Guidance - Axle width advice
07-06-2020, 01:53 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Guidance - Axle width advice
I could use some guidance as to whether or not narrowing an axle for my 2001 XJ if the right thing to do. This weekend I picked up a D60 out of a 05 Super Duty and my gut says narrow it, but I want input from people who know more than me.
I've been running 35s on the trussed HP D30 in my XJ for the past 3 years and it's performed very well. However, I'm in the final parts collection phase (odds and ends... already have the engine/adapters/wiring/etc.) of a LS1 swap and I want to move up to 37s or 38s. So I've outgrown the D30....
My rear axle is a trussed XJ D44 with 30 spline axles so I'm considering continuing to run it for a little while (or not... that's up in the air).
The listed values I find on the net are:
XJ D30 - WMS to WMS: 60 5/8"
SD D60 - WMS to WMS: 72"
I did a quick and dirty comparison of the D30 vs D60 width vs. pinion location. It looks like if I cut 8" off the passenger (long) side tube, that will both bring the axle down to 64" and get the pinion yoke into the D30/factory location. I currently run 3.5" backspaced 9.5" wheels. I have to buy new wheels anyways, so if I move to a 4.5" backspaced wheel I would be almost the same width as I am now. I plan to shave the center section to pick up/regain 1"-1.5" of ground clearance. I'm not concerned with the difficulty or cost of narrowing the axle. I'll be removing the inner Cs regardless in order to set the pinion/caster angle and it looks like I can have the axle shaft re-splined for $75-$100.
My question is purely one of "should I?" for performance reasons. I've always tried to keep my vehicle as low CG/compact as possible, but then I've never wheeled a wide axle vehicle before. I like to rock crawl and it's been my experience that where the wider JK/JL track width get hung up/have to work over things, the slightly narrower XJ track width gives me more lines to pick (I'm jealous of the samurai that sometimes goes with us and goes around everything
). BUT, I always hear people talking about the added stability afforded by wider axles.
So if I cut it down, what am I giving up?
I've been running 35s on the trussed HP D30 in my XJ for the past 3 years and it's performed very well. However, I'm in the final parts collection phase (odds and ends... already have the engine/adapters/wiring/etc.) of a LS1 swap and I want to move up to 37s or 38s. So I've outgrown the D30....
My rear axle is a trussed XJ D44 with 30 spline axles so I'm considering continuing to run it for a little while (or not... that's up in the air).
The listed values I find on the net are:
XJ D30 - WMS to WMS: 60 5/8"
SD D60 - WMS to WMS: 72"
I did a quick and dirty comparison of the D30 vs D60 width vs. pinion location. It looks like if I cut 8" off the passenger (long) side tube, that will both bring the axle down to 64" and get the pinion yoke into the D30/factory location. I currently run 3.5" backspaced 9.5" wheels. I have to buy new wheels anyways, so if I move to a 4.5" backspaced wheel I would be almost the same width as I am now. I plan to shave the center section to pick up/regain 1"-1.5" of ground clearance. I'm not concerned with the difficulty or cost of narrowing the axle. I'll be removing the inner Cs regardless in order to set the pinion/caster angle and it looks like I can have the axle shaft re-splined for $75-$100.
My question is purely one of "should I?" for performance reasons. I've always tried to keep my vehicle as low CG/compact as possible, but then I've never wheeled a wide axle vehicle before. I like to rock crawl and it's been my experience that where the wider JK/JL track width get hung up/have to work over things, the slightly narrower XJ track width gives me more lines to pick (I'm jealous of the samurai that sometimes goes with us and goes around everything
). BUT, I always hear people talking about the added stability afforded by wider axles.So if I cut it down, what am I giving up?
07-06-2020, 03:17 PM
#2
Senior Member
When it cones to major modifications I’d recommend you go talk to the guys over at Pirate or Irate 4x4. ( irate is currently where they all go pirate is basically dead ).
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CLSegraves1 (07-06-2020)
07-06-2020, 03:44 PM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the heads up. I knew Pirate was (sadly) pretty much dead but irate is a new one to me, so I'll go hit them up.
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