14 bolt conversion to disc questions/options

[kipps]

Also, if you're thinking of pulling an axle at a junkyard, the trickiest part is lifting the back of the truck enough to remove the axle without dropping the truck on yourself. On one axle I pulled, the truck was sitting on the side of a hill(reality in Virginia salvage yards!). I was lifting the truck with a handyman jack under the rear bumper. The whole truck kept scooching sideways, and threatening to pin me under it.

The disconnect procedure is simple enough. On mine, the u-bolt nuts came right off with a large breaker bar. The driveshaft unbolts easily, and the shocks come loose easily as well. The brake lines and parking brake cables need a good sharp bolt cutters. A cable cutter would be better, but I didn't have one. Once everything is disconnected, then lift the truck, and roll the axle out from under it.

Take the driveshaft and the spring u-bolts along with the axle. They can all be reused to one degree or another.

Remove the spring perches and shock mounts, and clean up the axle tube. Purchase new perches and mounts from OffRoadDesign. Loosely assemble the perches on the axle, and bolt them to the leaf springs. Don't weld anything yet. Adjust the pinion angle until it's correct, then tack weld it in place. Get the new driveshaft shortened to fit(the driveshaft shop can tell you how to take the measurements), and install that.

Drive the truck gently up to speed to check for driveline vibration, and if all is correct, have a skilled welder lock the perches to the axle. There is some risk of warping the axle tubes when welding on the spring perches, so make sure the welder takes proper precautions.