I am putting together a SAS for my ford explorer I am planning on using a Dana 30 from a coilsprung cherokee or TJ. I am using a D30 because of the price and i want to keep my 4.5 on 5. the question is: can i use radius arms from a EB on the d30? basically is there a kit or anyway to weld/bolt the diamonds onto the d30 shafts so i can use the raidus arms.

I was planning on using the control arms from the jeep but i think they will be too small, the late model explorer does not have much arc in the frame towards the front of the car.

also are jeep and EB springs the same diameter?

Older Broncos (pre 1972) used Dana 30s with Radius arms-I don't know , but maybe your knuckles would fit the early Bronco tubes. You could cut the stock EB knuckles off at the right length so that your shafts,etc... would fit it. The early bronco guys will just about give away a Dana 30, so look around. Classicbroncos.com has a classified section and they seem to pop up now and then.

I know this probably does'nt answer your ??? too well, but I have never seen anyone offer the pieces that are needed to weld to the axle. Maybe you could find one and cut the 'bumps' off????

WHy not just use a D44 out of a radius armed 1/2 ton Ford ??-Theyr'e must be someone who has figured out the wheel pattern.

P.S. I did a YJ this way -here is a pic

yeah that is what i want to do. is that a 44 on the wrangler? if so you still have the d30 :-)

also what do stock radius arms and drop brackets go for?

I can understand wanting to swap in a solid axle but putting a D30 in place of your present D35 is a reduction in strength. The D35RC front end in your Explorer is a pretty decent, fairly strong diff. I believe it even uses the larger 297x joints. Heck the ring and pinion is every bit as strong, if not stronger, than a straight cut D44 that runs on the coast side of the gears. Just something to think about.:confused:Oh, yeah if your looking for the C-bushing wedges to weld on to an axle so you can use the Ford radius arms. You can get them from James Duff.:D

i am converting from 2wd, right now i have nothing up front!

www.broncograveyard.com

www.jamesduff.com

www.bcbroncos.com


Any of those sights will have what you are looking for.

jeff-Yes that is a High pinion dana 44 up front and I gave the stock 30 away long ago. IMHO you're best/cheapest way to go is to buy a complete 44 front end w/ radius arms. Do you guys have any pull it yourself type yards out there?? I pulled this front end out of a '79 F-150 with the radius arms attached for about $180. I narrowed it myself (cut 6" out of pass side) and had the shaft cut and resplined ($60).

I found a dana 30 out of a 95 cherokee with everything including brakes calipers tierod drag link track bar and steering box. it has the 4.10's i need. They want 500 for everything. That is a little high i think but i dont think ill find one better than this so i am going to get it.

anyone know if 3.75 O.D 3.50 I.D. tubing is made? I need some to build up the axle housing so i can weld on the radius arm brackets to the axle housing.

what is the ideal angle i want the pinion at? how do i measure the caster so i know what bushings to get? do i want the mounts for the tie rod on the steering knuckles to be parrallel with the ground?

are the coil buckets that mount to the frame of EB welded or bolted on? does anyone sell these new or refirbed?

I've seen those buckets on ebay before.

I believe you could fine a whole f150 truck for what you are going to pay. Just my .02

Wow, that is one high price for a XJ front end! If you plan to weld on your own coil buckets, and your own control arm mounts then you can use a 86-95 Wrangler axle. Its a D30 High pinion, but most Jeepers just throw them away and swap in D44's. If you get a '95 axle it will have 297-x u-joints instead of the smaller 260-x joints, but any axle housing can accept the larger shafts. Don't be afraid of the vaccum disconect front ends either, these can be scored cheaper, then the 2 peice axle shaft can be removed and a one peice shaft can slide right in.

pickin up the axle tommorrow, The XJ is HP right?

I was PMed and asked to post some more of these YJw/radius arm pics-

close up

nudder

I need to say that no Early Broncos were harmed in any way to make this YJ. All parts were scavenged from boneyard F-150's and then narrowed 6". Looks like this chev was harmed though-sorry:(

I have some EB dana 30 radius arms if you are interested. Drop me an email Eagle131@sonic.net

You can get new weld on C-bush wedges at www.jamesduff.com

My buddy is planin the same thing. He currently has a 76 bronco too, with pleanty of spare parts. Even with that, he is putting on a link system kind of like the Rubicon Express long arm kit. One modification he is planning on making though, is the top arm on the passenger side is going to be held in with hitch pins so it could be removed easily. Basically, from what i have seen, that system will be easier to fab up too.

