Real off the road one here - I looked at drawings and pictures of 1/2tonFord front IFS split diff setups a few days ago. There could be a a way to narrow one of those diffs easily and adapt to a JK. They are a D44 setup so would take a locker and I wheeled a Bronco with one I owned and it never lifted a wheel like Toyotas do. Definitely would make the ride and steer nicer without losing too much flex. Has anyone else ever thought about this? Thoughts please. Hardestpart would be the two pivots and a bar needed to mount them on.And the side beauties are one would get locking hubs and use the Jeep wheel pattern.

 

It's an interesting idea, the thought that comes to mind is getting a totaled JK and Ford 1/2 ton front from a wrecking yard to mock up and see how it goes.

 

Mr T that is exactly what I thought. Simply because a mockup most likely would not interfere with equipment above the chassis rail level. We have 2 Pick a Parts here and there stuff is really reasonable with usually dozens of those old Fords. Width wise the Ranger setup is better suited but they are only rated as D35's.Ford did change to an 8.8" diff later in this IFS series. Big trouble in Canada is getting a chunk of front chassis from the JK. Diff orientation looks good and steering setup would have to be retained from the Ford with split tie rod setup due to the slight off center diff pivots that change length with flex. A straight rod would not work - how Ford got the flex using a longer fulcrum than wishbone setup. And under flex say the right side droops a lot but the left side compensates by raising so almost like a solid diff setup. And this may?? be able to use the Ford trailing arms which are single unit as opposed to adapting the front 4 link setup and goodbye track bar. I will be out of country each year for nearly 6 months starting Nov this year so can have this thing off the road to look into this. Guy up the road has an OJ Bronco so will start there with a tape measure.
Very interesting that the first comment sounds positive. Side note to Jeep - make the Mojave and some JL models setup like this as they don't have the front locker diff.