93 full size Blazer straight axle swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**bowtie72** · 10-02-2016, 12:53 PM

My son has a 93 full size Blazer. We installed a 2.5" lift from rough country. Blocks in the rear, front is new keys, new upper control arms. We replaced the lower control arm bushings at the same time. He may have 8k miles on it since. The ball joints in the new upper control arms were moog. Well we have replaced both upper ball joints and front axles since installing this lift. I did install cheap axles from Orielys. I up graded one. The other wasn't available when we needed it so swapped a cheap one for cheap one. (torn boot)
So now i'm tired of throwing parts at this front end. Has anyone done a straight axle swap? I have done some research and if I use a ford dana 44 and go to cross over steering it seems pretty cut and dry. Is it that simple? If you done it is it worth it. It's probably gonna cost 1k plus the cost of the axle. Looking for info.....Thank you

b454rat · 10-02-2016, 09:27 PM

I did one years ago, and wasn't terribly bad. I bought the ORU kit, (don't buy it) but it's he other stuff that nickel dimes yah to death. I plan on doing my 99' not soon enough. But need the brackets, either build or buy, I bought DIY4X stuff, which is very nice, and heavy duty. But will need a 78/79 3/4t HP44, or 77-older from a 1/2 ONLY. 3/4 are low pinion, 78/79 1/2t have the trailing arm wedges cast into the tube and can't be removed. Search littlekeylime, he has a nice write up on Dana 44s. Need springs, type/size depends on how big you want to go. Generally the brackets give 3", so a 4" lift set will give 6-7" of overall lift. Then need shock mounts, crossover steering, draglink, rebuild of the axle, lift rear to match, regear, exhaust mods, (to clear shackle hanger) and there is more, but can't think of it right now....

Kudzupatch · 10-11-2016, 02:00 PM

OK, tell me why? I have never owned one and seems like a lot of work so I assume the factory set up is not reliable? Or there is some advantage to the straight axle? Just curious why.

b454rat · 10-11-2016, 06:41 PM

IFS isn't very strong to begin with, and putting bigger tires just makes it worse. IFS doesn't articulate much at all, and sometimes it is needed offroading. Besides an SAS just looks cooler...

Kudzupatch · 10-12-2016, 11:42 AM

Thanks. That makes sense.

10-02-2016, 12:53 PM	#1
bowtie72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 363	93 full size Blazer straight axle swap My son has a 93 full size Blazer. We installed a 2.5" lift from rough country. Blocks in the rear, front is new keys, new upper control arms. We replaced the lower control arm bushings at the same time. He may have 8k miles on it since. The ball joints in the new upper control arms were moog. Well we have replaced both upper ball joints and front axles since installing this lift. I did install cheap axles from Orielys. I up graded one. The other wasn't available when we needed it so swapped a cheap one for cheap one. (torn boot) So now i'm tired of throwing parts at this front end. Has anyone done a straight axle swap? I have done some research and if I use a ford dana 44 and go to cross over steering it seems pretty cut and dry. Is it that simple? If you done it is it worth it. It's probably gonna cost 1k plus the cost of the axle. Looking for info.....Thank you __________________ 1968 SWB "Little White Truck" 1972 LWB LS 4l80 "Plain Jane!!"

10-02-2016, 09:27 PM	#2
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,485	Re: 93 full size Blazer straight axle swap I did one years ago, and wasn't terribly bad. I bought the ORU kit, (don't buy it) but it's he other stuff that nickel dimes yah to death. I plan on doing my 99' not soon enough. But need the brackets, either build or buy, I bought DIY4X stuff, which is very nice, and heavy duty. But will need a 78/79 3/4t HP44, or 77-older from a 1/2 ONLY. 3/4 are low pinion, 78/79 1/2t have the trailing arm wedges cast into the tube and can't be removed. Search littlekeylime, he has a nice write up on Dana 44s. Need springs, type/size depends on how big you want to go. Generally the brackets give 3", so a 4" lift set will give 6-7" of overall lift. Then need shock mounts, crossover steering, draglink, rebuild of the axle, lift rear to match, regear, exhaust mods, (to clear shackle hanger) and there is more, but can't think of it right now.... __________________ 2000 Chevy Tahoe Limited 3/5" drop 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon stock SAS 6"

10-11-2016, 02:00 PM	#3
Kudzupatch Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: GUNTERSVILLE Posts: 621	Re: 93 full size Blazer straight axle swap OK, tell me why? I have never owned one and seems like a lot of work so I assume the factory set up is not reliable? Or there is some advantage to the straight axle? Just curious why.

10-11-2016, 06:41 PM	#4
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,485	Re: 93 full size Blazer straight axle swap IFS isn't very strong to begin with, and putting bigger tires just makes it worse. IFS doesn't articulate much at all, and sometimes it is needed offroading. Besides an SAS just looks cooler... __________________ 2000 Chevy Tahoe Limited 3/5" drop 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon stock SAS 6"

10-12-2016, 11:42 AM	#5
Kudzupatch Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: GUNTERSVILLE Posts: 621	Re: 93 full size Blazer straight axle swap Thanks. That makes sense.



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