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When did the various manufacturers quit the solid front axles on their 4x4 pickups ?


Mike

ford stopped in 1979 except in the F-350 and brought it back with the Super Duty's in 1999 F-250/350, but they used a TTB axles not true IFS
GM stopped in 1986 for 1/2 and 3/4 tons but kept in solid in the 'burbs and 1 tons (v trucks vs c/k) until 1991, and then all GM's were IFS starting in 1992 Dodge dropped the solid front end in 1993 in the half-tons only, I think the last year for a Toyota solid axle was 1984

Toyota-- 1985 was the last year
GM-1987 was the last year on half tons
Ford already had the TTB from way back. Its not a solid, but not an IFS either, and has the drawbacks from both and none of the attributes of either...
Dodge-- not sure on these, but I am guessing late 80's
Nissan never had a solid front axle that I know of
Jeep still has them(for now) Rumor has it that the 2016 Wrangler will be IFS...
The 3/4 and 1 ton models carried the solid fronts much later, and some still have them in the 1 ton trim...

I believe Ram 3/4 ton still has a solid front axle.

It does. E

So , who make the toughest IFS in a half ton 4x4 nowadays ?


Mike

GM used straight axles in CC trucks and Suburbans until 1991

chevy's front ends are pretty dang'd good. I see a LOT of guys hanging 8' western pro plows off the things with only timbrens to help them and i know a buddy that has had his on there since 2011 and has over 200hrs of HARD plowing and has had no front end problems.

My 99 Dodge 1/2 ton had a solid axle and my 99 and 01 3/4 tons had a solid front axle.

Dodge was the last to drop a SFA in their half ton trucks ending with the 2001 model year. However SFA is still under their 3/4 and 1 ton pickups.

I don't know who makes the toughest IFS front axle 1/2 ton. But I do understand that they are the choice of the off road racing crowds. Both Ford, with their Raptor package, and Toyota with their Baja package, are setup for this sort of use and have factory warranties.
Solid front axles are the thing for the rock crawling crowd. That's why Jeep uses a beefier than standard one on their Rubicon models and Dodge uses it for their Power Wagon model.
If I had to guess, I'd pick Ford's Raptor. The whole front end is modified and beefed for high speeds and even a little jumping off road. E

I believe the Blazer had a live-front axle until 91 as well, AND throttle-body fuel injection.

It's not a pickup, but my 1997 landcruiser has a solid front axle ( rear axle, too, and both have elockers from the factory). I think Toyota still sells solid axle trucks and landcruisers to other countries, just not ours.

in 1988 chevy 1/2 tons came with ifs with a 7.5 inch ring gear out of their cars. what a [bleep] weak gear for a truck, add the thermo coupler and it gets worse. i miss my 72 chevy swb 4x4, 1973 Bronco with solid front axles. miss my last truck that had manual locking hubs and transfer case (1993 F150) with limited slip front and rear axles. my bronco and this truck took a 10 acre field to turn around in. got me in some trouble sometimes in tight spots. got my eye out for 78 or 79 fullsize Bronco.

I know 93-98 F350s are solid.
99 and up F250s and F350s are solid.
Dodge HD trucks are solid.

not sure about toughest but you can convert both ford and dodge to lockout hubs where you can not on GM

If I'm not mistaken most of the older trucks had Dana 44 wether it was ford or chevy. Never had a dodge. But my j 10 jeep also had a dana44
As far as ifs I have never broke a chevy my 93 has 300k and never touched it.
But I would still give the non to ford on their rinning gear for pure brute strength.
And I am defiantly not a ford guy.....

Tough and 1/2 ton are an oxymoron. Not that there is anything wrong with a 1/2 ton truck and IMO an IFS makes sense on a light truck to give it a smooter ride.

If you want a solid tough truck, get a 3/4 ton, if you want a light smooth riding truck, get a 1/2 ton.

A Dana 60 solid front axle came from the factory on both of my 96 Dodge Cummins 3/4 tons.

I had a 01 Dodge with a Dana 60 front. The problem is they are only a Dana 60 form the the knuckles in. The ball joints, axle joints, etc look like they belong on a half ton and wear out very fast.