97 f250 08+ axle swap

Alexxm00 · Mar 7, 2018

As the title states, I am currently swapping in some 08 axles into my 97 F250 ccb. I have the rear axle in and that seemed to go pretty smooth.

I am currently installing the front axle and have a few question that I was hoping someone that has done the swap can help me with.

First question...when I install the radius arm brackets I bumped them on the the body mount and it seems to center the wheel in the wheel well pretty good. However, since the obs frame seems to start to narrow in at that point my radius brackets are toed in like this \ / and are pretty close to rubbing the radius arm. Is that normal on most installs? Or is some sort of spacer used to line them up parallel to the frame? The radius arms vs radius arm bracket look something like this \l l/.

Also is the radius arm bracket supposed to be straight with the back side flush to the frame and the front side have a gap between the frame and the bracket?

What is a good way to center the axle to the body? From where are you guys measuring from?

JCart · Mar 7, 2018

Welcome Alexxm00,

Sorry can’t assist with your questions, still relative though. I’m looking to put 08 rear springs on my 250 ECLB as I’ve just done a PMF 3.5” RSK with a Dana 60 and SD V (5200lbs) on the front. What entails installing 08 springs on the rear? Did you move both spring hangers to account for longer spring length? Any pix of your install.

Don’t mean to derail, just not found a bunch of info on 08 springs for OBS trucks.

Thanks,

j

Alexxm00 · Mar 7, 2018

JCart said:
Welcome Alexxm00,

Sorry can’t assist with your questions, still relative though. I’m looking to put 08 rear springs on my 250 ECLB as I’ve just done a PMF 3.5” RSK with a Dana 60 and SD V (5200lbs) on the front. What entails installing 08 springs on the rear? Did you move both spring hangers to account for longer spring length? Any pix of your install.

Don’t mean to derail, just not found a bunch of info on 08 springs for OBS trucks.

Thanks,

j

The back hanger lines up pretty good, the front one is the one that has to move foward some. As you can see in the second picture that's how much it had to move up to line up

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m j · Mar 7, 2018

lets see pics of the front issue

Alexxm00 · Mar 7, 2018

m j said:
lets see pics of the front issue

You see the gaps between the radius arm brackets and the frame. If I tighten the radius arm bracket to the frame, you can see the radius arm bend towards the transmission and giving an eighth of an inch gap from the radius arm bushing to the radius arm bracket on the inner side of the bracket.

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Alexxm00 · Mar 7, 2018

Alexxm00 said:
The back hanger lines up pretty good, the front one is the one that has to move foward some. As you can see in the second picture that's how much it had to move up to line up

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Also, for the back brackets. There are two holes in the 08 shackles that line up with the obs shackles that help you line up a lot easier. I will confirm tomorrow which holes they are again and get back to you with that information.

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m j · Mar 8, 2018

two choices, shim it or run it.
my instinct would be run it, but I am not there looking at it

RBernardi · Mar 8, 2018

3/4” per side narrowed at the front of the radius brackets iirc. I’ve seen spacers made and people just bolt them in place.

JCart · Mar 8, 2018

Much appreciated Alexxem00,

For the front radius arms looks like fab a shim, bolt them and probably tack weld. The other option would make new radius arms and bracket assemblies. Or better yet thinking there will be a kit out there to replace the stock radius arms that might work too, ones I’ve seen are upper lower tubes with I think Heim joints that might provide enough lateral space to bolt on the stock frame mounts.

Thanks again for the pix huge help and gives me better understanding of what’s needed. What is/are the spring rating of the rears you have?

j

morefuel · Mar 8, 2018

I swapped 05 axles but I was under the impression that part is identical and i just bolted them to the frame no spacers.

Alexxm00 · Mar 8, 2018

morefuel said:
I swapped 05 axles but I was under the impression that part is identical and i just bolted them to the frame no spacers.

Is there any way I can get a picture of your arms?

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Alexxm00 · Mar 8, 2018

Alexxm00 said:
Is there any way I can get a picture of your arms?

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Also is there any bend to the arms like I described or are the arms straight from where the radius arm screws onto the axle to the back where the radius arm screws on to your frame. Any slight rubbing on the radius arm bracket with the radius arm?

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morefuel · Mar 8, 2018

The arms are angled in to the back, the axle isn't center very well side to side, but even on the close side it doesn't appear to be hitting. If you pm me your number I can try and send some pics don't think my phone will take good enough ones to see much though.