full size axles vs. widetrack axles

[cj7pimp]

i have an 82 CJ7 right now that has the Dana 30 and AMC20 rear. both axles are widetrack. what are the disadvantages of running full size axles?? i always hear people saying that they cut 4 inches off of of wagoneer axles on the front to make them the same as widetrack. why not leave them full size for a bigger stance?? i am just curious. thanks!!

 

[Kilo19]

I'm doing the same for mine and I have to outboard the frame to accommodate the larger axles.

 

[Old Dog]

why not leave them full size for a bigger stance?? i am just curious. thanks!!

The two biggest reasons I can think of
1) some people run narrow trails and like the narrow trak.
2) The tires will be sticking way out past the body and in most states that means a ticket.

 

[Scooter402]

Cutting 4" from the long side of a waggy 44 won't bring it down to the wide track width. What it does is it puts the passenger side spring perch where the factory one would have sat, then you position and weld the driver's side spring perch in the correct location. The axle will still be wider than CJ wide track, but not quite "full width." Make sense? I'll eventually be cutting 8" total from the width of my Chevy 44, but it'll still be the same width as a Wrangler axle, or close enough anyway. That'll still leave it 3 or 4 inches wider than CJ wide track.

 

[BusaDave9]

full width axles are fricken wide. They need to be mounted outside the frame rails.

almost the entire tires are outside the fenders.

why not leave them full size for a bigger stance?

I ride a lot of trails where a narrow stance is good.

 

[cj7pimp]

ok i can see the disadvantages. what would you guys recommend for axles then?? should i do Dana 44 front and rear or should i do chromoly shafts on the Dana 30 ? i do have another AMC20 with one piece axles and an arb locker right now waiting to replace the stock AMC20 . any input is greatly appreciated. thanks!!

 

[BusaDave9]

ok i can see the disadvantages. what would you guys recommend for axles then?? should i do dana 44 front and rear or should i do chromoly shafts on the dana 30? i do have another amc20 with one piece axles and an arb locker right now waiting to replace the stock amc20. any input is greatly appreciated. thanks!!

What size of tires do you plan on running?
The Dana 30 and AMC20 will work with 36 inch tires IF you have one piece axle shafts in the rear.

 

[cj7pimp]

oh really?? i heard you could run up to 33's nut nothing bigger really. i would either be running 33's or 35's. i have an extra acm20 right now with one piece axles and an arb locker that i can swap out. i believe it has 4.88 gearing not positive though, might be 4.56. if i swap that out i would have to match the front Dana 30 gearing. not looking to go extreme rock crawling but to be able to do some moderate trails and go have fun. also probably going to do spring over if i mess around with the axles.

 

[BusaDave9]

i heard you could run up to 33's nut nothing bigger

Noting bigger than 33s IF you don't put in one piece axles. Actually I'd say use one piece axles no matter what. That's the weak link on the AMC20 . You can also weld where the tubes go into the pumpkin or weld on trusses but the 2 piece axles are THE biggest weakness on the AMC20 . The ring gear in almost 9 inches so the diff and gears are never a problem (that's bigger than a Dana 44 ). Check out this link for more info on the AMC20 : http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f105/cj-axles-12186/#post97663

I run 36 inch tires with an AMC20 , one piece axles and 4.88 gears.

 

[Old Dog]

If your not doing any hard core wheel'n the 20 should be fine as long as the 1 piece axles are not the imported ones. I spun a tube in mine with 35's so welding the tubes to the pumpkin and a truss is a good idea.
If your up-grading the front 30 and you are buying a locker now, get the 30 spline axles. If you stay with the 27 spline make sure they use the bigger 5-760 axle u-joints.

 

[cj7pimp]

thanks everyone. hey busa, how does your cj run with the 36" tires and the 4.88 gearing?? i believe that is what is in the AMC20 i have to swap in that is in my garage.

 

[BusaDave9]

hey busa, how does your cj run with the 36" tires and the 4.88 gearing??

It's a very good combination and what I would recommend. 4.56 gears would work good too. Check out this chart. You want to shoot for the green. That will give you a good compromise to go on the highway and off-road.

If you go into the red it would give you low gearing for off road. That's where I would like to have my gearing but you can't get gears that low for the AMC20 .

 

[cj7pimp]

right on thanks for that chart. i think i will try to stay with the 4.88 gears and just match the front gearing in the Dana 30 with 4.88 gears also.