Talk me into/out of building a Ford 9" steering axle

[Bebop]

bebop,

when you were buying 25 at a time was there a decent market for them? how far would you travel

There still is.
I passed my source to Jake at BKOR when I stopped buying/selling.

I was going pretty far north. Rust is your friend when you want cheap parts.

 

[Sean]

vegas is same as cali,,, but denver not bad

Denver likely has a lot of rust too....they use quite a bit of salt on the roads; idiots.

 

[Bebop]

It's an axle you're buying. Rust doesn't matter. Especially if it's only to re-use the outers.

 

[RustyC]

I was going through this decision a couple of years ago. Built a 9" front using a banjo rear housing and 99 -04 outers because I had both. It seemed like a good idea at the time. What will bite you in the ass is the first time you break a 30 spline outer (and you will)
You then start looking at 35 spline outers @ $150 each AND you have to machine the unit bearings and while we are there add a delrin bushing , slugs or lockouts. OR rob the credit union and get Spidertrax components.

I did all that minus the Spidertrax stuff. Broke ujoints = broken custom inner shaft. Fixed that once, and did it again a few months later.
I was super frustrated at this point. I found I could buy a 05 D60 for the C's and knuckles add new 1550 shafts and reused the unit bearings for about the same as chromo 1480 joints and shafts.

I joint the 05-up fan club after that. Used a DIY fab housing, original short side and shortened and respline the long side.
The axle is no longer an issue to date. 38"s on H1 wheels and a little water to boot.

I do think the 99-04 axle can be usefull, but it would have to be in a light weight rig and would still need the 35 spline outers and chromo joints, shaft and ball joint eliminator for me to trust it. The weight of the 05 outer is a factor to consider they are substantially heavier.

 

[Bebop]

You then start looking at 35 spline outers @ $150 each AND you have to machine the unit bearings and while we are there add a delrin bushing , slugs or lockouts. OR rob the credit union and get Spidertrax components.

Branik sells brand new ones already machined for 300ish

 

[gozuki]

E locker is only rear. Tremors have a LSD front but I doubt anyone is picking those up for builds

i don’t remember what year the e-locker started though

2011+

 

[JR4X]

And I've been sitting on a NOS Chevy KP front D60 housing for like 12+ years thinking I'd build it. Now, I'm thinking fabbed only....or maybe an 05 SD60. Funny how things change.

Same. My brothers and I hoarded stuff for “future projects” that never happened. Between the 3 of us we’ve got at least two of every gen front 60 with one exception. We never gathered up any 78/79 ford front 60’s. Other than that you name it, we’ve got it. I’ve got two pass drop rockjock front 60’s with 99-04 outers.

The OBS 60’s or Dodge CAD 60’s can’t be worth anything now with SD 60’s so cheap and plentiful.

 

[RustyC]

The OBS 60’s or Dodge CAD 60’s can’t be worth anything now with SD 60’s so cheap and plentiful.

There is a Dodge knuckle that has a very high steering arm that is useful on a balljoint D50/D60 axle. I don't remember if it is unit bearing as well or traditional spindle.

 

[Bebop]

Same. My brothers and I hoarded stuff for “future projects” that never happened.

I have like 8 axles right now.
Spidertrax, 14 bolts, 05+ 250-350 SD60, just bought a 05+ 450-550 SD60, regular Ford 9", you name it.

"I'll do something with them one day"

HA

 

[Bebop]

Not an axle, but I even have an outfront motorsport 700hp subaru engine. Whyyyyy

 

[Sean]

It's an axle you're buying. Rust doesn't matter. Especially if it's only to re-use the outers.

If I was buying one, it would be to use the whole thing. If I just wanted knuckles, I'd likely go American Iron. That's just me though.

 

[Bebop]

Still doesn't matter.

