Axle Removal

Hello Larry,

When you remove an axle from your Volvos how do you come up with the wheelbase? I saw on your website you list 202 inches. Is this the center of the tandems? When you have the foward axle removed, what do you do with it? Do you keep it and sell it or does the company give you a credit for the axle? How much are these axles worth? Also what do you do with the tires? I am considering doing this to a Freightliner. The truck needs new rear tires. I was quoted 25-50 hours labor at $50.00 per hour. I can keep the parts or they would give me something for the rear. They did not specify. There are 8 virgin tires on the back and I think I can probably get a good credit towards four retred tires. Do you change the tires at the same time you remove the axle? Thanks for your help. I really enjoy your forum.

Thanks,

Robert

[geof]

what part of the country are you in?....I can get it done much cheaper if you are close to Cincinati Ohio

I am in Florida. Probably is a bit too far to travel to Ohio. How much can you get it done for?

Thanks,

Bob

[geof]

$500-700 if you aren't in a hurry and can leave it for as long a month.....they fit it in when a mechanic is waiting for parts or not busy between other rigs.....they do their regular customers first and fit it in when they are free for an afternoon...I do some prep to speed things up some.....geof

I agree with Geoff, the costs quoted you are a bit high.

The wheel base is up to you in terms of how you want to use your tow vehicle. My Volvo had a 207 inche wheelbase. Measure from center line of front axel, to the middle of the distance between the rear axels. I took off my front and moved the rear up for a wheel base of 182 inches. I did that for manuverability reasons in town etc, sacrificing some ride comfort, perhaps, in doing so.

Jim Gehlen, kept his rear in place and has a bed with a 220 inch plus wheel base. He did that so he would have enough room between his cab and fiver for a couple of motorcycles.

Oldphoneman and myself mounted our air ride hitches in back of our new drive axel in order to get some room between cab and trailer. Volvo will allow you to remove weight off the front by doing this. I have lost the exact number but I have it some where.

I received a 1000 dollar credit for my axel, wheels and tires, if you have new tires should do better than that. I can't get mine done as cheap as Geoff, but a net 800 to a 1000 should be possible.

I can't tell you how my rig rides bob tailed compared to Jim and Valeries as I haven't ridden in theirs. I have driven mine over 3000 miles bob tailed and I don't have any problems with the ride, but then maybe I don't know what I am missing either.

fyi

Chuck

[onezman]

Hi Robert,

Sorry about the tardy reply. I've been out of town a few days. I bought two white 2000 610s with autoshift for my next conversions.

Chuck filled in nicely in my absense. First, find someone who does this type of converions. If a shop can't even quote you a firm price, you don't want them working on your truck.

A frame shop that knows what they are doing can do a conversion in about 16 hours. You may have to wait a day or so beyond that while a new driveshft is built by a driveshaft company.

I have never had a conversion that was not completed within 4 days. I have a shop that will allow me to assist. We can do a conversion in 10 hours not counting the driveshaft. Make certain the company you choose uses all new class 8 bolts. After the conversion is finished, before installing fenders, light bars, ets, I try to have the frame sandblasted and painted.

As far as selling differential, tires and wheels, figure you may get 50% of retail for the tires and wheels unless you want to try to sell them yourself to users.

Usually you just have to get on the phone and call around till you find someone who will make you an offer for the differential.

These truck parts places buy entire trucks wrecked for around $10K. They have diffferentials, transmissions, engines, etc that have been setting on racks for years unsold. Consider yourself lucky if you get $400 for it.

onezman

[KZX11]

Well here is a twist, I did my own,In my back yard,In about 13 Hours. Not working real hard! Now I took the easy route and just removed the rear axle and left the front where it was I run with the Diff. Locked in! I think the wheel base is now 186" I forget,But it sure turns alot easier and the ride is not much differnt IMO. Total Cost about $30.00 I kept the rear and tires just in case.

WWW.YES.IRV2.COM

I thought about just removing the back rear. Is it a problem to run the front with the diff. locked? Freightliner says not to drive like this. I also didn't know if the hitch would be to far back and would change the way the truck drove when pulling the trailer.

[KZX11]

Hi Robert
I have about 2000 miles so far Still works great! But like I said I kept the rear<>Rear just in case. I did shorten the frame, So it looks like a single

WWW.YES.IRV2.COM

KZX11

Did your truck have a sliding fifth wheel? Did you move it forward?

Thanks,

Robert