Topic: Using Rear Axels in the front

[Destruct O]

I searched this forum and a couple of others and could not find anything about this. I know this may sound a little crazy is there any one out there using rear axles as their front axle?

[HARJOMOTORSPORTS]

I saw an edition of Extreme 4x4 a while back (http://www.powerblocktv.com/sites/xtreme/xt_ep.php) in which they swapped for Rockwells and used a front as a rear...  They had some rearranging to do, and added a caliper and disc at the pinion for front brakes.

I'm sure you could probably find a reverse-cut Dana 60 pretty cheap.

[MiniSimp]

I saw a guy with 2 non-steering axles (one in the front, one in the rear) and airbags set up for skateboard steering. Yes it worked.

[havik]

I saw a guy with 2 non-steering axles (one in the front, one in the rear) and airbags set up for skateboard steering. Yes it worked.

thats crazy. wouldnt that cause alot of body roll like a sk8??

[MiniSimp]

thats crazy. wouldnt that cause alot of body roll like a sk8??

No idea, just saw the pictures of it wheelin.

[91 super yoda]

I searched this forum and a couple of others and could not find anything about this. I know this may sound a little crazy is there any one out there using rear axles as their front axle?

not impossible, but really impractible. unless your talkin about cuttin the knuckles off of something and welding to the outside of the rear axle. but I dont know why anybody would want to do that. and in the rockwell case, they were probly talkin about puting a front axle in the rear for rear steer capabilities. 

[Destruct O [OP]]

I saw this vehicle on the web a little while ago it looked like a moose buggy, it had a full hydraulic steering a extreme duty front bump and a rear axle in the front. It showed some pics of this person welding knuckles up to a big axle not Rockwell big made be a D70. It did not have good pictures of this rig, it just showed pictures of the front of the vehicle and you can just make out the front drive shaft and it was mounted  / to the axle. I never seen a drive shaft mounted any way but straight.  I will keep looking if I find anything I will post the link 

[Destruct O [OP]]

I tried to post these pictures but not luck so I add the links these vehicles are at. They are not the ones I was talking about but none the less they are running rear axles in the front.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=134483
http://www.yyracing.com/team.html

[91 super yoda]

pretty sure those are unimog axles, they break all the rules.

[Destruct O [OP]]

I believe the zuk is. I am not to sure about the buggy

[Hyena]

the buggy just used custom housing.  the sami has unimog portals.

[Destruct O [OP]]

I see the buggy is switching out the axles and it looks like the pumpkin is being set closer to the wheels.

[OOPS]

I see the buggy is switching out the axles and it looks like the pumpkin is being set closer to the wheels.

The reason the rear axle is off set so much is the engine is in the back, facing backwards. The real axle is being driven by the front output on the t-case and the front axle is being driven by the back output. This design has been around for a while one of the first to use it was "Tiny' an air-cooled VW engine powered buggy that took first place in just about all the comp events a few years back. It was driven by Jon the owner of All-Pro. The new axle housings that are under the Buggy look to be Diamond axle housing and are designed and built by Biran at Front Range Offroad. You can learn more about the housings here.

http://www.diamondaxle.com/index.htm

[91 super yoda]

The reason the rear axle is off set so much is the engine is in the back, facing backwards. The real axle is being driven by the front output on the t-case and the front axle is being driven by the back output. This design has been around for a while one of the first to use it was "Tiny' an air-cooled VW engine powered buggy that took first place in just about all the comp events a few years back. It was driven by Jon the owner of All-Pro. The new axle housings that are under the Buggy look to be Diamond axle housing and are designed and built by Biran at Front Range Offroad. You can learn more about the housings here.

http://www.diamondaxle.com/index.htm

yep, we've had one of those come through the shop. it had a twin turbo alcohol VW with a 2 speed powerglide and an atlas. the axle were custom 9" low pinions turned upside down so it would still drive in the correct direction. it was a comp buggy in colorado and has since been retired as a trail rig. we added some comfortable features.