Register now to get rid of these ads!

Featured Projects Lowering a front axle

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by JReece, Dec 20, 2025.

  1. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    I think pete and jakes, and speedway have all this info on their sites..

    IMG_0072.jpg
     
    Okie Pete likes this.
  2. proartguy
    Joined: Apr 13, 2009
    Posts: 826

    proartguy
    Member
    from Sparks, NV

    In addition, that long drag link combined with the difference in angle with the radius arm will probably make for some interesting bump steer.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2025
    ALLDONE likes this.
  3. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    LOL.. so here's what I would do for you if you if you brought this to my shop,,,I would make a block just like you ask'd and put it on top of the mount you have, drill four holes in it , and make it long enough to to go on the cross member... I would take 1/2'' stock, use my plasma table to cut a block to fit with holes for the u bolts I would weld the block in and mount the spring on top of the mount like you ask'd and be done... it will work with the spring you have...and the shackle's... they will work as is.. but not 100% correct... but will work... to fine tune it you could get the correct spring and shackles...
    this is my RPU front... it's perfect. spring on top. rides and drives perfect,...LOL been down the freeway 1000's of miles through the years..

    IMG_0075 (1).jpg IMG_4553.jpg IMG_5465.jpg
     
    Okie Pete and TERPU like this.
  4. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    oh.... it also has friction shocks that work perfect...
     
  5. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    note the smile on the springs and angle of the shackles.... perfect.....lol
     
  6. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    correct...
     
  7. Yep.

    wrong spring

    Start by getting a correct one
    Then go from there
     
    Okie Pete and High test 63 like this.
  8. I’d recommend getting one of these
    IMG_0273.jpeg
    amd a Pete and Jake’s catalog
     
    Okie Pete and Blues4U like this.
  9. Too much science and not enough action, just do it ! It'll be fine.
     
    ALLDONE and JReece like this.
  10. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 16,103

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Run shocks, bump steer and wheel hop can be hard to get out of at a higher speed.
     
    ALLDONE and JReece like this.
  11. And take care of this too
    IMG_0278.jpeg
    looks like a regular nut
     
    ottersea and JReece like this.
  12. GuyW
    Joined: Feb 23, 2007
    Posts: 841

    GuyW
    Member

    That spring will permanently bend (distort) or break with that reverse curvature at the perch.
     
    ottersea and JReece like this.
  13. JReece
    Joined: Oct 6, 2011
    Posts: 497

    JReece
    Member

    it has two leafs on it now and no reverse curvature, that was just a pic with one leaf as a reference.
     
    Outback, ALLDONE and GuyW like this.
  14. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,777

    alchemy
    Member

    I give up. Good luck.
     
    TERPU, High test 63, JReece and 3 others like this.
  15. chickenridgerods
    Joined: Jul 22, 2003
    Posts: 1,557

    chickenridgerods
    Member
    from DSM, IA

    It's going to have barely any spring rate with only two leaves. Standing on it in your garage is nothing like driving down the road. You'll be putting that axle into the crossmember.

    If OEMs could get away with using just two leaves, they would. Monoleaf springs are designed and constructed differently than the main leaf of a multi-leaf spring.
     
  16. wuga
    Joined: Sep 21, 2008
    Posts: 729

    wuga
    Member

    I agree with alchemy!
     
    ottersea likes this.
  17. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,963

    ALLDONE
    Member

    Did you get er done??
     
    JReece likes this.
  18. TERPU
    Joined: Jan 2, 2004
    Posts: 2,504

    TERPU
    Member

    New to this thread, but the combination of parts you have is fighting itself. The Spring is incorrect for the axle set up.
    You will have a very short lived, spongy, and sketchy ride with trying to use just two springs. Especially an aftermarket of unsure make. One Spring is a major invitation to disaster unless it's designed for it.

    Your T should be able to sit damn near on the perch with the right combination. Without it being on top. If you want it on top, that's different. But it'll work correct and be really low right where it's at. It's spring bound and before long the bushings will be worn out. That set up currently is trying to stretch the spring, not let it go through its arch. Like a tensioner at full tension. The spring is designed to get longer by a bit as it goes through the arch. Yours is already as long as it's ever going to get.

    That is why it looks like wings with only one or two in there. Dangerous as the weakest point in the very middle that already has a hole in it is the bending/flexing point. You need more springs in a taper to spread the weight and even the load. That's why springs are tapered in leaf length. It allows each to do its job while being supported. they work in unison not individually. Even a Mono Leaf is a gentle taper middle to each end. But that's a whole different topic.

    In short you need a longer spring, or the right axle/perch distance for those.

    I put a couple of pictures on this. They show that in a stock cross member you can get the car as low as you want. The '34 Pickup has 7 leaves in it on a reversed eye and the T has 6 leaves on a reversed eye. So with the Suicide Perch you should be able to get it even lower if desired. FWIW I had to put leaves back into the '34 as it was rubbing the braces.

    Your T is cool! Just a little bit of work and it'll be fun to drive.

    All the best,

    Tim
     

    Attached Files:

    redo32, JReece and twenty8 like this.
  19. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 16,103

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    Lengthened home made shackles to try and make the wrong spring fit there is no 45 degree in the shackles for movement.
     
    JReece likes this.
  20. JReece
    Joined: Oct 6, 2011
    Posts: 497

    JReece
    Member

    I agree, and so, I did.

    Here is the latest video:
    Lowering the Front - '23 T Bucket - "Toxici-T!"
     
  21. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 3,738

    twenty8
    Member

    I don't think that softening your front spring so much is the right way to get the shackles sitting at 45*. Two leaves is probably not enough. The spring looks too soft. You might get front end bounce and too much roll when cornering. Be real careful on the test drive. It could handle like ****.
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2026 at 2:25 AM
  22. panhead_pete
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 3,725

    panhead_pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Before doing it check your scrub line at any ride height changes.
     
    JReece and GuyW like this.
  23. :cool:!!
     
    JReece likes this.
  24. 282doorUK
    Joined: Mar 6, 2015
    Posts: 525

    282doorUK

    Maybe air up the tires a tad before you finally decide on rake.
     
    JReece likes this.
  25. JReece
    Joined: Oct 6, 2011
    Posts: 497

    JReece
    Member

    finally someone noticed.
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2026 at 8:52 AM
    282doorUK likes this.
  26. JReece
    Joined: Oct 6, 2011
    Posts: 497

    JReece
    Member

    So, what we are really doing with the front end.

    From measurements it looks to be a Model A spring on a 37-41 axle. So I’ve ordered the correct shackles and that spring should fit perfectly on my dropped Model A axle.

    Current measurements:
    - Leaf spring eye to eye 32.75” (should be a 31.25” that’s currently stretched)
    - Shackle length 3.125” on the car, way too long
    - Perch bosses on the car are 39” minus 5” would be need a 34” spring.

    So, with the Model A axle:
    - 31.25” spring
    - New 1.5” shackles
    - Perch bosses are 36.25” minus 5” is 31.25” spring.

    $40 shackles is much better than buying a whole new spring, and I can add leaves back and still be lower from the drop axle.

    IMG_1904.jpeg
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.