One of you rockwell-versed guys help me out here, if you would. What is involved in taking a rockwell front axle and using it in a rear-steer application? I think I understand that you pull out the center section, spin it 180 degrees, put it back in, & re-install the axles. But what part exactly on the top loader do you have to re-drill? Anyone have any pics of this? Also, in the pictures I have seen these axles aren't centered diffs in front. So, do you just run a cv in the rear driveline and have an offset rear diff? This seems awkward to me, but I guess I just haven't seen one set up like this to know any better. I am about to purchase two 2-1/2 ton rockwell fronts, and as usual I am jumping in feet first, but I would like to have some technical understanding of these axles before they show up on my doorstep! Any help would be appreciated. :D

I haven't done this yet, but i plan on it in the remote future. What you want to order is 2 front ends, one with the diff "centered". Boyce euipment can do this for you. It is as you said, removing the top-loading section, rotating it 180' and dropping it back in. On a front end, this puts the pinion flange dead in the center of the axle. So your driveshaft will be straight. You can mount the front for either pass. side or drivcer's drop with no modification at all. Call Boyce Equip. they really know what they are talking about.

So there IS custom work that must be done on the axle to make it work, ie. shortening one side and lengthening the other to center the diff? I had been told you could run a stock front in the rear, but I could not picture how that could possibly work without shortening, re-tubing, and such. I might check with boyce on the rear setup if this is the case. Can't bring myself to buy a stock front from them though. They want $1950, and I have found them in two places now for $700 and $900.

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
I haven't done this yet, but i plan on it in the remote future. What you want to order is 2 front ends, one with the diff "centered". Boyce euipment can do this for you. It is as you said, removing the top-loading section, rotating it 180' and dropping it back in. On a front end, this puts the pinion flange dead in the center of the axle. So your driveshaft will be straight. You can mount the front for either pass. side or drivcer's drop with no modification at all. Call Boyce Equip. they really know what they are talking about.

Actually if you rotate the top loader portion you have to re-drill the holes in its flange to fit over the studs which hold it to the housing. Also, you have to modify the housing because the housing has a notch in it for the gear in the bottom.When you spin the top loader section you have to re-notch it. But, this can easily be done with a grinder.Hope this helps.:D

Originally posted by Daniel
No problem! done it before, look at the sniper with rear steer, Avalanchengr.com want the axles, I got em, want them flipped, ILL DO IT, what else you want! Cmon give me a real challenge... Really If you want to do it yourself or I can do it for you. I also can show you how to do the brakes, rotary valve steering, and you can also goto SWMudrats.com and look at the blazer we just finished with rear steer... Lemmie know USA6X6.com

Hey, have I been emailing you back and forth via your website? :D If so, small world. I just pm'ed you.

Your welcome, ACESLUT!!!!!:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Daniel
Cmon give me a real challenge...

Okay, how bout regearing? Tell me there's a way to swap out those 7.17 gears for something I can match with an RC Dana 60.

OK, I think I finally get it. When you rotate the top loader 180 degrees, it puts the drive flange on the other side of the top loader. . . . making it basically centered on the axle. Is this correct? If so, that's just damn cool. :D

Originally posted by Daniel
The gears are 6/72 and I have not heard of anyone ever with a different gearset for these..
I GOT IT GET BIGGER TIRES...HA!

Make the gears? Marlin's got a gear cutter that does his Crawler stuff, any ideas what it'd take to get somebody to do a custom R&P set? Anybody know where to start?

cutting ring gears is a world different than using a hobbler that marlin has. i am not sure what marlin has but i bet it's a hobbler. the machine used to cut ring gears is different and much more expensive. a lot of them are getting cut out on cmc mill nowadays but i am not sure about this. but i know that you need a pretty big run to make it cost effective so i doubt it will ever happen.