Strait front axel on 03' silverado

**ChevyFarmKid** · 03-15-2009, 05:02 PM

Has any put a strait axle conversion on a 2003 Silverado 1500. Am am thinking about it, I have a set of axles that will work. Just wondering how it worked out.

**Jimmiee** · 03-15-2009, 07:40 PM

I just read an article in 4 Wheeler a month ago on the swap. Probably a nice upgrade if you do any serious 4 wheeling. My son got his 06 Silverado stuck and decided to spool up and power through the obstacle. Well once the truck bounced twice it snapped both tie rods. The tie rods are the weak link on the GM IFS.

Jim

**tbplus10** · 03-15-2009, 07:56 PM

I think I saw the same article in 4 Wheeler.

A friend I wheel with had an 05 std cab Silverado with a solid frt axle. He built it during the winter of 07/08, last fall during the Turkey trot run he rolled it into a mine wash, it took 3 days and 2 boom trucks to recover the remains.

A few weeks ago I heard he rebuilt the truck on the std cab frame, with an extra cab body, shortened flatbed, Duramax/Allison drivetrain, custom crawler T-case, and Unimog portal axles. The pictures I saw look awsum, cant wait to get a ride in it when he hits the trails.

**Pete95Sierra** · 03-16-2009, 12:07 AM

if your doing any serious offroading with it than it is the best thing you can do. if not, just keep the IFS

**ChevyFarmKid** · 03-16-2009, 04:12 PM

i have a dana 60 front and a 14 bolt rear axel, my truck doesn't go on the pavement, sand dunes, bad lands and lot of muck. i want to lift it more, but i can't afford a lift for a ifs($1500-$2000). I can buy a conversion kit with everything i need for $800. I have broke a a-arm and 3 tie rods, and they are a pain in the ass to do axel seals and work on. that is why I to do a conversion.

**silveradotrailblazer** · 03-16-2009, 04:34 PM

We put Dana 60s and corperate 14s on2500s with leaf spring front (Skyjacker soft ride springs) and on 1500s we used Dana 44s front and rear as we felt 44s on 1500s was strong enough for medium to mild off-roading with up to 38inch tires on that weight of truck. Dana 60s and the 14s are heavy axles for 1500 tranny and engine (5.3) unless your going to upgrade the engine and tranny.

**Pete95Sierra** · 03-17-2009, 06:06 PM

Since its a wheeling rig, than go for it. IFS sucks hahaha. If you know how to do the conversion and all that go for it as well. it will be sweet and you can lift it more and flex way more

**ChevyFarmKid** · 03-17-2009, 11:16 PM

I got nothing but time, I am laid off right now. I wouldn't mind seeing some pictures of my body style with a strait front axle so I have a idea of what I am going for and to possibly have a local machine shop make the brackets that i will need.

**tbplus10** · 03-18-2009, 09:23 PM

If your gonna do this by yourself I'd recommend talking to some local shops that've fabbed solid axle trucks before. I've done quite a few and will readily admit I've screwed up a couple of them. Some repairable, and a few frames a total loss. Incorrect measurements, incorrect geometry, bad angles on brackets, the list of problems goes on.
Probably the first thing you need to do is decide what type suspension your gonna build (leaf spring or linked).
Find a truck like yours thats been modded and see if the owner will let you take pictures and measurements of the suspension.
make a work plan.
Then find a shop willing to fab some of the bracketry you wont be able to make at home.
Write-up a parts list.