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Old 03-05-2011, 04:17 PM   #1
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Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dana 60

1999-2004 F-550 Dana 135S rear and matching Dana 60 with 4.88 gears. Anybody running this in their van? I was seeing alot of these go through some with the 19.5 inch wheels included on ebay this fall and winter for $2500 and less off from the 1999-2004 F-550 in matching pairs.

If there is already a thread on here for the dana 135 then I apoligize.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone runs these axles and how they like them. I know the guy with the van from Alaska has the 550 front axle, and his van looks great...but I was wondering if anyone has pictures or opinions of runing the 135 rear axle with the DRW? I would think if you wanted 4.88 gears it would be the cheapest way to go and talk about payload capacity! But I don't know much about the vans yet and the different approaches.

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Old 03-05-2011, 04:30 PM   #2
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

In my opinion these axles are a bit of overkill for the E350 chassis. Those with the full floater D60 have no issues, and most with the semi float don't either. The front D60 or Dynatrac Prorock 60 are plenty stout as well. Aren't the F550 axles wider than the E series? Spring perch locations no doubt are different as well.
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Old 03-05-2011, 05:38 PM   #3
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

I haven't seen anyone run that rear axle, but there are a few of us running the 550 setup. I just have the knuckles with a Dynatrac Pro 60 housing. The 550 spring perches are the same, the extra width is in the knuckles.

That Dana axle is a monster!
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Old 03-05-2011, 07:15 PM   #4
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

The F550 axle is narrower than would work on the vans, if you keep it as a dually. It would have to be singled.

I really see little benefit of running it. You'll have substantially more un-sprung weight, and less ground clearance due to the larger pumpkin. A Dana 70 is plenty strong for the vans, and will weigh less, and have better ground clearance.
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Old 03-05-2011, 08:45 PM   #5
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

I have a F550 Front and once I removed the Factory dually adapters it is the same width as a standard Superduty (wider than E-series) but calls for different Unit bearings as the wheels studs are different for the Dually adapters. If you use Rickson conversion wheels they center the wheels as well as converting to SRW. You will find that the Wheel mount surface of the 135 is Wider than the standard Superduty so no just putting Singles on it.

Oh and you will not be able to run wheels smaller than 18" due to the larger Rotors and Calipers. The F550 Rotors are bigger than even the 2008 and newer Superdutys with the "Big Rotors" 13.66" Dia. Vs 14.53"
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Old 03-05-2011, 11:07 PM   #6
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

Thanks guys, I was just curious about them...I take it that you cannot run a Dana 80 or stearling 10.5 or whatever rear axle it is in the F-350 DRW (99-04) because that axle puts the inner wheels to narrow as well...since the 550 and the 350 have the same width DRW???

The leaf spring perches front and rear are the same widht apart on the 99-04 350 DRW and 550?

I was interested in the DRW for putting children in the vehicle and all of the press about E-serries rollover...van angels.com or something like that and youtube videos of double lane change rollover in E-series and I know the 135 is overkill, but I was thinking of the possibility of not messing with gears since they would be 4.88 99 out of 100 times.

I know the super 60 is in 05 up coil sprung but the older 550 axles might work more economicly because the even come with 19.5 wheels and tires for cheap at times on the internet...but I see there is more to it than that now.

I take it people just run the adapters DRW on the stock E axle?

Another silly question, is the wheel bolt patern the same on 99-04 F-350 DRW and F-550???

I know the steel 19.5 wheels and tires are also harsher but will blow out less etc.
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Old 03-05-2011, 11:21 PM   #7
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

Quote:
Originally Posted by UJOINT
I haven't seen anyone run that rear axle, but there are a few of us running the 550 setup. I just have the knuckles with a Dynatrac Pro 60 housing. The 550 spring perches are the same, the extra width is in the knuckles.

That Dana axle is a monster!

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?
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Old 03-05-2011, 11:28 PM   #8
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bones_GSXR
I have a F550 Front and once I removed the Factory dually adapters it is the same width as a standard Superduty (wider than E-series) but calls for different Unit bearings as the wheels studs are different for the Dually adapters. If you use Rickson conversion wheels they center the wheels as well as converting to SRW. You will find that the Wheel mount surface of the 135 is Wider than the standard Superduty so no just putting Singles on it.

Oh and you will not be able to run wheels smaller than 18" due to the larger Rotors and Calipers. The F550 Rotors are bigger than even the 2008 and newer Superdutys with the "Big Rotors" 13.66" Dia. Vs 14.53"

I know many UJOR take the approach of running the 550 knuckles for the beef of the knuckles and the rotors??? But you just figured that you would run the whole 550 front axle and found out the leaf spring pearches are not 2 inches higher in the 550...they are the same? It looked great before with the 6 inch leafs but I see in the picture with the plow that it looks like you added 2 inches to the front? Anyhow your van is AWESOME! I also love how you and Chris black powder coated your wheels!!!
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Old 03-05-2011, 11:34 PM   #9
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

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Originally Posted by carringb
The F550 axle is narrower than would work on the vans, if you keep it as a dually. It would have to be singled.

I really see little benefit of running it. You'll have substantially more un-sprung weight, and less ground clearance due to the larger pumpkin. A Dana 70 is plenty strong for the vans, and will weigh less, and have better ground clearance.

carringb, I saw a thread or somewhere else about your DRW adapters but forget what they are? If you go to 4X4 will your DRW have the same bolt pattern as the front wheels? I also thought the F-serries axles were about 2 inches wider not narrower, but I take it what you are talking about is the inner wheels/tires hitting. I know the 135 is like a mini rockwell and heavy.
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Old 03-06-2011, 07:05 PM   #10
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Re: Budget 4x4 matching axles 99-04 F-550 Dana 135S rear Dan

The E-series cutaway axles are wider than the equivalent F-series axle.

(DRW cutaway dimensions):
F350 = 71"
E350 = 73.2"
F450/550 = 74"
E450 = 77.7"

The stock van axle is 66.4"

I use the arrowcraft adapters, which are 4" per side. This means my overall axle width is 74.4"

This is the minimum required for my wheels and tires. I have F-series inner wheels, which have a little more dish than the E-series. If using E-series rims, Arrowcraft sells a 3.75" adapter.

I'm not sure how the offset of the 19.5" wheels compare, but I suspect they have more dish, which means that axle probably won't work under a van, unless it is singled out.


AND..... 19.5" tires have far less grip than the 16" and 17" LT tires available for out vans. That right there will make your van less controllable in an emergency.



Here's my summary.... If you want to carry more than you can carry with single rear tires, then that's a good reason to make it a dually. If you want to make it more stable, then there's better options IMO. Besides, if all you do is make it a dually, and do nothing else to the suspension, it will still under-steer just as bad, which is what the vans have a tendency for.

Also, I've posted this previously.... Full size vans actually have a lower rollover when fully loaded with 15 passengers, than an SUV with 5 passengers. When comparing an equivalent passenger load, they are even safer than minivans. There's a lot of hype around these vans, but it's mostly just that.... hype, when get down to the actual facts. The most dangerous part of a van is simply that there is a lot of seats, so when something goes wrong, more people may be hurt than if there are less seats.
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