JD3020
Active member
Currently have a bit of a dilemma with my 450. Its a 2wd, 280k miles, 4.88 rear, factory aluminum rims. The steering is extremely sloppy, becomes a handful driving through construction zones on the highway. And it rides halfway decent, but being a crew cab the steering radius is awful. Bit of a problem since a majority of our work is residential and in the city, sucks having to do 3 point turns daily. So instead of putting money into this front-end just to have the same ****ty turning radius, i'd like to upgrade.
Ideally i'd like to throw a 05+ 450/550 axle under it, but that means i'd have to change the rear axle to keep the same lug pattern all around, plus get a set of aluminum 10 lug rims. And if i wanted to go 4wd, that'd be a lot more $$$$. Or i could just throw a 05+ 350 axle under it, slap my hub adapters on, and call it a day. If i wanted to go 4wd i'd just have to re-gear the front axle to match the rear. Obviously wouldn't have the same turning radius as the 450/550's but it'd be better than original, i'd be able to keep my rims and not touch the rear axle, and it'd be a LOT cheaper than getting 450/550 parts.
Any thoughts or opinions on this? And does anybody know if the 2wd 450/550 axles could be converted to my 8x225 pattern?
Ideally i'd like to throw a 05+ 450/550 axle under it, but that means i'd have to change the rear axle to keep the same lug pattern all around, plus get a set of aluminum 10 lug rims. And if i wanted to go 4wd, that'd be a lot more $$$$. Or i could just throw a 05+ 350 axle under it, slap my hub adapters on, and call it a day. If i wanted to go 4wd i'd just have to re-gear the front axle to match the rear. Obviously wouldn't have the same turning radius as the 450/550's but it'd be better than original, i'd be able to keep my rims and not touch the rear axle, and it'd be a LOT cheaper than getting 450/550 parts.
Any thoughts or opinions on this? And does anybody know if the 2wd 450/550 axles could be converted to my 8x225 pattern?
