OBS 05+ axle swap

[Shovel]

On the truck I'm in the process of finishing up for a friend we used a readylift trac bar mount made for the 2.5" leveling kit.

Is that a 2005-2007 or 2008+ track bar bracket?

 

[Strokersace]

Ok so had this all types out last night and lost it. Didn't get any pics of the 08 bracket ad my battery died before I could.

04 bracket on left and 05 bracket on the right. Notice where I notched them to clearance with the pitman arm bolt when mounted in obs truck. The 05 bracket wad installed for 3 years without issue. I never used the 04 bracket in the obs as I was test fitting and determined I'd build my own.

04 up close:

05 bracket up close. The U-shaped cutout in the center is how I modified it to work on the obs. Absolutely zero issues:

Now for the 08 bracket... it is completely different from the 05 one because of the frame differences in the front. The 08 frame dips down much lower in front of the axle than the 05 does. Therefore the frame side mounting holes are much closer together. The gusset/webbing support between the frame side and the crossmember side of the bracket are thicker, especially on the front of it. I don't see any reason the 08 bracket couldn't be made to work on an obs. Mount holes are just different and might need to modify another part of it.

 

[Shovel]

Good stuff. Thank you! :toast:

 

[C'roy78stroker]

Not to be naive but how is the vacuum lines from the 05+ axles plumbed to the OBS truck to get it to work?

 

[Strokersace]

Not to be naive but how is the vacuum lines from the 05+ axles plumbed to the OBS truck to get it to work?

I pulled my vacuum lines off the hubs and put a plug over the nipple. Use the hubs manually just like before.

 

[C'roy78stroker]

Thanks ace, I wasn't 100% sure if they would still function like that for some reason

 

[sdh1994]

Strokerace, since you did the swap, did you use ABS unit bearings and just cut the wires? I've been searching everywhere for non ABS bearings for 05+ with no luck.

 

[webb06]

Strokerace, since you did the swap, did you use ABS unit bearings and just cut the wires? I've been searching everywhere for non ABS bearings for 05+ with no luck.

That's all you can do. The obs only requires the rear axle sensor.


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[JayTee013]

Thanks for pics of the trac bar bracket. I think I will go that route with the '05 OEM unit

 

[Strokersace]

Strokerace, since you did the swap, did you use ABS unit bearings and just cut the wires? I've been searching everywhere for non ABS bearings for 05+ with no luck.

That's all you can do. The obs only requires the rear axle sensor.


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Yep, what he said ^

 

[weekendwarriorfsw32]

If you want something better then cutting off you wheel speed sensors riffraff sells a cool adaptor that you can also add grease to your unit bearings with.
http://www.riffraffdiesel.com/front-abs-grease-able-block-off-fitting/

 

[Strokersace]

If you want something better then cutting off you wheel speed sensors riffraff sells a cool adaptor that you can also add grease to your unit bearings with.
http://www.riffraffdiesel.com/front-abs-grease-able-block-off-fitting/

That's actually what I was going to get for my hubs but never got around to it. I agree​, that's cleaner and serves a purpose better than cutting the sensor wires.

The ad says it's only for 99-04, but I know you can swap the 99-04 sensor into the 05+ hubs so I don't see why you couldn't use it on the 05 axle. Again I was going to try it but never got around to buying some.

 

[Addicted4]

How tall are these swapped trucks sitting with stock coils compared to stock leaf springs or leveling kit leafs?

 

[Strokersace]

How tall are these swapped trucks sitting with stock coils compared to stock leaf springs or leveling kit leafs?

Mine with 5200lb coils, B code rear springs, and velvet ride shackles had a slight rake to it with stock 2" F250 rear blocks. The front was 1.5" lower than the rear. So basically 2" lower than the factory obs F350.

With 4800lb coils, I probably could have gone with no rear block and been dead level measurement wise.

 

[sdh1994]

If I understood right, the OBS sits lower after swapping in super duty suspension

 

[Strokersace]

If I understood right, the OBS sits lower after swapping in super duty suspension

Depends on the coils you use. Just the same as when the different coil ratings are used in the SD.

 

[m j]

If you want something better then cutting off you wheel speed sensors riffraff sells a cool adaptor that you can also add grease to your unit bearings with.
http://www.riffraffdiesel.com/front-abs-grease-able-block-off-fitting/

you linked 99-04/ is there one for 05+?

 

[Strokersace]

you linked 99-04/ is there one for 05+?

See my comment below his. It it, you will find your answers...

 

[sdh1994]

Anyone have a list of factory bolt sizes and locations. I got a box of factory bolts and trying to figure out what goes where.

 

[Vogel469]

My "Do Not Weld To The Frame" comment is a matter of practice that I live by with all mods I do. Everything should be bolt-on and only weld when there is no other way to make the modifications. Welding creates many stresses in the frame along with "risers" that can develop into cracks over time. Welding on a frame (especially by novice/amature) is just a bad idea. It's not a matter of "will the weld hold the piece on" but rather what distortion and stresses have been created by the welding.



I'm surprised by the number of people looking for the bracket, is there not a vendor/sponsor supplied option out there? I thought there was. I'm not a sponsor so I've been hesitant to reply with offers to make the brackets but if there's that much interest and no one is making them then send me a PM. I'm in the process of making several now for a couple guys so I can easily increase the count.[/QUOT

Are you still making trac bar brackets to sell? I'm interested in one if you are


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