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Front Axle Possibility?

noJeepshere

noJeepshere

I Drove Trains!
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While at the junkyard today I spied a 1983 Jeep Comanche pickup that was obviously someone's pride and joy at one point in time...

Then I noticed the front axle, Dana 44, 6 on 5.5 bolt pattern, complete minus hub lockouts. I did some measuring and found the track width to be the same as my Yukon (~65") the spring pads were 35" on center. The only thing was it is setup for spring under right now, which I don't mind, I'd just buy a 4" or 6" lift spring to make it right on my Yukon. This would also make it easier to do crossover steering.

Should I go for it? This is going in my Yukon for my sas project.
 
Should work perfect. I'd get the steering box and end links and tie rod too as I believe it could all be used.
 
I don't "need" a new steering box per se, as it's already a 2wd style. But if you guys think it's a good axle I'll go get it. Anything I should check before I commit? It will be only about $80 tomorrow...
 
Couple of things here.

That's not a Comanche. It's a j truck

Are you sure it's 65" wide? It should be about 60 1/2"

Did that truck have fender flares? Fender flares came on wide track trucks. Narrow trucks did not have flares.

Grab that axle and sell it to a jeep guy. I get $350 for those around here to swap into

If you go back, I will buy the axle shafts
 
1BEATK5 said:
Couple of things here.

That's not a Comanche. It's a j truck

Are you sure it's 65" wide? It should be about 60 1/2"

Did that truck have fender flares? Fender flares came on wide track trucks. Narrow trucks did not have flares.

Grab that axle and sell it to a jeep guy. I get $350 for those around here to swap into

If you go back, I will buy the axle shafts
Click to expand...
It was labeled "Comanche" on the sticker on the fender, and yeah, it did have fenders, and I measured it with a tape measure to be sure. I'm going there in the morning to get it.
 
So it is a wide track. Those are rare after 80 when they went to a drivers side diff.

The knuckles out are Chevy, so brakes and stuff will be cheap. Never considered that axle for a sas before
 
Yeah, I want no more than 4" of total lift over stock if possible. I think spring under and 4" lift springs should make it about that with ORD's sas kit, since spring over and stock springs do the same. And if I need to, I could put a zero-rate in to bring it down a little more and center the axle.
 
should be fine it will be narrower than your rear. I am pretty sure the narrowest newer 10 bolt is around 69" and the narrower ones are 67.5 which means the 65 should be more than fine. Its your basic 44 nothing really even interesting about it.

I would say just run spacers if its off but I don't think you can run wheel spacers in Utah
 
I measured the front track width on a 98 suburban that was sitting across the way and it was also 65", and the front and rear track widths match on mine. Should work, don't see why not.
 
Its actually good that the WMS is narrower on the Jeep diff. My D60 puts my wheels outside my fenderwells much more than the rear diff does. Enough that people driving behind me always comment that my truck is dog tracking when I know it doesn't.

Running spring under with 4" 73-87 front lift springs should net you around 3" of overall lift on your truck and provide a very stable front suspension. I would not reccomend a set of 52" springs up front for a street truck. It should ride alright and have good steering feel.

Now, get out there and get that diff!
 
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