Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dana 60

[Bones_GSXR]

Yes we thought the F550 front had the spring perchs set at the correct width but taller. Chris sent 6" Front and 8" rear springs. Not his fault as the info we had said this should mak it level. After installing they were 1.5" to low. I added spacers to level it. I am going to swap the Front springs out later to level it as well as putting double shocks all the way around.

[sac95985]

Great info on this guys! I was just thinking of gears, high capacity 19.5 tires, matching axles in a big bang for the buck, but see there is more to it than just putting the 135 under the van. Since the stearling 10.5 rear was 2 inches wider than the E-series rear axle then I just assumed the DRW superduty be it DRW F350 or DRW F550 would be two inches wider too...but I see what carringb is saying the are actually narrower on the DRW innner wheel portian and metal work or even the frame would have to be chopped! Carringb, I saw you would also recomend a gel coated DRW flare like your budy with the white van...I like the F-350 DRW look of your rear flares as well though. What do you do for the understeer if anything?

Hey Bones_GSXR, I bet you like the brakes now better than when you had the stock quigley 4X4 lift? not to hijack my own thread about the 135 rear...but I take it you like the UJOR much better than the quigley?

Both you guys have some awesome vans!

[Bones_GSXR]

Between the Big Brakes, More rubber on the ground, and the Hydroboost it stops much better. It went from "I hope it stops in time" to "Squint so my eyes don't pop out of my head"

[carringb]

What do you do for the understeer if anything?

Add a rear sway bar. BTW - i'm considering only the extended vans at this point. The regular vans do not understeer as bad. In fact, some RB vans need a larger front sway bar so they won't oversteer.

You don't want to add too large of a rear sway bar however, without adding more rubber (tires). Otherwise, it may oversteer. I nice wide tire (on the appropriate rim width), like 285s or 305s is a good fit, will give you more lateral traction, and also widen the stance. Especially once you add the 2" adapters so the bolt pattern will match the new 4x4 front axle. Or, like you've hinted at, doing a DRW conversion. The sway bar will also help reduce body roll immensely, also making the van more stable.

If you will be doing the 4x4 right away, I'd suggest waiting until after the conversion to add the rear sway bar, so that you can weigh it and determine your loaded weight distribution first. This way, you can match the roll stiffness to your front/rear weight distribution.

[carringb]

BTW - to fit an F-series dually axle, I don't think the frame would need to be chopped. Just the inner fender. That is the limiting constraint for axle width when running as a dually. My tires barely rub when fully loaded.

But since the van frame is wider, you'd also have to make sure there is clearance for the new spring perches.

[Bones_GSXR]

My van is a RB and I do not notice a excessive amount of sway. My Jeep had more but it was not built as a Street truck but a Trail only vehicle. I am using Ujoint's Sway Bar mount kit and the Swaybar from the F550.

[UJOINT]

Originally Posted by sac95985

Chris, You ever do any DRW 4X4 conversions or your customers do them with matching 99-04 F-350 DRW axles and stock Ford DRW adapters rather than rear adapters on the E-series axle...or I take it this is not possible?

By the time you buy DRW adapters for the rear, rickson 19.5 steel$$ and I don't even know if you would have the same bolt pattern as the front wheels??and if you wanted gears$ and 550 knuckles$...but I understand what everyone is saying the F-550 set will not fit...and I take it the F-350 axles in DRW 99-04 will not fit either?

I haven't ..... but would love to!

[sac95985]

Originally Posted by UJOINT

I haven't ..... but would love to!

Well we already know the F-350 to F-550 DRW front dana 60 axles fit and the leaf spring perches are the same...and also the Spring perches on the rear F350 DRW and rear F550 DRW are the same as what you accomadate for in your conversion. It would just be a matter of the innner fenders possibly rubbing as carringb pointed out in DRW set up. I would think if someone wanted 488 gears it might be a way to go and I know it is heavier, but alot of the strength also comes in the dana s135 square tubes simular looking to the Rockwells (I know they are not the same axles). Anyhow, I just thought if anyone wanted to run 19.5 tires like some of the diesil truck enthusost and 4.88 gears with the beefy knuckles that this might be one way to approach it on a budget? But, it might be more sawsall, plasma cutter and grinder work than I at first suspected?

[Chimneyman]

I have source that i can buy front and rear axels and drive shaft all complete for $1600.00

[sac95985]

Originally Posted by Chimneyman

I have source that i can buy front and rear drive shaft all complete for $1600.00

You mean axles not driveshaft? For F-550?