Need Help!

[75SUB4X4]

I am doing a swap for a friend, he wants to swap in a 10bolt rear end and dana 44 into an 87 truck that had dana 60 front end and 14bolt rear end. I under stand the dana 60 rear end had narrow leaf spring pads compared to the 10bolt. My question is how do I go about measuring the leaf spring pads? From center of the yoke to the bolt hole on the leaf spring pad? also what is the width from spring pad to spring pad on a 14bolt ?

thanks for your help guys/gals!

 

[6gun]

First question: Spring pad width is measured center of pad to center of pad.
Second question: 14B spring pad spacing can vary widely based on what it came out of(van/Cab&Chassis/SRW PU etc..)

Having said that. As an Engineer/gearhead/part-time safety nazi, I would be remiss if I did not caution you against this swap. If the truck came with D60/14B that means it left the factory as a one-ton(K30). To put half-ton axles under it would be taking a GIANT step backwards in safety and durability.
Smaller brakes and weaker components are not generally traits we shoot for. We strive to UPgrade, downgrading just makes no sense whatsoever.

With my warning out of the way I will say that the axle swap kits from RuffStuff made my axle swap in my Ford Ranger much easier, something to look into.

 

[75SUB4X4]

I under stand that it is not an upgrade, but the half ton axles that are going on the donor vehicle will be fine. Its just a pick up and is where I sourced the 1tons from. Now, how do I go about measuring to replace the new 2.5" spring perches on to the 1/2 axles. I am not exactly understanding where to measure from? I understand that the 1ton axles spring perches are 42.5 center to center, but I need a reference on where to place them on the 1/2 axles?

 

[bknudtsen]

1 ton pad spacing is 40.5” and 1/2 ton spacing is 42.5”. Centered between the backing plates.

 

[Buliwyf]

Don't think we ever did.

Bolt up axle with perches loose. Line up the wheels with the body. String out the thrust angle. Tac weld perch. Diassemble, take axle to pro welder. Might be extra ''Papst Blue Ribbon'', but it worked.

 

[75SUB4X4]

ok, got the rear end figured out, how about the front end? Is there a difference from the D60 to D44 as far as the perches go?

 

[bknudtsen]

ok, got the rear end figured out, how about the front end? Is there a difference from the D60 to D44 as far as the perches go?

No difference in placement.