Converting front axle to a non driving axle.

[ricksherryjosh]

Can a the center diff and axle be removed and the axles be held together with a welded bar (kind of like the old straight axle pick up trucks?

[Anton]

I know this might be somewhat off topic. Can a the center diff and axle be removed and the axles be held together with a welded bar (kind of like the old straight axle pick up trucks?

No, that's a bad idea - you need something to hold your halfshafts apart unless you never, ever go around a corner.

Pick up trucks (and lorries, and cars) with a "dead" axle don't have left and right wheels connected to one another, that'd stop them being able to corner properly.



The inner tyre needs to be able to spin more slowly than the outer tyre, or you're going to get one tyre breaking traction (or the tyres gripping and breaking the axle shafts), which is why car manufacturers don't install spools in 4x4's.

[ricksherryjosh]

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/t-bucke ... 93300.html

kind of like this, remove the diff for oil pan clearance and use the outer hub unit to steer just weld in a lowered bar to the leaf springs,

using the outer hub locking unit as a swivel only. if not anyone know of any car with a IFS that will mount on the my Samurai frame? trying to convert tit to a 2 wheel drive.

[Ladaman]

From that picture I have assumed you are looking to make RWD only.

As the front axle does not rely on the half shafts and the diff for support of the wheel, then although very unusual I suppose it would be possible to remove the diff, driveshafts and chop the existing axle casing, and replace it with a tube linking both sides together.

The existing front hubs do take all the loads seen by the wheels.

If you wanted to make FWD only you could do similar by making adaptors to mount the front hubs on the rear, as I am now doing with my full float kit, and then you could chop the rear axle as mentioned above.

Are you making a Suzuki hot rod type vehicle?

Oh yeah,

[Anton]

the axles be held together with a welded bar

This confused me - I thought you were using the word "axles" to describe the halfshafts (a lot of people do) but you mean the hub assemblies!

Yes, I suppose you *can*... If you want something like the front suspension setup on that pic, have a look at Vitara front suspension. Rather than cut up an SJ axle, the setup you want is already floating around out there on vehicles that cost a couple of hundred quid to buy whole - I'm sure you could get the suspension from one and retrofit it.

Cutting up the front axle and making the setup you require doesn't make sense to my mind, it's more work.

The least amount of work would be - start with a 2wd Vitara/X90. The exact setup you're looking for right out of the factory. And they can be had cheap.

What is it you're actually trying to do? That'd help us give you meaningful advice.

[ricksherryjosh]

thank you guys you have both answered my question, I know it was strange question and I know most people are looking to go the other way and with conversions.

I had already convinced myself it would work but wanted another opinion.
Rick

[ricksherryjosh]

yeah I am making a zuk rod. need the clearance for the engine.

[Anton]

If you put IFS suspension on from a Vitara, there would be nothing between your sump and the floor *at all*...

[ricksherryjosh]

I was thinking a 2WD geo tracker or sidekick might would work.

[ricksherryjosh]

http://youtu.be/rP1osMxVsz4
http://youtu.be/gbE74ZmOwNk
http://youtu.be/iBQT_m2mzGc