The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline TCI rear mono leafs in a 49 half ton and closed shaft

Does anyone have experience with installing a TCI rear mono leaf kit with the stock closed shaft rear end? It looks simple enough from their instructions, but they show an open shaft rear which mounts to the springs differently. (Stock springs are already below the axle and have small u-bolts that attach to a mounting bracket welded to the axle). The kit shows typical large u-bolts over the axle, but this cannot work unless the original bracket is cut off.

I'm hoping to get the 4" drop, make the installation without modifying the axle and only remove/replace the shackle mounts that come in the kit.

Thanks!

Hy Sulli, I have no experience with your proposed project, however I will offer some free advice. You must come up with a way to mount the original axle mounts to your new springs, The axle must be able to pivot inside the spring mounts that way the rear axle can travel up and down through the suspensions range of travel, hope that helps.

Thanks 3B. That makes sense. After reading your note, I was looking at the axle spring bracket, and it set up to pivot similar to the shackles. I'll call tci and see if they have a spring attachment that works with this bracket.

Thanks!

You will be VERY unhappy with the operation of the torque tube rear end with that much of a change in ride height. Of course, the ride and handling will suck like a Hoover upright vacuum cleaner no matter what kind of suspension you use!
Jerry

Guess there's a reason folks either stay all stock or rip everything out and start over. I'm kinda torn now on keeping it as is and not modify ride height at all.
The hope was to drop and have it all be bolt-in, but sounds like I would end up buying a new axle and driveshaft, then mess with brake lines. Trying to avoid a big snowball.

Sulli,

Yes, given a torque tube, lowering would create havoc with the drivetrain geometry by use of mono leafs. Following this thread? Open driveshaft will lead you to the lowering ability if you are dead set on it.

AFA "The ride and handling will suck.." I have 90k miles on a stock suspension dd/only vehicle, although not a sports car, very comfortable ride with very good handling courtesy of front steering damper, front sway bar, all zerks greased on schedule, good king pins, radial tires, etc. I can't imagine for instance driving at the speeds and distance I travel with bias plys (just for the period correct skinny tire look).

In addition, driving 'at truck height' has made me a better driver just because I can see OVER all those low identical cars on the road nowadays.

Regards,