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Axles Advice
Posted: Sun May 16, 2021 11:08 pm
by jemoreno14
Howdy,
So I’m planning on switching the Dana Axles on my 1972 Jeep J4000. Anybody have any advice what axles could be put into it with disc brakes?
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 4:02 am
by tgreese
What's your GVWR? J4000 only specifies the wheelbase. Your VIN will tell you the GVWR - read the parts book on the Tom Collins site or your TSM.
What's your objection to the current axles, other than the brakes? You could use the front axle from a later J-truck with disk brakes and switch the hubs to 5-lug with Ford parts. There's no widely available rear axle with disks and the proper width, AFAIK. Some have used the front 60 from a Dodge. I'm sure you could find some more discussion if you search old posts.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 6:32 am
by Stuka
What is your intended purpose of the truck? Its hard to recommend parts without knowing the requirements, as well as your budget.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 5:29 pm
by Tad
I’m surprised both Tim and Brandon have forgotten Josh’s 72 J2000 build on ifsja (user name was easyover).
You use a mid 80’s Dodge Ramcharger or W150 front axle.
Front spring mounting is the same as a post mount JTruck, you get disc brakes and open knuckles, these are not unit bearing axles.
You can search on ifsja and find the build but the pictures will be gone since we all abandoned photbucket years ago.
I have wheeled with this rig several times, it stuffs 33’s just fine and you keep your 5 on 5.5 front bolt pattern, there are one or two quirky things about TRE’s that are so far back in my memory I don’t remember but they are cheap fixes.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 7:16 am
by rocklaurence
Find a set of '74-'79 J20 axles and add a Disc brake kit to the rear. You'll also need to change the Post mounts to frame brackets on the front.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 7:17 am
by rocklaurence
rocklaurence wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 7:16 am
Find a set of '74-'79 J20 axles and add a Disc brake kit to the rear. You'll also need to change the Post mounts to frame brackets on the front.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Tue May 18, 2021 9:31 am
by Stuka
Tad wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 5:29 pm
I’m surprised both Tim and Brandon have forgotten Josh’s 72 J2000 build on ifsja (user name was easyover).
You use a mid 80’s Dodge Ramcharger or W150 front axle.
Front spring mounting is the same as a post mount JTruck, you get disc brakes and open knuckles, these are not unit bearing axles.
You can search on ifsja and find the build but the pictures will be gone since we all abandoned photbucket years ago.
I have wheeled with this rig several times, it stuffs 33’s just fine and you keep your 5 on 5.5 front bolt pattern, there are one or two quirky things about TRE’s that are so far back in my memory I don’t remember but they are cheap fixes.
Oh, I do recall Josh's swap. Its a really great option. I just wanted to know what the OP was hoping to accomplish before saying "you should do this". If he only wants disc brakes and an open knuckle axle, the dodge axle swap is perfect.
Was just wanting a bit more input from him before I made suggestions.
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 2:30 pm
by Tad
When I think about this Josh did relocate perches outwards to match up with the post mount width, I might have even made them for him back when I was doing a 2” wide version.
Had some video of him from when he came down to wheel with us in 2018.
https://youtu.be/y4a-XTPnY9I
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:27 pm
by Rod2
As you can see from my signature line that I'm still wheelin' a 73 J4600 with the closed knuckle and 60-2. I've had trouble with rear bearings and the aforementioned brake drums, but linings are still available as well as internal brake hardware because the 60-2 brakes were used on other trucks of that era. I compensate the lack of discs with Elliot's hydro-boost which will slide those 33.s on pavement if I press too hard or quick. What was the real surprise is that the E-lockers went into those axles as if they were new. As for towing, I don't come close to 8 G's towing, so that's not a problem, but Jim Allen wrote several years ago in his book on axles that the 60-2 axle shafts were bigger and stronger than 60's. Go figure!
Tad, we met a few years ago at an ECI gathering, but you didn't mention at that time that you had joined this forum on 5/13/2011. On that date (when you Joined) I celebrated my 73rd birthday; that was 10 years ago and I'm still wheelin'. GO, FSJ's!
Re: Axles Advice
Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 8:34 am
by Stuka
Rod2 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:27 pm
Tad, we met a few years ago at an ECI gathering, but you didn't mention at that time that you had joined this forum on 5/13/2011. On that date (when you Joined) I celebrated my 73rd birthday; that was 10 years ago and I'm still wheelin'. GO, FSJ's!
Very cool, and happy belated birthday.