LCAM-01XA
Full Access Member
Greg5OH, the pickup DRW axle is 4" wider PER SIDE, for total track width increase of 8" or so. However you MUST make sure the DRW axle is coming from a pickup truck, as opposed to cab-chassis. Yes both DRW and SRW hubs can accept both DRW or SRW wheels. Yes 4.10 DRW axles did come with LSDs, but it was an option, not standard equipment - look for code "D5" in the "axle" box on the door jamb label/sticker, that is the 4.10 LSD 7400lbs DRW axle you are looking for. Yes you can grab a LSD from another Sterling axle (door jamb axle code B5, B9, C5, C9, D5, D9, or F5) and drop it in yours, most of the time it's pretty simple but as any axle work has the potential of turning into a full-blown "*** was I thinking" type disaster.
Leeland, the DRW Sterling most definitely exists, if anything I'm yet to see a D70 pickup DRW that is not '86 or older. Everything you know about the SRW Sterling applies to the pickup DRW one as well, only difference is the pickup DRW uses thicker housing tubes, wider brakes, and overall hub-to-hub WMS distance is also wider.
FORDF250HDXLT, there is a full strategy to shopping for axles, it's not as simple as picking up the phone and having the axle waiting when you get there - if you can "waste" (from the spousal unit's point of view) a weekend on it and also have some favors to collect on then it can be hugely beneficial from financial stand point. OMG $750 ***, my hell on heels paid almost as much for a 4x4 front MDT axle with juice discs AND 10-luggers, no way I'd drop that on an unknown condition light duty pickup axle, unless of course I'm in a hurry for whatever reason and needed said axle like yesterday
Riot, check the warranty on that lunchbox locker - most seem to limit tire size to 32" or so, considering factory 235/85-16 tires are 31" tall already I'd be very hesitant to put one in an axle that will run large tires and/or get loaded near its GAWR on regular basis.
And to everyone suggesting simply using wheels with more offset on the existing SRW axle, that would make sense if the OP was keeping his current gear ration, which he already said twice that he'd like to change from 3.55 to 4.10. In such a situation one should first check how much it would run to have a shop swap gears in their existing housing (the full cost, gears + diff + bearings and shims + labor, and don't forget to factor in downtime), then check how much an entire axle will cost (add new U-bolts, hub seals, and brake lines too), and compare the two. Then before pulling a junkyard axle one should take care to inspect said axle for play in any and all bearings, wear on the gears, color and consistency of oil, and so on. Considering the brute strength of Sterling axles, the fact that pickup DRW axles that fit our trucks only came in 2wd trucks, the general observation that trucks with pickup boxes rarely get subjected to as much abuse as flatbeds, and the general practice that a complete axle can be obtained and swapped in a lazy weekend, it may just make more sense to grab a good-condition junkyard pickup DRW axle that already has the desired gears and differential. As always, YMMV.
Leeland, the DRW Sterling most definitely exists, if anything I'm yet to see a D70 pickup DRW that is not '86 or older. Everything you know about the SRW Sterling applies to the pickup DRW one as well, only difference is the pickup DRW uses thicker housing tubes, wider brakes, and overall hub-to-hub WMS distance is also wider.
FORDF250HDXLT, there is a full strategy to shopping for axles, it's not as simple as picking up the phone and having the axle waiting when you get there - if you can "waste" (from the spousal unit's point of view) a weekend on it and also have some favors to collect on then it can be hugely beneficial from financial stand point. OMG $750 ***, my hell on heels paid almost as much for a 4x4 front MDT axle with juice discs AND 10-luggers, no way I'd drop that on an unknown condition light duty pickup axle, unless of course I'm in a hurry for whatever reason and needed said axle like yesterday
Riot, check the warranty on that lunchbox locker - most seem to limit tire size to 32" or so, considering factory 235/85-16 tires are 31" tall already I'd be very hesitant to put one in an axle that will run large tires and/or get loaded near its GAWR on regular basis.
And to everyone suggesting simply using wheels with more offset on the existing SRW axle, that would make sense if the OP was keeping his current gear ration, which he already said twice that he'd like to change from 3.55 to 4.10. In such a situation one should first check how much it would run to have a shop swap gears in their existing housing (the full cost, gears + diff + bearings and shims + labor, and don't forget to factor in downtime), then check how much an entire axle will cost (add new U-bolts, hub seals, and brake lines too), and compare the two. Then before pulling a junkyard axle one should take care to inspect said axle for play in any and all bearings, wear on the gears, color and consistency of oil, and so on. Considering the brute strength of Sterling axles, the fact that pickup DRW axles that fit our trucks only came in 2wd trucks, the general observation that trucks with pickup boxes rarely get subjected to as much abuse as flatbeds, and the general practice that a complete axle can be obtained and swapped in a lazy weekend, it may just make more sense to grab a good-condition junkyard pickup DRW axle that already has the desired gears and differential. As always, YMMV.