 

[Sean]

Same. My brothers and I hoarded stuff for “future projects” that never happened. Between the 3 of us we’ve got at least two of every gen front 60 with one exception. We never gathered up any 78/79 ford front 60’s. Other than that you name it, we’ve got it. I’ve got two pass drop rockjock front 60’s with 99-04 outers.

The OBS 60’s or Dodge CAD 60’s can’t be worth anything now with SD 60’s so cheap and plentiful.

LOL, you sound like me.

Even got a RJ60 with just tubes pressed in. Planning the Ai outers for it at this point, lol.

And I'm contemplating swapping an 02 Dodge 60 for an 05+ SD 60 just to get manual hubs and an easier 35 spline inner locker.

 

[Sean]

Still doesn't matter.

Depends on if it's surface rust or cancer. Real cancer isn't worth the frustration or weakening for a few hundred bucks to me.

 

[Ghetto Fab.]

What does it cost to ship a pallet of axles across the country?

 

[Bebop]

What does it cost to ship a pallet of axles across the country?

Not much if you're not in a hurry.

 

[TTRAxle&FAB]

Like bebop said once you start buying 20+ axles pricing gets better. Between flipping and just using them for builds I have gone thru 120+ 05+ axles.Now as far as swapping tubes in an 05+. Probably my 6th most popular axle is a passenger drop 05+. The guy with the kp60 for 3k actually has one i built. I sell them for $1200 retubed to fit oem shaft or $1400 with a new center.

 

[Sean]

Like bebop said once you start buying 20+ axles pricing gets better. Between flipping and just using them for builds I have gone thru 120+ 05+ axles.Now as far as swapping tubes in an 05+. Probably my 6th most popular axle is a passenger drop 05+. The guy with the kp60 for 3k actually has one i built. I sell them for $1200 retubed to fit oem shaft or $1400 with a new center.

And just to avoid all the hassle of cutting off the castings, I might be in touch about having you build a driver drop one for my Dodge.

 

[Bebop]

And just to avoid all the hassle of cutting off the castings, I might be in touch about having you build a driver drop one for my Dodge.

money isn't a problem then haha

 

[Boomtacoma01]

I knew I should have held on the the last set of SDs I had. they were geared to 4.56. sold the pair for 750. I did get my last one on a trade for a Toy 9.5 hub rebuild kit . It got parted and I kept the Cs and knuckles.

 

[chaplinfj60]

Like bebop said once you start buying 20+ axles pricing gets better. Between flipping and just using them for builds I have gone thru 120+ 05+ axles.Now as far as swapping tubes in an 05+. Probably my 6th most popular axle is a passenger drop 05+. The guy with the kp60 for 3k actually has one i built. I sell them for $1200 retubed to fit oem shaft or $1400 with a new center.

you in MO,

i think i seen you adds before.

 

[TTRAxle&FAB]

Yes 35 minutes west of St.Louis

 

[Sean]

money isn't a problem then haha

One of the few commodities we can't get more of is time.....and it has a value. You place your value where you wish and I'll do the same.

 

[Bebop]

One of the few commodities we can't get more of is time.....and it has a value. You place your value where you wish and I'll do the same.

but why complain about AZ prices then ?

 

[TTRAxle&FAB]

I would rather retube an axle then cut the cast off....

 

[Sean]

but why complain about AZ prices then ?

Do you like to maximize your dollars when possible or where worth it? <- Rhetorical question; everyone does.

 

[Sean]

I would rather retube an axle then cut the cast off....

Exactly. It would be different if I was bolting it back under another SuperDuty.

 

[Sean]

but why complain about AZ prices then ?

Oh, and the complaint was just as much about Phx turning into just another suburb of LA.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

Could you still do that today? I know Chevy front 60’s have the most psychotic price tags anymore.

Yes, they've only gone up. People in normal will pay out the ass for GM on 78-79 KP60.

 

[Dan]

I sell them for $1200 retubed to fit oem shaft or $1400 with a new center.

That’s a killer deal!