Sprinter 4x4 add on, swapping rear axle, free float? Looking for input:

[mountainhick]

As part of the 4wd conversion, I am also going to transplant a GM rear axle. These are full floating, no stabilizers/sway bar, control arms etc. The sprinter has a rear stabilizer/sway bar. I am wondering about adding brackets to the GM axle to accommodate these. I also think I have a composite rear leaf spring, and wonder about how it would handle a floater compared to steel leaves.

All thoughts appreciated!

 

[luthj]

As far as I know, all sprinters have steel rear leaf springs. The cargo units are a single leaf, and the passenger units are a multi leaf.

Welding brackets onto the GM axle should be doable. The odds are, you will want a sway bar! You should look around, as I believe some 2500 GM vehicles had a rear sway bar.

As far as the springs are concerned, there is no difference between semi and full floating axles. A floating axle refers to an axle where the outer hub is a separate piece from the axle shaft, thus more durable under heavy loads.

I think you are referring to the leaf spring style suspension?

 

[Regcabguy]

When the Sprinters first came out Dynatrac was doing a solid axle conversion when my friend visited.