10. Due to the fact that this rear axle was going to be a rear-steer application, we opted for another set of Longfield Super Axles. These axles are the cat's meow when it comes to strength. Made from 4340 chromoly, these CV-style bells offer 45 degrees of bind-free steering. The axleshafts are 35-spline units made from 300M tool steel. These shafts come with a lifetime warranty against breakage as long as you are running less than a 47-inch tire. We've had great luck with these shafts in the front of the Mega Titan thus far.
11. With the axleshafts in...
11. With the axleshafts in place, the next step was to assemble the outer ends of the axle. This includes the spindles, bearings, and brake rotors.
12. Next, the rear differential...
12. Next, the rear differential cover was installed. A thick bead of RTV silicone was used to seal the cover.
13. Once the complete Dana...
13. Once the complete Dana 80 was ready to go, the technician serialized the housing to ensure ownership. This also allows us to refer back to the build sheet if we ever need to. Dynatrac keeps a paper file on every axle they produce.
14. A complete rear axle isn't...
14. A complete rear axle isn't happy without a truck to go into. So we took both the housing and the Mega Titan down to Seaside, California, where master fabricator Toby Lavender and his crew at Triple-X Traction could finish the job. Here you can see Toby's crew unloading the truck from our trailer.
15. With the housing placed...
15. With the housing placed under the truck, out came the plumb bobs and measuring tape. Once it was centered under the rig, Toby began figuring out how to mount the upper link brackets to the top of the housing. Lucky for us, the rear driveshaft had plenty of slip to accommodate the added length of the Dana 80 pinion.
16. In a few hours' time,...
16. In a few hours' time, Toby started welding up the new mounting brackets for the axle.
17. This shot shows the beautiful...
17. This shot shows the beautiful truss system Toby came up with to secure the upper link mounts. The 1/2-inch-thick plate was rosette welded to the Dynatrac axle truss.
18. This is the latest-generation...
18. This is the latest-generation ARB air compressor. Notice the anodized aluminum fin structure surrounding the air tank. This helps keep the compressor cooler. Toby mounted this unit near the batteries, just behind the cab of the truck.
19. This is what the axle...
19. This is what the axle looked like when we left the shop for the evening. Notice the uniformity in the welds surrounding the upper link mounts. A simple but classy flared hole was added to each upper link mount. We love these artistic touches. Next time, we'll cover the rear steering system and report on how the Pro 80 holds up in the back of our Mega Titan.