Anyone Fitted Front Axle Above The Springs

[kitesurfjohn]

Just in the process of lowering my 51 and have moved rear spring hangers up a bolt hole and fabbed up mounting brackets for 'new' top bolts. Looking at the front I guess its either a drop axle, remove a few leafs, or possibly change axle from below springs to above.  So far I have just swapped it over to check height which fairly well where I want it, just wondering if anyone else has done the same thing?

[Merle Coggins]

How much clearance do you have between the axle and frame, or oil pan, with the axle above the springs?

 

Merle

[MBF]

I don't think its an option to put the stock axle on top of the springs.  There will be clearance issues, and how are you going to locate the centerbolt and attach it so that the axle stays put.  I think there are going to be issues with the drag link as well.  I'd look at removing a leaf and see what that does with the axle in the original position.

[greg g]

Conventional wisdom states that modification IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

[1952B3b23]

I agree with "greg g". You're better off with removing a leaf or two from the springs or getting a dropped axle from Sid's (see link below).

 

http://www.droppedaxles.com/

 

 

Can you post pics of your rear axle lowering job?

 

-Chris

[kitesurfjohn]

The problem with getting a drop axle is that they are not legal in Queensland.  Removing a leaf doesn't really lower it by as much as I would like, although I could get a single leaf spring made but they are quite costly.  The only clearance issue is with the exhaust downpipe. I have made up a location plate for the centre bolt to prevent axle movement the result is a drop of about 4" which what I was looking for. 

 

 So far as conventional wisdom is concerned well I guess I have very little of that but believe that where there is a will there is a way, infact it was a relatively common practice with other manufacturers to mount the axle above the spring. I just wanted to know if anyone else here had done the same thing?

 

The rear is very simple - remove the 4 bolts in each spring hanger and move the hanger up.  Two tops holes now have nothing to bolt into, just fabricate a mounting bracket which bolts or weld to the top of the chassis rail and drill 2 new bolt holes and bolt up.  Job done and again approx. 4" lower, due to the shock angle there is still plenty of travel left on the standard shocks. 

Edited August 23, 2013 by kitesurfjohn

[The Oil Soup]

Is your pinion angle still correct? Another way to lower the front axle is to reverse the spring eyes on the top leaf and remove a leaf or two. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90824&highlight=reverse+your+own+spring+eyes Here is a link to the HAMB that shows a nice homemade jig to do your own springs.

[The Oil Soup]

Does moving the shackle mount up interfere with the underside of the bed? Could the mount be moved down and the shackle flipped to get the same result?

[kitesurfjohn]

_{Moving the rear shackle mounts up on mine doesn't come in contact with the bed although I don't know about the original bed as mine has a F100 style tub so it may be different.  There are several ways to lower the front end including flip the spring so the eyes are the other way up,  reverse a number of leaves and clamp the ends to pull the curve flatter,  press the spring curve flatter (as in the link), make single leaf spring, swap the axle over spring etc.  I guess it is a matter of choosing what is right for you after looking at ride height, stiffness, amount of work involved, originality, legality, costs etc.}

[Don Coatney]

I believe safety would by my first consideration.