Love the "Fragile" labels on the box with your 9", now that's irony!!!
Good looking axle!
Wish my welds looked that good.
Good looking axle!
Wish my welds looked that good.
A YJ with an LS on Coilovers & Spidertrax Axles
- Thread starter Fouledplugs
- Start date
Spidertrax does amazing work to say the least. Their axles and axle housings are works of art.
Since the build plans have changed and I’m ditching the leaf springs for coilovers, I’m wide open as far as what front axle to run.
Originally, I was limited to a center section that had a cast in leaf pad for the front. My desire was the replicate the 78-79 Ford high pinion 60. But since ditching the leafs, I’ve been window shopping.
Originally, I was limited to a center section that had a cast in leaf pad for the front. My desire was the replicate the 78-79 Ford high pinion 60. But since ditching the leafs, I’ve been window shopping.
The only reason I have yet to pull the trigger on a front Spidertrax axle with their ultimate steering inner and outer knuckles is the bearing; it isnt sealed.
Being that I wheel down south, water and mud are precedent. I think I would rather have a sealed bearing, but haven't completely ruled out a full Spidertrax front axle build.
So my options have expanded to say the least.
East Coast Gear Supply builds bare tube high pinion 60’s that use the Dana Ultimate 60 center section and I really like the genuine engineered Dana/Spicer stuff.
The Dana Ultimate 60 uses 3.5” tubes and utilizes a true 10” gear from the Dana Super 60 that they designed and engineered for the Ford Super Duty.
In 2018 Dana developed and prototyped a 1550 sized kingpin knuckle for their aftermarket 60’s. This year at Easter Jeep Safari 2021, Dana finally released their 1550 (SPL-70) kingpin knuckles for the Ultimate 60 to the masses. But it’s not my cup of tea. (Lacks shear steering option) I am glad to see another 1550 kingpin offering hit the market though.
So my options are:
The Dana Ultimate 60 Center Section for example (internet sourced photos)
Being that I wheel down south, water and mud are precedent. I think I would rather have a sealed bearing, but haven't completely ruled out a full Spidertrax front axle build.
So my options have expanded to say the least.
East Coast Gear Supply builds bare tube high pinion 60’s that use the Dana Ultimate 60 center section and I really like the genuine engineered Dana/Spicer stuff.
The Dana Ultimate 60 uses 3.5” tubes and utilizes a true 10” gear from the Dana Super 60 that they designed and engineered for the Ford Super Duty.
In 2018 Dana developed and prototyped a 1550 sized kingpin knuckle for their aftermarket 60’s. This year at Easter Jeep Safari 2021, Dana finally released their 1550 (SPL-70) kingpin knuckles for the Ultimate 60 to the masses. But it’s not my cup of tea. (Lacks shear steering option) I am glad to see another 1550 kingpin offering hit the market though.
So my options are:
- Spidertrax 3.5” chromoly bare tube front axle housing with Reid’s Super Kingpin inners and outers. (Supports 40 spline outers that use a massive 2” axle shaft and 05+ Super Duty Unit Bearings.
- Spidertrax 3.5” chromoly bare tube axle with Spidertrax Ultimate inner and outer knuckles with their chromoly gussets and skids.
- ECGS Dana Ultimate 60 center section with 3.5” bare tubes and Reid Super Kingpin inner and outer knuckles.
The Dana Ultimate 60 Center Section for example (internet sourced photos)
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Front axle decision has been made to no surprise; going Spidertrax w/ kingpin knuckles.
