on mine and rebuilt the axle, re-used as much TTB stuff as i could and even bartered but the axle is re-built, brakes are new or like new and everything is right.

 

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=29

 

The shocks and springs are a valid point, but the cost to rebuilt the axle doesn't really apply. All the "kits" out there don't include parts to rebuild the axle, so you'll have to do all that regardless of who you buy. As long as you inspect the parts you get from a junk yard you'll be fine. For around $500 you can have a very sweet 3 link setup that'll flex fairly well, so I don't know where you're thinking a $500 setup is a hack job.

 

Those kits are a joke anyway. we all agree on that. just saying, dont make it sound like the whole project can be done for $500 and be done right (like rebuilding the axle). for $500 in just suspension parts i agree.

but, it was the best thing i have done to mind and i havent driven it more than 5 miles since i have done it.

 

I guess I was thinking that people on here would know that the cost to rebuild the axle wouldn't be free. When I rebuild the D44 I had I think I had around $200. That was new bearings and seals and ball joints.

If you use stock components it can be done for less than $500 minus the cost of rebuilding the axle. Most of that $500 is going to be in shocks and springs.

I went through and added up the cost for a nicer 3 link and its about $700 without the spring and shocks. Though that includes a $240 steering kit with 1ton chevy TREs. You could easily reuse the stock Ford ones and make new tubing for it and save $240..

 

or use F-350 steering, which is what i did. i bought a kit off ebay for $120 shipped. its not name brand like moog but its been holding up great so far.