350TacoZilla
Well-known member
So I'm just spitballing here because I have way too much time on my hands and not enough money to try all my ideas, if pointless bench racing upsets you move on I suppose but this might end up getting done down the rd if money becomes available for it.
I'm back and forth on doing the D50-60 ford outers on my 94 ram front D60 to get manual hubs, I'm not against the unit bearings since they are an easy service deal but there are certainly benefits to the swap like the spindle strength, hubs for better MPGs and reduced wear, better brakes etc. I'd also like to change rear if I do the front swap to get rid of the drums and go with disc's but still want to be able to run a 16-16.5 wheel. I also hate when the rear axle is way narrower than the front so that got me thinking about express\savanna van D70's with the factory disc brakes but I know nothing about them. Are this gen (03+ correct?) van axle the same 70" i have seen for earlier ones? I would love a 14bolt disc setup but it looks like the newer truck axles are around 68.5" WMS and that wouldn't be bad but not as close to front as I would like, going DRW silverado\sierra jumps to the 11.5 and they seem to be going for more $$ than the 10.5 or van D70 (was there a van D80 in these years?) and the truck currently has a D70 so seems like it would be fine strength wise.
I'm back and forth on doing the D50-60 ford outers on my 94 ram front D60 to get manual hubs, I'm not against the unit bearings since they are an easy service deal but there are certainly benefits to the swap like the spindle strength, hubs for better MPGs and reduced wear, better brakes etc. I'd also like to change rear if I do the front swap to get rid of the drums and go with disc's but still want to be able to run a 16-16.5 wheel. I also hate when the rear axle is way narrower than the front so that got me thinking about express\savanna van D70's with the factory disc brakes but I know nothing about them. Are this gen (03+ correct?) van axle the same 70" i have seen for earlier ones? I would love a 14bolt disc setup but it looks like the newer truck axles are around 68.5" WMS and that wouldn't be bad but not as close to front as I would like, going DRW silverado\sierra jumps to the 11.5 and they seem to be going for more $$ than the 10.5 or van D70 (was there a van D80 in these years?) and the truck currently has a D70 so seems like it would be fine strength wise.