Jacob Ochs Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 So I was thinking a lot about axles for some reason lol, and I had this weird idea! What if you we're to take for say a rear Ford 8.8 and get tubes made for it to fit as a front axle and had C's at the ends and a custom setup! So basically turning a rear axle into a front axle! I for one have no where near the money to have this done but I thought It would be a cool thread to start up! What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PEEJ Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 If I'm understanding what your saying,It could be done but the front would be going in reverse when the rear is going forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 You would have to be able to flip the carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorcharge Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Doubt there's anyone out there that makes reverse gears. Really no point given the number of front axle options out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 This is not unheard of in hardcore wheeling. 9" ford and 14 bolt GM center sections are popular options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banshee Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I'd have to say if your going to all work and expense to weld on knuckles then why not just flip the hog head over then it runs the other way? I mean if your having axles cut your not worried about a little overfilled oil level are you?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 if I remember right from reading past questions about this, flipping a rear axle over to make a front axle leads to oiling issues and burned up bearings. though it might work if you never go faster than 10 mph or farther than 1/4 mile at a time (ala what incommando said). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 if I remember right from reading past questions about this, flipping a rear axle over to make a front axle leads to oiling issues and burned up bearings. though it might work if you never go faster than 10 mph or farther than 1/4 mile at a time (ala what incommando said). I'd have to say if your going to all work and expense to weld on knuckles then why not just flip the hog head over then it runs the other way? I mean if your having axles cut your not worried about a little overfilled oil level are you?? This is not unheard of in hardcore wheeling. 9" ford and 14 bolt GM center sections are popular options. I didn't think about reverse gears at all! That would be a problem. Oiling would be too, it would be a cool project though, although not worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banshee Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Not sure why but a friend fliped a d44 and been rocking it hard for years, but not a DD maybe that's why hummm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-19763386-gm-14-bolt-steering-front-axle.html http://www.powernationtv.com/episode/XO2014-16/rock-bouncer-rock-race-axles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 http://www.wideopendesign.com/Product/11415/14-Bolt-Steering-Axle-Assembly.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The axle does not need flipped. If you run it upside down, the wheels would spin backwards. Trust me on this. If you don't believe me, take a spare rear axle, spin it around 180 degrees (WITHOUT FLIPPING IT OVER), and turn the driveshaft in forward direction with regards to the direction the truck is facing (which would be in reverse relative to the axle), and the wheels turn the correct direction. If you want to flip it upside down you'd need reverse cut gears and you'll have oiling problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 But doesn't the fact that the axles are now pulling instead pushing correct that? They do not make separate gear sets for front/rear if the axle is identical. If the cut on the pinion and ring are the same front to rear then the rotation is the same. Usually "flipping" is just for changing the dropped side of the diff.? The pinion does not decide the direction the input from the drive shaft does. Doesn't the drive shafts theoretically change that as changing the direction that they face means in function they are spinning the gears set in the opposite direction? If you check those links, especially the various videos on the 'net, they do not change anything to make a front axle out of a rear axle center section. Just asking. The down side to this in L/P axles is that the gears now ride on the weaker "coast" side of the gears. That is why H/P axles are desirable in the front: it makes them stronger by changing where the pinion puts the pressure on the ring. Again: Just asking. I am not insisting I am right or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 What I do know......... For tractor guys who home build articulating tractors...... They take a rear dif and FLIP the carrier from one side of the housing to the other side, revering the rotation of the axles. Now they have two rear difs opposing each other, one for the front and one at the rear. I have no idea if that is possible with auto difs..........doubtful, but that is what I was referring to. Find the front dif you want to use and take it to a drive line fab shop and have them build you one for $3K. Or buy a crate D44 for $2K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The axle does not need flipped. If you run it upside down, the wheels would spin backwards. Trust me on this. you're are correct. I must have been remembering an article on flipping a rear axle to make it a high pinion rear axle. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conker Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I'll bet if you did this without flipping the axle over you'd have a real good rig for doing burnouts though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 I'll bet if you did this without flipping the axle over you'd have a real good rig for doing burnouts though. hahahahaha not good for moving forward though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PEEJ Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I actually put my Comanches 2wd. front and rear end back under my XJ doner after swapping axles just so I can move it around if necesary,and because I still have to pull the tranny and T.C. My wife didn't like the way I had it on jack stands.(I really didn't either)I just flipped the spring under rear end and forced the spring over to fit.When I scrap the XJ I'll just pull the rear out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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