Straight axle swap - Diesel Forum

jmccarty268 · 01-09-2010, 04:33 PM

I am planning to get rid of the twin I beam front axle out from under the front end of my 96 ford F250 and replace it with a straight axle out of F350. Is there anything special i have to do to do this? Or with it bolt right up?

rusty1161 · 01-09-2010, 10:45 PM

Search "Dana 60" in this forum and enjoy a couple hours of fun reading. Very straight forward swap.

Good luck.

Rusty

DZLJIM · 01-10-2010, 07:51 AM

The best thing you can do for yourself is to find a complete donor truck for the swap. It will bolt right in.
If you try to piece it together you'll drive yourself nuts.

dieselcamino · 01-11-2010, 12:59 AM

when getting all the parts together if you dont have the room for a donor, make friends with your local NAPA guy or who ever you use, these guys will be your life savers for somethings. and when trying to gather parts just remember more is better can always sell it later if you dont use it but scrambling to find little odds and ends at the last minute is unneeded stress. i personally rebuilt my whole new front end out of the truck in my free time top to bottom inside to out, and then in about a day and a half had it in with minimal problems.
p.s if down the road your interested i have a driveshaft for a dana 60 im looking to get rid of, its also in the classified section of our forum

jmccarty268 · 01-22-2010, 07:57 PM

thank you for your help it saved me a lot of time trying to find a individual around were i live that knows how to do it

hondajimz · 01-24-2010, 11:50 PM

I am not mechanically inclined so I just paid to have the swap done. I went with a gear swap for the rear end as well. Went from 3'55 to 4'10. The Dana 60 swap and the gear change cost 2k. Can't wait to tow my toyhauler.

jgessnerlsfd · 02-09-2010, 01:31 AM

as already stated its pretty straight forward my only advice is to find a 95, 96, or 97 as these have ball joints not king pins and the same brakes as your Dana 50 so you wont have to remember a different year than your truck when doing maintenence.

**caryt** · 02-09-2010, 11:46 AM

best option is same year donor, then do a SD spring swap with a RS kit and correctly valved Bilsteins. Will ride better than any stock SD. I've helped hundreds do this mod. PM me if I can help.

Cary

materi · 02-09-2010, 02:33 PM

what would new superduty springs cost? do u get them right from ford?

**caryt** · 02-10-2010, 04:39 PM

$700-800 all 4 from the dealer

beachbilli · 02-12-2010, 09:35 PM

Do you have to have the F-350 front drive shaft or can you still use your old one? Also how do you know what valving for the bilsteins, and what do they run for all corners? I have my stock Super Duty shocks, will they work?

**caryt** · 02-13-2010, 11:28 AM

If your using SD springs and a RS kit on a OBS you need the correct Bilsteins, SD stock shocks won't work. How do I know...my Job.

DS best to use a F350 CV shaft but you can use the stocker..limited 4x4 MPH as you will get vibration from the angle.

bddt82 · 02-25-2010, 09:18 PM

I done this swap in my 95 i found a guy parting out a 88 i went and bought the axle and everything it had to install it i wanted a 88 cause its a king pin front. The down fall of it was the brake lines needed adapted i made mine work and have had no problems wit it at all. I did the whole swap in 8 hours wit no air tools and in a very small garage
i kept the 60 and its springs track bar mount and sway bar all togeather slid it in and it bolted right up wit no problems. the other down fall too usein the 88 front end is the brake pads u just gotta remember when i get pads wut axle u have but if you have any questions i can gladly point u in the right way. Im puttin a 4 inch lift on this weekend