New truck axles on my 97

[oldred]

I would like to have the turning radius and driveability with the new 06 front axle along with disc brakes in the back. Anyone have experience or know if I could find a wreck 06 and swap in the suspension parts?? Or should I just leave well enough alone and just get a d60 for the front and put disc brakes on the back?

Thanks

 

[97CREWCABPSD]

the only way your going to put the front end out of an 06 is going to require alot of fabrication because the 05/06s are coil sprung in the front.

 

[oldred]

The coil springs are what gives the good turning radius. I can not do the fabrication myself. I may have to settle for getting a d60 for the front and do a disc conversion for the rear.

I just thought somebody might have tried to put the new parts on an OBS.

 

[BJS]

I've contemplated it and from a swapping standpoint there are better ways to attach the control arms that do not sacrifice ground clearance like the newer front axle.

The major bulk of the fabrication will be with the control/radius arm mounts and the trac bar and it's mounts.

The coil buckets are available from ford and with a couple holes would bolt to the frame however I don't know if ford changed the frame width at the front end to know if the upper & lower buckets would line up.

As far as the cost I can see you comming out ahead with the older D60 not to mention that you have serviceable wheel bearings.

The turning radius is beneficial when in 2wd but is large enough that when locked in 4wd you begin to bind the knuckle u-joints and feel it in the wheel so you cannot make a smooth turn, or that's been my experience.

 

[97CREWCABPSD]

dont you know that a 4x4 f350 has a dana 60 front end in it.

 

[95_stroker]

dont you know that a 4x4 f350 has a dana 60 front end in it.

If youre talking to oldred, he's got an F-250.