Build plan is as follows:
Reid Steering Knuckle Comparisons:
Left to Right:
Dana 44 vs Dana KP 60 vs Super Kingpin 60
Left: Reid Super Kingpin 60
Right: Ried Factory like Dana 60
Build plan is as follows:
- Full-Width 69.5” WMS, Driver Drop, Long Driver Side Tube
- 3.5” Spidertrax Pro Series Housing (Heat-Treated Chromoly Tubes)
- Reid Super Kingpin Inner Knuckles (C’s)
- Reid Super Kingpin Steering Knuckles
- High Steer Arms Drilled for Double-Shear
- Ford Superduty 05+ Timken Unit Bearings, Re-drilled 8x6.5
- Ford SuperDuty OEM Brake Calipers
- Ford Superduty OEM Rotors Re-Drilled 8x6.5
Reid Steering Knuckle Comparisons:
Left to Right:
Dana 44 vs Dana KP 60 vs Super Kingpin 60
Left: Reid Super Kingpin 60
Right: Ried Factory like Dana 60
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As written, my axle housing will ship from Spidertrax on 5/17/21. The folks at Spidertrax will try to get me in while between some bigger jobs to have the 4130 chromoly skids welded onto the housing.
Once I get it in hand, I’ll get it to my axle builder and hopefully he and his team can knock it out quickly.
Once the builder has the housing, he will be cutting down the axle tubes to match my specs, pressing and welding the inner knuckles, and assembling the outer steering knuckles. He will also be drilling the high steer arms to match the steering arms on the knuckle. From there I can use it for mock up.
Once I get it in hand, I’ll get it to my axle builder and hopefully he and his team can knock it out quickly.
Once the builder has the housing, he will be cutting down the axle tubes to match my specs, pressing and welding the inner knuckles, and assembling the outer steering knuckles. He will also be drilling the high steer arms to match the steering arms on the knuckle. From there I can use it for mock up.
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Thanks.
Hoping the parts will hold up well for 40’s, the LS, the 3.8 Atlas, and the trails around the south.
I'm thinking you'll be just fine.
In fact, I think once you get this mochine together, you'll be ready for some serious Zonie rock!
Was starting wonder if you were building a JY or rock bouncer. LOL!
Well I’m also building with the idea and plan of spending more time wheeling than working on it.
It may take a little longer, build wise, but should be worth it.
Plus, I want to be able to hit any trail that is built for 40’s without worries.
I'm hip on wheeling it rather than working on it, that's my plan too, albeit a smaller scale.
But I think you'll have it, I'm guessing you see a lot of mud.
Never wheeled in the South, but your build kind of sounds like my buddies from Norway.
And they do DEEP MUD!
I hate mud. Although, mud comes with the territory when wheeling in the south east.
I’ll mainly be looking for rocks
Here in the SW you don't need to look for rocks, they'll find you.
As you say, it comes with the territory, but we do have some of the best!
Fortunately not much mud, I'm not a fan either.
During the summer our soil is like 6" of concrete, but add an inch or two of rain and it just turns into 4" of snot.
Making some progress on the axles, delivered my front Spidertrax axle to my axle builder. As mentioned, he will be cutting it down to 79 Ford F350 spec.
So driver side drop with a long driver side tube and Reid’s super kingpins with a double sheer steering setup.
The 4.3:1 Atlas ships from Advanced Adapters on Aug 7th. Should be getting a call from them this week to confirm everything before it ships.
Once I get the Atlas in hand, I can work on getting the engine, trans, and transfer case in place. After the powertrain is in place, the suspension mock up can begin.
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Very nice indeed!
What spline axles/lockers will you be sporting?
Still need to do a little more work on my D30 build before I can get it to my builder to set the R&P.
These machines are labor of love and just don't fall together....
What spline axles/lockers will you be sporting?
Still need to do a little more work on my D30 build before I can get it to my builder to set the R&P.
These machines are labor of love and just don't fall together....
Thank you.
I’ll start with 35 spline stuff, the 300m from spidertrax and plan on using ARB’s front and rear.
If I find myself breaking it, I can always upgrade to the 40 spline stuff in the future.
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The 35 spline stuff that came with the D489 blew my mind!
If I break those with a 4 banger, it's probably going to be spectacular...
If I break those with a 4 banger, it's probably going to be spectacular...