The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Axle Flip Question

I am planning on flipping the rear axle above the leafsprings on my 58 Apache. I noticed the Shock mounts on the rear are directly under the axle where leaf springs should go.

When I bolt the leaf assembly back together after the flip, will the rear shock mount go directly under the leaf? Or will it stay above the leaf, but below the axle?

I know tons of people have done this, but what about on a 58?

well since i am currently playing with mine i believe that plate has to go below the axle when you put your ubolt through the plate is what you tighten the nuts too btw rat did you lower your front yet "please tell me your not doing a tail dragger" lol

"tons of people"?? he musta been quite large
real bad idea, the rear mounting was engineered as is for good reasons - you think the back yard engineers here know the safe geometry for your shock mounts? you trust those U bolts to take all the load of the rear of your truck, no matter what pot holes you hit? you going to cut the spring pads off and move them, subjecting the axle housing to that heat? you expect to get the pinion angle good enough to take your foot slipping off the clutch of the 350? considered what yer state DOT might think of it?

if ya want it lower, do it right

Bill

Lol, I haven't yet. But I will. I am working with Sid (SIDS drop axles) on getting a 4-6" front drop.

Danial, are you planning on a C-notch for your frame for your drop, and have you come across any complications flipping the axle?

Wait a minute Bill, slow down, you're making my head spin!

What exactly is the correct method to lowering the back?

monoleaf ... fewer leafs ... bags ... frame mod [illegal many places] - anything except putting the axle up where the weight of the truck is all on the U bolts and the pinion angle is lost

when you've been here awhile you'll find this forum gives safety a pretty high priority

Bill

Safety is a definite priority. Even on my college budget, safety is still important. The problem is, those drop leaf springs are EXPENSIVE. Out of this world expensive. But Maybe I will consider removing a few leaf's from the spring. Would de-arching the springs also be an option?

I would think that whatever you do to lower the rear, be it to move the axle over the leaf springs, remove springs, install different springs, your pinion angle will be off. The rear end ends up being closer to the frame anyway you lower your truck...just a thought.

stephen,
i removed 4 or the original 7 leafs from my rear, and that dropped it 2 inches, then added shackele extensions and got another 1 inch drop, in the rear.

up front i also went with one os sids 3 inch axles, and took out 1 leaf, for right at 3 5/8 front drop.

leonard

Leonard, thanks for the tip! I may go that route.

I sure hope my 54 holds up with the axle on top of the springs. That sure is a lot of weight on those four u-bolts. Maybe I should change my 54 and put the spring on top of the axle like a TF truck. Oh, but wait a minute, it was designed that why and has held up quite well for over 50 years. In fact, those 55 year old bolts are in very good shape.

Sound fabrication practices and common sense will go along way towards a safe modification of the suspension of a truck or car. Where would the custom car and hot rod culture be if we lived in a society where we all had to drive a perfectly stock and unmodified vehicle. Pretty boring.

LOL, love the response. Finally, a true rodder in our midst! Last time I checked, the DOT was't even a word in a hot rodders vocabulary. I'm convinced, I'm flipping that thing tomorrow---

There's nothing unsafe about an axle above the springs. All the AD 1/2 tons came that way from the factory, as did countless other cars and trucks that had leaf spring rear ends. As far as putting heat on the housing, how the heck did the factory get those pads on there in the first place? Pinion angle is important as well as shock mounts and spring pads. The last TF I had I put a Firebird posi in (over the springs) and had the pads welded by a pro. I had that truck for many years and ran it empty and loaded with no problems whatsoever.

Flip away, be safe, be cool.

Amen..........

ok i am confused most of the front axles i have seen have the bolt flange at the top how are you mounting it like that lol i need pics my 59 and 39 could both used a little lowerng

This thread is about rear axles.

ahh ok my bad

thought i had read another post by ratfink talking about the front spring flip

anytime man...

leonard