Anyone shortened a front axle?

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I'm exploring options for swapping a newer front axle into my 58 Chevy 2 ton truck but I'm finding the old axles have a much narrower width than newer axles. I've read up on the subject on various "old truck" message boards and found there really isn't any direct swaps out there. I did find a thread where someone narrowed an axle from a mid 80's F700 by cutting 8 inches out of the center but there wasn't any details on how it was done. The thread was older and I wasn't able to contact the poster.I visited a junk yard today and measured an axle from an 84 F700 and it would be a perfect swap if it could be shortened about 8 inches. My goal is to add big disk brakes to the front of my truck, getting rid of the drums. I plan to use the power steering too, but that's independant of getting a new axle swapped in.
Reply:Well I don't know but perhaps a picture of the new one to give the pros something to think about.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Sure. I don't have a picture of the proposed "new axle" but I do have a "spare old axle" laying around. Other than dimensions the old and new are the same construction for a 2wd medium duty truck. Straight I-beam construction mounted with leaf springs. One other thing that comes into play is needing to relocate the spring perch mounts on the axle. IF it's possible to take 8 inches out of the center then the spring mount pads will become narrower than the springs. flat plate 1/2" thick, 6" wide by the length of the axle could assist in the shortening process, making proper location for the spring/u-bolts ?? Attached Images
Reply:It is really as simple as cutting 8 inches out, but you are going to want to build a holding fixture to keep everything square, what you might consider is using 2 reciever hitch tubes and a piece of 2", weld stand offs to the tubes and to the axle, cut out the 8 inches slide it together after you bevel it, and weld it out. Also I would weld nuts to the reciever tubes so you could use a bolt as a set screw to take the slop out.
Reply:Also when you cut the steering linkage sleeving it when you weld it back together wouldn't be a bad idea.
Reply:have you thought about changing the spindles at the king pins?  check your truck parts dealer if the king pins are the same size or have some made.then you wont have to worry about the axle being out of square.
Reply:Yeah, that thought started cirulating in my head a couple days ago. Unfortunately I didn't think of that while I was in the junk yard so I didn't pay any attention to the spindle assembly attach points. I guess this means another trip back for more measurements. I don't mind the extra trip though, for me a day in the yard is like a "normal persons" day at the beach. I bring a hand cleaner to eat my picnic lunch while all they bring is a sun block
Reply:I made a great discovery today, followed by a dissapointing one. It turnes out the early to mid 90's UPS delivery trucks have the perfect match front axle to swap into these older trucks. The dissapointment is UPS does not sell any trucks, whole or parts, making the axles unobtainable. Maybe someone knows of a similar truck and junk yards that have them? It appears I'm looking for an early/mid 90's Grumman or International step van with the 6 lug axle, 8.75" bolt circle. If I can find one, then no cutting required
Reply:. if you own a lathe you could contemplate turn down the old spindles to match a newer model rotor...for an example:  i took a set of econoline van front spindles and turned them down to fit a 1972 camaro rotor, then i made a couple caliper brackets and mounted the caliper brackets to the backside of the spindle....  also had the make a bushing so the rear seal would work.... i would turn down the old spindles before i would cut and weld an I-beam axle...  also you might actually find a rotor that would actually fit... alot of ford tapers are the same... you might just need to machine the seal area of the spindle or make a bushing so the seal will actually seal.. just an idea for you..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Have you considered swapping an entire independent front axle set up in there with all the brakes, power steering etc.?Take a look at the older GM pick ups, (73-late 80's) the entire sub frame unbolts from the frame on those with I think 3 bolts per side. You would get all of the above with one shot, and you should be able to get the same wheel pattern also. Chances are that the frame widths are very close so it would just be shimming it in place and bolting it up.I know sometimes you don't want to mix parts from different brands, but in this case it would make the truck handle, stop, steer, and ride better than the old straight axle. there are probably a million of them sitting in the junk yards.JimLast edited by JimCallaghan; 06-15-2011 at 12:22 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by MrBeastIt is really as simple as cutting 8 inches out, but you are going to want to build a holding fixture to keep everything square, what you might consider is using 2 receiver hitch tubes and a piece of 2", weld stand offs to the tubes and to the axle, cut out the 8 inches slide it together after you bevel it, and weld it out. Also I would weld nuts to the receiver tubes so you could use a bolt as a set screw to take the slop out.
Reply:Scrap is high now.junk it.
Reply:http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=168603