Eaton power divider elimination?

another thing to consider is if you are putting a flat bed on the frame is the braking you have to change the valve or plug the air lines for the trailer hook up to get proper braking power. if your hauling anykind of weight.

 

My only concern is how the power divide unit would get lube with the rest of the front diff gutted. Even with a pump the diff would still need gear oil in it because the power divider and main diff share the same oil. If his dont have a pump then it gets its lube from the ring gear slinging the oil up to the power divide and it wont be their any more. You definetly could move the rear rear to the front and leave the rear rear as a dead axle but their is still a lube problem with the wheel bearings. Yes you might be able to just grease the bearings and be fine but with out seeing the type of seals and what would keep the grease in the bearing im not sure if that would work either. I also think that just leaving the rear axle as a dead axle you would get stuck a lot. All that would need to happen is to drop one wheel from the front drive axle into a pot hole and all the weight would fall on the dead axle and you would be stuck. Just like a power divider that was unlocked only no switch to get you out. If the rear axle were a lift axle you could just pick it up and put the weight back on the front drive axle. I think the biggest problem is being able to tow the truck with the drive axle off the ground. I know a cheap way to make lift axle. Ive seen it done on a three axle low boy trailer that didn't need all three axles all the time. First attach two lengths of heavy duty chain to the frame of the truck hanging down to the axle houseing on either side. Then add a ball valve to the air line that feeds the air bags on that axle only. Dump the air to all the rear air bags with the switch on the dash. Weld a tab on the axle houseing to hook the free end of the chain to the axle houseing. Close of the ball valve in the air line to the bags on the axle you want to lift. Flip the switch on the dash to reinflate the air bags. Air will now only go to the axle you want to leave on the ground. As the frame of the truck raises so will the axle that had the air cut off and is chained to the frame.

 

Ive never heard it called a poor mans lift axle before. I like it You could do it to both axles. Lift the rear dead axle when not needed. Lift the front drive axle when towing. If you have cross locks also then getting stuck in a hole isn't a big problem anyway. Ya drilling holes in truck frames is a hell of a lot of work.