best D80 dually axle?

[ahale2772]

yeah thats what I thought too, 8 inch difference is alot expecially when neither the front-to-centerpin or rear-to-centerpin is the same

some of the ramcharger guys seem to think chevy springs have a front eye-centerpin distance that is similar, but the rear is longer and the hanger needs to be mooved back

ive been told that new spring packes can be as cheep as 250bucks for a set? ...seems cheep to me

mybe ill just go all-out and buy all four hangers from jungle jim at RCC, get new spring packs made and new ubolts made to work with the d80..... sounds like this is going to get pricey

[Mark Nixon]

Personally, since the 2nd gen springs won't work, I'd just get new stock ones, maybe go with a higher rate and live with it.
Shim the sides and go.

Mark.

[ahale2772]

I'll probably end up doing that

Should I use the d80 lower plates or the ones that are on the truck?

[Mark Nixon]

Use the 80s and make you a bracket for the shocks.
Look at the old plates for a guide.

Mark.

[ahale2772]

question:
are 1ton 1stgen springs pretty much the same from 89-93?

what are the most leafs they came with? 7? do all the 1ton springs have 3/4 bolts?

looks like its gona cost me 170 per spring brand new...defintly dont want to drop that on springs that will sag more than what I have now.

[Mark Nixon]

Stock they are 7 leaves, but a new spring MAY be of a better quality than the stockers were.
Did your truck have overload springs and striker brackets?
Are you going to add overloads, or use them if it had them?
You gotta' figure in the overload pack and it's block, if you're going to run them.
Personally, if I want extra spring capacity, I just add a leaf to each of the top 2 or 3 (3 leaves, total, added) and run them that way, but that's me. I warn you, it makes them VERY stiff riding with no load.
FWIW, my old 1 ton flatbed has stock 7 leaves, with a 4 leaf overload and the overload brackets are VERY bent.
I abuse the shti out of it hauling a gooseneck, rampdeck 2-car, but the springs were already were beyond hope when I got it.

AFAIK, the stock U-bolts for a 1 ton were 9/16" on the THREADS, but I could be wrong on that.
I've done numerous spring swaps and upgrades, but until recently all I did was go to Inland Trucks and have them bend me up what I needed for U-bolts.
Now, their prices went insane, so I buy generics from the parts stores, if they are long enough.

Mark.

[ahale2772]

got me some springs, 7 leaves, think im going to bust them apart and add a few leafs from the 2ng gen packs. i'd love to get the axle under the truck this weekend.

starting to wonder if I should go to 19.5 inch rims in the rear, measured the ones off my dads service truck and with the tires on them they measure dead nuts on 33 inches tall...that would work perfect if i want to leave my 33x12.5's on the front...now i just need to find a set of 19.5's

[ahale2772]

ok ummmm....

what should the wheel mounting flange-to-flange distance be (roughly) on this d80 (if its a dually)... i measured it today and THOUGHT i got about 68 inches flange-to-flange. ( i may have had a brain fart im going to measure again), tag on the diff definently says 3.54

i was just reading somewhere else that it should be something like 72 inches? wtf? did i get screwed? i was told it was a dually axle and by all other pictures ive seen it looks like one... backing plates are set way back to accomidate the dually rims... am i wrong?

here are some pics, im hoping its a dually...

all rebuilt cleaned and painted btw , drums, shoes, cables, seals, spring kits ect ect....





these are the new 1ton 1stgen springs compared to the 2nd gen 1ton springs...

[Mark Nixon]

That appears to be a Cab and Chassis DRW axle, Alex.
It definitely has the DRW drums on it, they are unmistakable.

Mark.

[ahale2772]

Argh, I though it might be, that kinda blows.... Should have checked

Thanks Mark

[PToombs]

Another guy with his dirty toes hanging out! What is wrong with you people? Hippies!

[dazedandconfused]

Another guy with his dirty toes hanging out! What is wrong with you people? Hippies!

Hey now I'm not a hippy! I'm a hillbilly and usually don't have shoes on at all.

[ahale2772]

haha it was HOT!!! my feet were like hobbit feet for a week, the chippewa's dont do well in 95 degrees

[PToombs]

my feet were like hobbit feet for a week,

Shave them then!

[Overdrive]

ok ummmm....

what should the wheel mounting flange-to-flange distance be (roughly) on this d80 (if its a dually)... i measured it today and THOUGHT i got about 68 inches flange-to-flange. ( i may have had a brain fart im going to measure again), tag on the diff definently says 3.54

i was just reading somewhere else that it should be something like 72 inches? wtf? did i get screwed? i was told it was a dually axle and by all other pictures ive seen it looks like one... backing plates are set way back to accomidate the dually rims... am i wrong?

...

I'm in the opposite boat. I have a '97 Dually pickup Dana 80 and I'm looking for a cab and chassis version to stick into my 1st gen 3/4 ton to put single rear wheels on. I'm sure it's the 72" WMS-WMS version as its still on the chassis and I still have the pickup box on it.