So I just bought another cherokee, this ones a 97 that someone did a ford radius arm setup on. Its obviously a D44 front with disc brakes, but is to narrow to be full width, it has one inch spacers on it right now and is still inside the fenders. My questions are where would it have come from, how decent are these setups, and why do the springs appear to be bent inward in the front? The rear is an 8.8, and they are 4:10 geared, maybe someone even recognizes this thing, it seems to have been built in Colorado maybe? Guy I purchased it from was an idiot who knew nothing about it, told me it had 3/4 ton axles and a rebuilt engine with a bigger cam and injectors, none of which can be verified(except the axles obviously). Either way I only paid $1000 bucks so I figure I cant loose, seems to run fine

 

Well it does have those monster flares on it. But that axle looks like an older f150 axle or something. I'm not sure. I like the radius arm set up. How wells does it work ?

 

Definitely monster flares, but even with 1" spacers tires are still inside fenders. I measured from ball joint to ball joint and its the same as joint to joint on a D30 from a cherokee, it matches the width of the 8.8 which has a conversion spacer to go from 5x4.5 to 5x5.5 like the front. Not sure how it works, to be honest all I have done is drive it off the trailer, really not sure what to think or even do with it, just couldnt pass it up for the price

 

You know i would just wheel it see how it does on and off road and go from there

 

Can't really tell on mobile but you sure it's a d44 in the front?

 

Early Bronco? Thinking 60's.


https://www.google.com/search?q=Earl...HpfroASs_4CgBQ

 

Early Broncos used narrow axles with the radius arms. Looks like that's what you got.

 

Yes thats what it is.

 

Could be early bronco, but has disc brakes so must be 74 to 77 I'm thinking

 

Your springs will also be bowed in like that due to the perch spacing being different on that axle. Only way to correct it, cut the perches off and reweld.

 

Yeah, I'd cut off those coil perches and move them up and out closer to the knuckle to correct the coil spring bowed in.

Also, buy you some low backspacing wheels and obviously bigger tires so those axles don't drag on everything.

 

Also, add some more bolts to the crossmember. The existing bolts are all only on very little sheet metal of the frame. Put some fender washers and 1/2" bolts through those holes that're already in the brackets.

 

Yeah its a early bronco 66-77,They are a real narrow axle dana 44 low pinion with raduis arms.Never seen one in a xj tell now most i have seen swapped was sas in ford rangers.

 

The '76-'77 Bronco came with a HP Dana 44 and factory disc brakes. The earlier ones were drum. The lower coil mounting cup actually bolts to the top of the radius arm and you will have to get creative to do away with the "bow" because the cup is also very close to the inner C. The bigger concern is how the radius arm was modified to use a rod end. I would definitely look into reinforcing that modification.

 

The early bronco was low pinion only.The full size bronco and f100/f150 where high pinion but wider.