F-550 needs axle upgrades...

[Poohbair]

My brother has a 2003 F-550/automatic/6.0 diesel... he keeps EXPLODING stub shafts in the front end...Not breaking at the Ujoint, but just literally exploding the shaft itself. The frontend isn't locked, and he is running skinny40" tires.

Does anyone know of any axle upgrades that will work in this axle?

Will the Longfield D60 CV's work in that axle?

Thanks

[NHRedneck]

thats one hella heavy truck dude..... im not surprized at all your bro is having issues..... might want to look into 2.5 rocks, but the longfields might hold up ok. have you looked into getting the shafts cryo treated???

[1sicbronconut]

talk to the folks at Overson engineering they have made Super Duty axles for folks that are made out of a higher grade steel.

[LeviGarrett76]

why not just try upgrading to 35 spline stubs?

[masterbeavis]

Will 35 spline outers work with the new style lockouts/unit bearing chingaderas?

[Poohbair]

I don't know anything about these frontends.
My brother runs a skinny 40" Continental tire and just blows these up as soon as a tire spins. He is getting ARB's installed front and rear right now to try and keep from spinning. He doesn't wheel it at all, it is a work truck... but his work is wildland fire fighting, so the truck is loaded with about a 2000-2500 gallon watertank, fuel, pumps, hoses, etc... so it is heavier than shit.
Sent an email to Longfield to see if their fancy dancy CV's will work in this axle.

[masterbeavis]

That seems odd to break that easy if you are open diff, with the exception of the weight. 16,000~20,850# of water in a two(?) ton truck seems like you'd be pushing its limits a bit I would imagine. Water weighs 8.33# a gallon. Based on a little bit of math and the info you gave, I would say possibly the truck is overloaded. Brief research turned up this info. (its a crew cab, but close enough for this.)

Ford F550 4x2 CrewCab Dually chassis, 176" wheelbase (GCWR 30,000 lbs).
GVWR: 17,500 lbs.
GCWR: 30,000 lbs.
GAWR:
Front: 5,600 lbs.
Rear: 13,500 lbs.
Max Fifth Wheel Trailer Weight: 21,400 lbs. (adding four wheel drive will cost 4,000 lbs in towing capacity)

Dry Weight: 8727 lbs. +/-

I'd say that if the tank is as big as you say, the truck is way overloaded. He might need to look into a larger axle. If he has access to it, I would be interested in seeing how much weight is on each axle with full load of water and gear.

[Fordman500]

Locking its way easier on the parts.

[800MJ]

i saw a solid front axle in a new 4x4 semi lot. id say that would do the trick

[TJ99]

I think your off on the size of tank. Our 2500 gal water trucks are semi based tank plus water is close to 30000 # with out the truck. Most use a 500 gal tank on small pick ups. Anyway the ARBs seem like they would make the problem worse go to 35 spline stuff. I think Dynatrack has a kit for the new style fronts


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Originally Posted by Poohbair

I don't know anything about these frontends.
My brother runs a skinny 40" Continental tire and just blows these up as soon as a tire spins. He is getting ARB's installed front and rear right now to try and keep from spinning. He doesn't wheel it at all, it is a work truck... but his work is wildland fire fighting, so the truck is loaded with about a 2000-2500 gallon watertank, fuel, pumps, hoses, etc... so it is heavier than shit.
Sent an email to Longfield to see if their fancy dancy CV's will work in this axle.

[Poohbair]

I could be off on the tank size... I know that the truck isn't overloaded for the factory GVW #'s because they won't let it pass inspection if it is. He started out w/a F350, but he was over by a few thousand pounds so he stepped up to the F550.
It is in the shop right now getting a new hi-zuk tranny, and a set of ARB's... waiting to hear from Bobby about the Longfield CVs, and if that doesnt work then I will try to find him something different.