whats so bad about the ball style axles?

[Seventy4Blazer]

i can get a ball axle(cant remember the correct name right now, its not a kingpin.)
for CHEAP! its off a ferd, but i can also get one of 3 or 4 205's that will work for a doubler.

so why are these axles not used as much? do they suck? are they spendy?
ANY info helps. including the proper name.
grant

 

[NoSmog73]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
so why are these axles not used as much? do they suck? are they spendy?
ANY info helps. including the proper name

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you taking about an eaton rear ... Maybe /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[BadDog]

Since you mention kingpins, I'm guessing your talking about the common ball joint style knuckles like a D44 or C10. IIRC, some (all?) of the Ford D60s have ball joint knuckles. I think the only problem with them is that they are considered weaker. But for the most part this shouldn't be an issue...

 

[HarryH3]

I'm guessing that you're talking about a front axle that has a "ball" where we normally see the u-joint. It's called a closed-knuckle axle. They're good in mud since they're totally sealed. But they usually have pretty weak joints inside them. They don't use a standard u-joint. Various closed-knuckle axles have used different joint types over the years, most using some type of caged ball bearings to transfer the power between the inner and outer shafts. I don't think many of them came with disc brakes either as most manufacturers went to open-knuckle axles around the same time that they went to front disc brakes. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Seventy4Blazer]

yeah harry, you got it. thats the one. i thought there was another name for them. more "technical"
but those are the ones i am talking about. i still have to jump up on the truck and make sure it is the right spring perch width an all. i cant tell the year of the ford. it is the right body style. if it is the right width and has disk(didnt pay that much attention) then i will pull the truck off the stack and pull the dang thing.
thanks all for your help.
Grant /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[HarryH3]

Oh yeah, since it's a Ford axle, the pumpkin is probably on the wrong side for our stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I've never paid much attention to the earlier ones, but in the 70's at least, they had the diff on the drivers side.

 

[Seventy4Blazer]

yeah, thta is no big deal. he has like 3 or 4 ford 205's that i can get. im not worried about that. i just need to go back tomorrow and see if it is disk brakes and the spring perches are right.
Grant

 

[kennyw]

Spring perches are going to be the same as GM but no Disc brakes till 75 or 76 for Ford. I am sure they went to open knuckle before discs. I dont think anyone ever made the closed knuckle axle with disc's.

 

[Seventy4Blazer]

yeah, i looked at it today, DRUMS!!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
i guess on to look for another one i go.
Grant