Narrow to Wide Track

Does anyone know if my tie rod and drag link from my narrow track axle can be modified to fit a wide track axle??

 

both are considerably longer on the wide track. I suppose you could modify them. But honestly they are cheap.

 

After looking around, it looks like I can get the set for around a couple hundred bucks. Not a big deal.

I came across a deal on a set of wide track D44 / D30 with ARB's and 4:11's. My only concern is that I am turning 33's with the 4cyl. 151 and I don't know if 4:11 Ring & Pinion is going to be enough. Right now I'm running 3:73's and it really bogs on the freeway and hills.

I was planning on 4:56's and Detroit lockers in my AMC20 / D30 narrow axles but this is a heck of a deal.

 

You should be able to get the tie rod and drag link for $100 or less.

Here is 4wd Hardware's tie rod for $53-
http://www.4wd.com/shop/productdeta...ng&division=5&category=304&productsku=8134295

 

Thanks, I had been looking at that site. I can't tell if they are complete...ends, hardware etc. I'll try to contact them to find out.

 

That is complete, IIRC- Cj tie rods are pretty inexpensive.

 

Thanks for the help "Cooter". Can I call you that???
I'll let you know what happens if I end up swapping these axles out.
CJ

 

Curious what kind of deal you get on the Widetracks?

if you chose not to utilize them let me know I will trade ya my axles adn some cash to boot for you to have spares LOL NT d44 11" drums and drum brake NT30

 

My wife bought me the axles!! (She's Pretty cool)
I've been brainstorming,....has anyone done a similar swap? Can anyone think of any other issues I may run into other than the tie rod & drag link? Will my brake lines etc. still work? What about the e-brake? Thanks for the help!

 

Nice present! Let us know how the swap goes.

 

The rear spring perches are probably too far apart. you will have to grind them off and then reweld them to the axle. CJs with wide track axles had a wider rear frame then the early/intermediates did.

Everything else should be pretty much a bolt on deal. Are the front brakes disk or drum?

If they are disks then you will need to replace the master cylinder or remove the residual valve from the one you have. Otherwise the front brakes will lock up as the fluid heats up. I just finished a disk conversion on mine.

 

OK, we'll need to move the pearches to the bottom anyway. He has them on top for a spring over and I already have 4" Superlift springs.
But the brake thing.....that's kinda scary.
Both pairs of axles have front disk and rear drum. Mine are 1981 D30f / AMC20r narrow, the replacements are 1985 D30f / D44r wide. Will I still have the issue you're refering to?

This may sound ignorant but, what's a residual valve anyway?

 

OK, we'll need to move the pearches to the bottom anyway. He has them on top for a spring over and I already have 4" Superlift springs.
But the brake thing.....that's kinda scary.
Both pairs of axles have front disk and rear drum. Mine are 1981 D30f / AMC20r narrow, the replacements are 1985 D30f / D44r wide. Will I still have the issue you're refering to?

This may sound ignorant but, what's a residual valve anyway?

 

If you already have working disks then you will not have a problem.

 

Excelent! I appreciate the heads-up.

 

Welp, we got the axles out of his Jeep and cut the pearches off the top. Just when we were about to weld the pearches onto the bottom...his brother shows up and notices that the rear axle tubes are bent. When we put a straight edge on top there's about an inch difference from the drum to the diff. (Bad huh?)

Doggonnit #@#@#^&*!!
He's been driving on these axles for years and did'nt notice,... it may have been bent when he bought them. But I don't want to chance it.

Anyway...what'll it take $$ to get the axle tubed? Is it worth it? It's a rear D44 wide(56&3/4") originally from an '85 Bronco (I think). Not sure if the shafts are bent too. At that point we decided to drink beer instead.

At least I finally got my CB installed.

 

You might be able to get them straightened. Check with a driveline shop. Before you do that, you might want to make sure the housing is OK. No cracks etc. The shafts wouldn't necessarily be bent.

 

Would you guys run these axles????

The pictures aren't great but splines are twisted and I'm having a hard time finding replacements. They are 30 spline and just over 27 1/2". The only thing I've found so far is a full floater kit for over a grand.

I'm thinking about just putting them back together and running them. I just hope I don't "see my axle and wheel pass me on the road.
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