Thread: outboard front springs,for waggy axles

I used early '80s Dodge Ramcharger outers. Five on 5 1/2, big internal-spline hubs and pretty nice brakes; much nicer than the Waggie setup.

now i need to know how to bring it back to 5.5 bolt what spindles and hubs and break parts i hope to pick up my axle today and then a chop saw and thanks for all the info I'm going to stay with the narrow track .my rear is a 20 with one peace axles the tubes are welded to the center how well will that set up hold up to 35 36 inch tires with a locker and now i need to find a locker for the rear when will the madness stop!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jim_Lou you have to calculate how much to shorten each side, unless you take it all from the long side and then outboard the springs. True, but shortening just the long side of a Chevy D44 would require narrowing a single side, use "off the shelf" Waggy long side inner, and should move the chunk far enough to port to fit without outboarding...

What you need is chevy small bearing spindles. But be carefull. There are two small bearing spindles. One for drum brakes and one for disc. You need the disc brake spindles. Ford rotors and hubs and that is it. Your waggies knuckles, caliper supports and calipers if they are good will all work. Now if you plan high steer you will need a chevy passenger side knuckle and then have both knuckles drilled and tapped for the high steer. Chevy...

I asked the same question when I started on my Flat top 44.... It appears to be to be about the same amount of work to outboard springs vs cutting down the axle 4". I'm cutting my axle....otherwise, my front will be wider than the rear...might look a little funny. I wouldn't do the shackle reversal....go SOA instead using stock wrangler springs....5 1/2" of lift....springs will be flat....hence, your axle will move...

Quote: Originally Posted by BUCKYOO7 i would like to swap in a set of wagoneer d44 axles in my cj5. or should i have them cut down to wide trac with. I'm running 33inch swappers now i would like run 35s or?? we have not broke the stock axles yet and last Sunday my son tried or so it seemed . i want to keep it narrow i can get a set of waggy axles cheep now to out board the springs and do shackle reversal is there a kit for that this is...

Narrowing a front is pretty easy, I might be willing to lend a hand some day when i'm home for xmass. I saw a pretty nice job some one did out boarding a spring on a yj, i'll have to see if I can dig up the pics.

If I remember correctly, you use ford rotors, chevy dana 44 knuckles, chevy dana 44 spindles (don't remember if it was big or small bearing), and chevy dana 44 stub axles (I think waggy 44's are the same) and chevy or waggy dana 44 caliper mounts and calipers. Searching for high steering or flat top knuckle here and at pirate4x4.com should provide the info you are looking for. __________________ What happens if you get scared half...

One other thing to consider and someone else mentioned is spring over or spring under. On my CJ I went spring over and Shackle reversal. Worked great, but I went through a lot of springs over the years. The spring over is real hard on them!! I think if I were going to do it again I would look into putting a TJ style Suspension in the front. I remember seeing adds a while back for someone making a conversion. But I am sure if you talk around...