97 1 ton brakes.

97rada

97rada

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Feb 14, 2008
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I have a one ton and was doing the brakes today. I am amazed that they are behind the unit bearing. I have seen where the 3/4 tons have the rotors in a traditional manner. Is there a difference in clearance if I switch. Just curios If I can swap. I don't want to have To pull the unit bearings each time I do brakes
Thanks
 
2500's are the same way. It changed to slip on rotors around 2000.
 
Is it possible to swap to the 2000+ bearings? I have nothing to comPare
 
Austin why not just look to buy a complete axle from a 2000 up?
 
Never looked at it that way. I am undecided Between the 2000+ and the ford outers. I need To do research. It has brand new brakes and bearings as of today with a 3 year warranty. So I have time to decide.
 
I'm looking to do a cheap ford outer swap to get rid of the unit bearings. Seems like the way to go for better brakes and bearings. I'm not sure but I thought i read somewhere that the ford swap ball joints last longer also
 
Why not just get a whole ford D60? Hi pinion, bigger rotors (depending on year), king pin (depending on year), bigger shafts, no two-piece shafts. The only downside would be having to weld the dodge brackets to ford axle. IIRC, Lance D on DTR (he might be here as well) bought a BJ D60, and found a free dodge 1500 axle. Took the brackets off the half ton axle for the D60, swapped it in, and sold the dodge D60 for the same as he paid for the ford.
 
Tate said:
Why not just get a whole ford D60? Hi pinion, bigger rotors (depending on year), king pin (depending on year), bigger shafts, no two-piece shafts. The only downside would be having to weld the dodge brackets to ford axle. IIRC, Lance D on DTR (he might be here as well) bought a BJ D60, and found a free dodge 1500 axle. Took the brackets off the half ton axle for the D60, swapped it in, and sold the dodge D60 for the same as he paid for the ford.
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Throw a set of BJ 60 Ford outters on it and put a good set of Moog's or some other $$ brand and they will last just fine...
 
In my experience, its easier to find a complete diff than just the knuckles out. If I hadn't already done the EMS conversion, I would've gone with a HP D60 instead. Still might, since I have acquired two in the last year.
 
What year Ford D60 is close in size? I have been kicking around the idea of putting leaf springs under the Dodge. Getting tired of the front end that is always off.
 
They are all pretty much the same overall width (unless you get a DRW D60). The difference lies in the spring perch widths. The 78-79 D60's are much narrower, and more sought after for putting into other vehicles. Measure the frame width, the 86-97 D60 might be a better fit.
 
Cool thanks. My junkyard usually has a few 70s Fords so maybe I will get lucky there. Prices are always good. Probably have to regear it though as I dont think 3.55 gears were popular back then. Perches are an easy addition to the axle tubes, how hard is it to update the brakes? I guess that should be phrased as decent calipers and rotors to match my low quality Dodge units.
 
Ford had slightly larger rotors with dual piston calipers. Around '95, the rotors became about 1/2" bigger in diameter. Already better than the dodge brakes.
 
Does anyone sell after market brakes for the fords? I would t mind getting some serious stopping power in this thing if I swap
 
Ive been looking at the ford D60 mod too. Personally I dont think the dodge chassis is worth the investment.. better to get a ford chassis and swap motors.
 
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burnin oil said:
What year Ford D60 is close in size? I have been kicking around the idea of putting leaf springs under the Dodge. Getting tired of the front end that is always off.
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So your going with an antiquated suspension design cause you refuse to figure out if something is wrong with it? Makes alot of sense...

burnin oil said:
Cool thanks. My junkyard usually has a few 70s Fords so maybe I will get lucky there. Prices are always good. Probably have to regear it though as I dont think 3.55 gears were popular back then. Perches are an easy addition to the axle tubes, how hard is it to update the brakes? I guess that should be phrased as decent calipers and rotors to match my low quality Dodge units.
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I doubt you will find a Ford High Pinion 60 in the Junkyard that they aren't asking 500+ for...
 
LOGANSTANFORTH said:
So your going with an antiquated suspension design cause you refuse to figure out if something is wrong with it? Makes alot of sense...QUOTE]

No I am sick of dumping money in a system that sucks and parts are over priced for. It doesn't ride all that well or handle all that great so why not just go back to a simple leaf spring. Parts are cheap for them and once you have a little body roll (ie lean) sticks to the road. I miss my old chevy trucks with factory plow springs. They road better and dont wander nearly as bad on uneven pavement. Look under big trucks and tell me how many are running the out dated leaf springs in some form. I can only think of one with coils under the front end.

No matter what you do with the Dodge front end you will still have a trac bar to keep everything in plane which it does not. Then you have 4 weak control arms that flex. Thats 10 seperate places for joint wear/flex vs 4 on a leaf setup. Sometimes simple just works.
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The dodge stuff is junk from the rotten sheet metal on the cab to the suspension and steering. After driving a superduty I know exactly what direction Im going in. Tired of the endless body work (rockers, cab corners and lower doorskins) and replacing front end parts.
I spent some major $$$ on front end stuff from thuren, psc, borgeson, etc. and still the thing is all over the road. Its amazing I havent been pulled over for suspicion of DUI.
yeah Im hatin'
Chrysler, this ones for you
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My body has been fine other than self inflicted damage. I have some very minor surface rust under the cab and that is it. I can only complain about the paint peeling, even after getting repainted. Front suspension is horrible but the rear has worked great. Even with those large lift blocks it just plants the power and goes. Rarely spins.
 
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