I searched! Front Axle in rear?

[EverettY]

So what are the pros and cons of running the front axle case in the rear? I searched but couldn't find any threads with the info... I'm sure it's somewhere but I didn't want to spend hrs looking Thanks in advance

[bigstu]

Pros:
One housing spares both axles.
Slight increase in ground clearance.
Some say it reduces some of the gear "skip" and damage that occurs with the rear housing.
Possibly weight savings?
Same Gears, Axle Shafts, etc.....

Cons:
COST COST COST.
Have to buy the following.
Housing
Upper Shaft - Front
Upper Link Mount - Front
I don't like how the front links connect to the front axle. I think it is a BAD design.
Do the swap, now you have two axles with it on there. Have seen some guys hook the lower links to the shock mount, not sure I like that either.

I've thought a couple times about making the change, and never did.
Once I put good bearings in the rear end, with hard gears, and did the long Screw mod for the rear end, I've never had a problem.
Even toasted the small bearing on the upper shaft and she still lived.

[slowride1]

cost is all .
an on a good not it makes the truck the same width front an rear as well

[bigstu]

Originally Posted by slowride1

cost is all .
an on a good not it makes the truck the same width front an rear as well

Forgot about that one slowride...

[slowride1]

i have been wanting to do this for some time i just dont want to have to buy the new wraith parts it takes to do it rite yet . if i had a prob with a rear axle i would do it in a hart beat tho

[articzap]

Originally Posted by slowride1

cost is all .
an on a good not it makes the truck the same width front an rear as well

No it doesn't. The front and rear housings without lockers or c's are the same exact width.

You will need two long straight shafts and you'll have to cut them to the right length.

[Curcal]

You can use the stock axles. You simply flip the final drive gear and make the tang a little longer by carefully taking off the bump stop. Or drillingin to the gear to promote further engagement. With the gear flipped the shortt axle is too long for the lockout to seat all the way on.
Sacdrums did a great picture how to on his build thread. Ill find a link when.i get to a computer.

[redrokin00XJ]

Felsenfest Ti axles for the use of the front axle, then offers another option. The use of Wraith or XR rear chubs. Wraith chubs would be a little bit wider. But you can order custom axles from him in any way you wanna build it, main reason people are or were doing it? Due to rear gear popping problems..... like Bigstu said. With the bolt mod, haven't had any problems whatsoever.... I still run the stock gears. No prob.

[boosted4lyf]

Rear steer, duh.

[tradclimber]

Worth doing. Cost is the only factor. symmetrical clearance width, etc. Was one of the first things I did to my rig.

Far fewer rear axle hangups.

[redrokin00XJ]

Although there's one draw back by doing a front axle in the rear is that the upper link is off center. IDK by how much. I just know that it is off center.

[slowride1]

never seen anyone bitch about it so it must not be a big deal

[Crawllife]

I just picked up a new roller with 2 front axles. Figured it would be worth a shot to get it running and see for myself. I'm not going to take it as far as my other xr's. just wanted to see how it feels. If I get it running soon, I'll post my opinion. It does look ( obviously ) more stable. I didn't think about the rear steer as mentioned in a earlier post.

[pmadrid13]

I'm glad some one asked because I been wondering the same thing. I'm going after rear steering and I actually have enough new spare stock parts to make a complete front and rear axle. I was under the impression that the rear was stronger but I guess I was wrong. So if things work out I will try to post pictures and I will then be trading my rear VP parts for some front ones to replace all my plastic ones and selling off all the rear parts.