Re: 9 1/4 axle swap 85 up 5.5 to 84 down 4.5
[Re: moparborn]
#1580081
02/17/14 12:48 AM
02/17/14 12:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,570 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,570
Freeport IL USA
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I have been told that it won't work, but I did it in a truck several years ago. Had a truck with bad pinion bearings and a different axle with the wrong bolt pattern. I swapped the axles and drums from the "old" axle into the "new" axle and drove the truck. I believe I had to use the "C" clips that were with the axle shafts I swapped in.
Understand, this was a work truck that was abused, and was known to have carried a lot of weight some days. I drove the truck for about 3 years total, until something else broke (probably the trans, I had a habit of killing them), and the truck turned into parts. I really don't remember at what point in the truck's service to me the axle swap took place. I would guess it was fairly early in its service life, buying new U bolts on a truck that had served me for a couple years was not something I would have taken lightly. LOL!
I do remember an issue with the "C" clips at the time of the axle swap, seems with one set of clips, there was more play with the shafts then with the other set. I went with the set with the least clearance thinking at least the clips won't fall out. The mentality at the time was "I need this truck to work". I was a function over correctness sort of guy, and still am. Gene
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Re: 9 1/4 axle swap 85 up 5.5 to 84 down 4.5
[Re: 76dodgeboy]
#1580083
02/17/14 11:36 AM
02/17/14 11:36 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487 Florida
scratchnfotraction
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I Live Here
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Florida
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I think poorboy is on the right track with the c-clips my lock right locker for the 9 1/4 has in the instructions that with the early sbp axles to use those c-clips and when going into the 85-up 9 1/4 use the c-clips and notes they are 2 different thickness. myself, i would go a little further and maybe check the stock side gears/spiders to make sure they are the same or different to match the different c-clips. would be good info to know if the c-clip change with axle is all thats needed... so far as long as I can remember it has been a no swap deal and all hear say... man that would save a lot of work and $$$ when swaping wbp on the dodge trucks. do the 8 1/4 axles inter-change axles from swb to lwb axles??? I have 2 of those 10 bolts so I guess a rainy day would let me find out.
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Re: 9 1/4 axle swap 85 up 5.5 to 84 down 4.5
[Re: scratchnfotraction]
#1580084
02/17/14 06:07 PM
02/17/14 06:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,570 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,570
Freeport IL USA
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Unfortunately, I'm not sure which way I swapped the bolt patterns any more, but the only newer 80s trucks I had were an 85, an 87 or an 89, but the newer rear axle could have been put under an older truck.... So many trucks, in so short of time, and so long ago. In a 15 year period, there were probably 7-8 Dodge trucks titled in my name, and probably another 10-12 that were parted out between me and my buddy, plus the 4 or 5 he had in his name. Parting cars & trucks funded my racing habit. This old age stuff sucks. All I know is that buying new U bolts would have condemned the truck for at least a couple of years of service to warrant the expense, and the axle shaft swap would have been to keep using the original tires and wheels. Gene
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Re: 9 1/4 axle swap 85 up 5.5 to 84 down 4.5
[Re: moparborn]
#1580087
02/18/14 11:40 PM
02/18/14 11:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325 Truckville, the capital of NY
85_Ram_4speed
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,325
Truckville, the capital of NY
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The correct way to do a swap is to swap the diff and axles together if they have a different sized c-clip than what you already have. you can just get away with swapping axles alone IF they had the same c-lips as what you currently have. Yes, in '85 they did change the c-clip size and yes, they are a bit different.
I asked Dr Diff about this sometime back and this is what he told me---and then I ordered a set of each c-clip from the dealer to have a look at them as I did not have extras around to compare. The difference is quite obvious.
Bottom line, the correct c-clips need to be in the correct matching differential and also have the matching axles.
Outcast Dodge guy.
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Re: 9 1/4 axle swap 85 up 5.5 to 84 down 4.5
[Re: 85_Ram_4speed]
#1580090
02/19/14 11:04 AM
02/19/14 11:04 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487 Florida
scratchnfotraction
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Florida
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Quote:
Quote:
and IIRC the spider gears have a different recess for the thicker C clips..
Absolutly, which is what I meant by using the correct matching differential.
I have wondered though if you can just swap in the correct side gears though and get away with that.......
this is what I was thinking.
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