Front Axle In Rear Steer Config.- Issues?

[offroader5]

Ok, bear with me...I'm sort of new to the technical side of the Mog workings and I'm more or less using the knowledge I have in standard axles as a guide. I've tried searching the web and on here in the Mercedes section to try and answer this question, but to no avail.

If I want to run a 404 front axle as a rear steer, I know that I should swap the portal boxes because of the gears running the opposite direction. Question is, isn't there an issue with the pinion/gears running the wrong direction as well? If it has it's standard rotation direction as a front axle, once you spin the axle around it wil still need to rotate that same direction, but now that it's on the rear...the rear shaft rotates the pinion the opposite way right?

I'm running an NP242 t-case in my XJ which is chain driven. That means that in stock form now, the front and rear d-shafts rotate the same direction. It doesn't compute in my head that this will work when using a "same rotation" gear set in the rear. The two axles would need to be opposite gear sets right? Am I overthinking this or what?:confused:

I do know that the front D30 axle I have now is a HP version, which to me means that the gear set is a "reverse" and not a standard. I can't imagine the pinion/ring gear set in the Mogs are a straight cut gear and not the standard helical cut?

Please help me to understand this. Is the rotation of the pinion even a concern on the Mogs for some reason I don't know of? Or do you have to install a different gear set in the rear axle to correct it? TIA for any info. and help.

[weps]

You are overthinking it too much. You are correct with the PORTAL gears wanting to be swapped side for side, but the pinion will be happy in the rear:p Your Tcase will work fine also. The high pinion you referred to is "reverse CUT" not "reverse rotation"

[offroader5]

You are overthinking it too much. You are correct with the PORTAL gears wanting to be swapped side for side, but the pinion will be happy in the rear:p Your Tcase will work fine also. The high pinion you referred to is "reverse CUT" not "reverse rotation"

Right, I understand that the front HP gears are a reverse CUT and not rotation. Only thing I'm thinking is that the now rear front axle will be driven from the t-case on the ring gears "coast" side of the teeth. I'm going crazy here thinking it won't work:(

I know people have done it, but I guess I AM overthinking it and scared to spend the cash on two fronts if it's not as simple as it sounds.

[weps]

I've seen LOTS of rigs done that way, but technically, you are right. i'm just planning on buying a front and tossing the parts into my already mounted rear end for 4WS when I get there. (I'll swap the gears side to side) Of all the shit I've broken, never thought of the "pig" or gears breaking......(course I have 2 complete spare pigs)

[offroader5]

I've had someone else tell me that the front axles on Mogs are not a reverse cut anyways, so in fact the front is always driven on the coast side and then using it in the back would drive it on the strong "drive" side of the ring gear teeth.:confused:

I don't know anymore...:rolleyes:....I guess since people ARE doing it without issues, then I should just go for it. Thanks for the info.

[Amund]

Nope, not even my 416 axles have reverse cut front (I think..), so putting on rear steer will only make things better for it :D

[portalrover]

This may have been raised before in other forums, but a word or two for what it's worth on reverse cut ring and pinions if I may.
Some truck manufacturers and aftermarket gear makers specify reverse cut r&p's in the front axle based on the premise that an R&P is only around 70% as strong when driving on the coast side. However personal experience (with notoriously fragile Rover diffs' both standard and reverse cut)and logic suggest that standard cut gears are the optimum setup for front application.
When a vehicle is climbing a steep gradient or pulling a heavy load, weight is transfered from front to rear, sometimes even to the point where the front end has no weight at all, therefore it does not require the same gear strength as the rear axle. However reverse the same truck up that hill, out of a hole or drag another stuck vehicle out in reverse gear and weight , and more tractive effort transfers to the front diff requiring maximum gear strength.
Bill.

[offroader5]

Hell....I'll give up a bit of strength to have the coolness of rear steer :smokin:
After all, the "weakened" Mog axle is probably still as strong as a D60:)

[Blazr77400]

The centersections are the same front to rear.