Just another idea to throw out.

Garrett

I see all of these jeeps with ford parts, why don't you guys quit messin around and get a ford?

:eek:

Adam

Originally posted by Adam McLaughlin
I see all of these jeeps with ford parts, why don't you guys quit messin around and get a ford?

:eek:

Adam

Got one-but it won't fit through the trees like the Heep will!!

what angle do the axle wedges mount at? example: do they mount perp to the from diff housing?

They are not exactly perp- they have the same angle as the radius arms to the frame. If you use the weld on mounts, I would put everthing together in a mock up before you weld anything. Get it setup the way you want and then tack the mounts, tear it apart and weld it up.

You have to weld them with your caster in mind. I wish I had done mine that way and I wouldnt have to run high degree caster bushings.

what is the highest degree/slope of the radius arms? I know if there is to much slope in them it will able the coils forward.

I have a late model exporer and there is not much bend in the frame up front so the radius arms will be angled down, now parrallel to the ground.

Originally posted by jeffseal
what is the highest degree/slope of the radius arms? I know if there is to much slope in them it will able the coils forward.

I have a late model exporer and there is not much bend in the frame up front so the radius arms will be angled down, now parrallel to the ground.

In order to use the bracketry that's already attached to the axle...
And in order to allow you to adjust the caster and pinion on the XJ axle....
Have you considered a longarm kit?
Basically, it attaches the UCA to the LCA and uses a single heim or johnny joint at the frame. If you were to use the radius arms...you'd want to lengthen them anyway.

So why not start with the longarm kit for an XJ to begin with?
This way, your fabrication occurs at the chassis (and all chassis frames are similar on the bottom, man)

Do a Google.com search on long arm hits, and Clayton's long arms....

axle is from a yj
I have little $$
already have bronco radius arms

Originally posted by jeffseal
axle is from a yj
I have little $$
already have bronco radius arms

Sorry...
I know that Rubicon Express used to sell the XJ bracketry to convert the YJ axle over to upper and lower control arms....

The advantage of actually being able to turn a bolt thread to "dial in" your axle pinion and caster is the number one reason for justifying purchase here....

W/o the long arm kit....you're going to spend alot of money to get the radius arms in there....and then spend more to get ANY flex and CLEARANCE out of it.

It takes less time and money to do it right the first time than it does to skimp on expenses and rush shortcuts to get a part on the vehicle....

Research and save for the transformation, man.
I've been there....and done that.... for about 20 years now.

I put a full sized Ford 44 under my Scrambler back in 1994...
If they had ONLY come out with the longarm kit back then. :rolleyes:

Edit: I was rolling around on my webpages...and I found this stored away ...
Don't know the origin of the manufacturer any longer...
But this is THE shit!!
http://www.widowmakeronline.homestead.com/files/castorarm.gif

yeah those are definitly nice, but probably a little more than the stock EB radius arms.

:-)

hmmm..... How much are those, ballpark?

Originally posted by jeffseal
yeah those are definitly nice, but probably a little more than the stock EB radius arms.

:-)

hmmm..... How much are those, ballpark?

IIRC, they are in the $350 ballpark. As a translation:
If you can just install these peices....and turn a nut to adjust your pinion and your caster in that one motion...

You'll beat out cutting off and turning axle tubes and yokes...you'll save disassembly of the "C" bushings everytime you add lift...etc...etc...

Like I said...
I'm not busting on anyone here....I just want to help them get it right from the get-go and be able to enjoy the vehicle instead of hunting for a solution every week.(mostly, because I've lived like that before....)

He is welding on new radius arm mounts- so he should be able to set his caster with no problem at all. For 90% of most wheelin the stock radius arms work well. If you want to get more flex later- do a wristed arm (do a search it is well documented). I have a wristed arm on my EB and it allows for more travel than my shocks can muster.

anyone know where i can get those caster arms?

www.bcbroncos.com used to sell them, I think there is a supply problem or something so it might be hard to get them.