JT 1-TON UD80 APEX REAR AXLE SWAP KIT

The JT 1-Ton UD80 APEX Rear Axle Swap Kit is Artec Industries' bracket and truss package for grafting a Spicer Ultimate Dana 80 bracketless crate axle under the Jeep Gladiator JT. The bare crate housing ships with no suspension mounts, so this kit supplies the APEX truss and every link, coil, shock and bump-stop bracket needed to locate that 1-ton axle in the factory JT suspension geometry. It is the answer for Gladiator owners running 40-inch-plus tires who have outgrown the stock Dana 44.

Key Features

• CNC laser-cut and formed from 1/4" and 3/16" mild steel for a stout, warp-resistant weld-on truss
• Patented APEX peaked-top truss design adds rigidity over a conventional flat-top truss
• Retains the factory JT link, coil spring, anti-sway bar and shock mounting locations for a bolt-back-in suspension
• Requires roughly 70% less welding than a traditional bracket-by-bracket swap, which cuts heat, warping and shop time
• 3/16" components are designed to drop into place and self-locate on the housing for straightforward alignment before welding

Fitment & Compatibility

Fits the Jeep Gladiator JT (2020-present) and is engineered specifically for the Spicer Ultimate Dana 80 bracketless crate rear axle. It is a swap kit, not an axle — you supply the UD80 crate housing. Because it reuses factory JT suspension pickup points, it pairs with the stock link and coil arrangement rather than requiring a full custom link build.

Specifications

What's in the Box

• APEX rear axle truss
• Coil spring brackets and bump-stop pads
• Lower and upper control arm mounts
• Shock mounts
• Anti-sway bar mounting provisions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this kit include the axle?
No. This is a bracket and truss swap kit only. It is designed around the Spicer Ultimate Dana 80 bracketless crate rear axle, which you source separately, and it provides the mounts that bare housing lacks.

Which Jeep does it fit?
It is built for the Jeep Gladiator JT (2020-present), reusing the factory JT link, coil, sway bar and shock locations.

Does it require welding?
Yes. The truss and brackets weld to the axle housing. Artec's design cuts welding by about 70% versus a piece-by-piece bracket swap, but competent MIG welding and the ability to set pinion angle and axle centering are required.

Is there a matching truss-only option?
Yes. If you only need the housing reinforcement, Artec offers the UD80 APEX Rear Axle Truss on its own, and a version bundled with additional hardware as the JT 1-Ton UD80 APEX Rear Axle Swap Kit & Truss.