Converting a Rear Axle into a front "Steerable" axle.

[Mudderoy]

I guess anything is possible, but until recently when I saw Ian on "Xtreme4x4" convert a rear axle into a front steerable axle I didn't know you could!

He did it to a Toyota axle, I think. I need to go back and watch the show again and take notes.

This got me to thinking. How great would it be to have a front and read Chrysler 8.25, or a Ford 8.8, or Ford 9"?!?!?

So I've done a little searching without much results. I thought I post it up here to kick around.

[4.3LXJ]

Hey Mud, that is exactly what I will do for my front full width Toyota 8.25". I am already set up for it. I used the same method to cut down a housing for HUM WEE. I haven't welded it up yet, but will finish the process for the worlds shortest Toy axle housing. But basically, when done you can have something with some very stout axles with the strength of D60 and all the ground clearance of some of the portal axles. Very fun stuff.

[Mudderoy]

Hey Mud, that is exactly what I will do for my front full width Toyota 8.25". I am already set up for it. I used the same method to cut down a housing for HUM WEE. I haven't welded it up yet, but will finish the process for the worlds shortest Toy axle housing. But basically, when done you can have something with some very stout axles with the strength of D60 and all the ground clearance of some of the portal axles. Very fun stuff.

So do you have custom axles made? Use knuckles for another axle with the same tube diameter? What about calipers and rotors, that would have to be different that disc brakes for a rear axle as well.

[DETOURS]

Gotta go full width unless you tub the wheel wells, also look at the leaf spring relationship to tire clearance...

[4.3LXJ]

The rear end I have already from a T100. There is a kit you can buy for it to add stock Toy front spindles, calipers and discs.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/reviews/fullfloater/

The front will be a little more complicated. I will not be using the Dana Cs or outers. I will use toyota stuff because I really like sealed knuckles in mud and sand. I have two front axles as donor parts. Anyway, I think right now I will use a Tacoma rear as seed for this. I will move the pumpkin to the right which will be the left when turned backwards. Cut the ends off the axles. Weld on the balls after lining everything up. I will also look into cryo treating the ball for 40% extra strength. Then I will use this knuckle and high steer set up.

http://www.datinfab.com/highsteerarms6stud.aspx

Finish off with stock spindles, Tundra calipers and rotors Stock hubs and some birfields from

http://www.longfieldsuperaxles.com/products/30-SPLINE-BIRFIELD.html

Inner shafts will be 30 spline moly custom made.

All ring and pinions all cryo treated with ARBs installed.

That is pretty much it. This will give me an incredible, for a Jeep anyway, 13"+ ground clearance which is about the same as 44s on a Dana 44 with D60 axle strength.

[Mudderoy]

The rear end I have already from a T100. There is a kit you can buy for it to add stock Toy front spindles, calipers and discs.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/reviews/fullfloater/

The front will be a little more complicated. I will not be using the Dana Cs or outers. I will use toyota stuff because I really like sealed knuckles in mud and sand. I have two front axles as donor parts. Anyway, I think right now I will use a Tacoma rear as seed for this. I will move the pumpkin to the right which will be the left when turned backwards. Cut the ends off the axles. Weld on the balls after lining everything up. I will also look into cryo treating the ball for 40% extra strength. Then I will use this knuckle and high steer set up.

http://www.datinfab.com/highsteerarms6stud.aspx

Finish off with stock spindles, Tundra calipers and rotors Stock hubs and some birfields from

http://www.longfieldsuperaxles.com/products/30-SPLINE-BIRFIELD.html

Inner shafts will be 30 spline moly custom made.

All ring and pinions all cryo treated with ARBs installed.

That is pretty much it. This will give me an incredible, for a Jeep anyway, 13"+ ground clearance which is about the same as 44s on a Dana 44 with D60 axle strength.

Where do you get it cryo treated, and how much?

[4.3LXJ]

Check Longfields site (http://www.longfieldsuperaxles.com/). $45 they are just a few blocks from Randy's Ring and Pinion in Lynwood, WA and do a lot of cryo treating for them and others. Aaron is the guy to speak to at Randy's