How much DROP do you have in your STRAIGHT AXLE? 6+"?

So, we have REAL straight axles, 4" dropped, 6" dropped ....butt what are YOU running on the front of YOUR HOTROD?
The REAL question is, HOW LOW CAN YOU REALLY GO? ...and STILL really DRIVE it?!

A picture of what your referring to is GREAT if you can supply it!

 

Six inch dropped axle in my 34

 

unless i don't know how to read a tape measure, that looks more like five.

 

my axle measures 7" from the kingpin centerline to the bottom of the axle (lowest point).

15" rim means 7.5" from the kingpin centerline to the bottom of the rim.

that gives me 1/2" scrubline clearance.

when my tires wear out i'm going to switch to 16" rims for 1/2" more clearance.


ed

 

once you get near 5 in, you run into scrubline issues... with a 5 in you have to run at LEAST 16in wheels. and you still would be close to having the axle below the scrubline.

ya you can have em dropped a ton, we do up to 5in, but they loose their graceful look, and start to thin out.

 

12pack, call me a puss but that axle is scaring the shit out of me.

Who dropped that thing?

JH

 

i am middle experinced (how to hell write that word ?) but this axle setup looks more than scary to me

 

a five inch dropped axle is not one with a five inch measurement from kingpin to perch holes, it's one that has been DROPPED five inches, there is a difference. take a late ford axle for example, they have more "drop" built in, but they are not dropped axles in the sense that we are talking, even though you see them on ebay advertised as dropped axles.

if four or five inches isn't enough, then go to a modified crossmember, reversed eye spring, etc.

 

what do you need to do to drop these axles? Heat and bend?

Are there places in calif. that do this?

 

This axle was done in the 50s or early sixties,heresa pic of it back then

 

Glad to see this post. I was leaning toward buying the new 5" dropped I beam from Magnum... Thought it would give me a little more travel so I would not have to C-notch the front rails....

 

[ QUOTE ]
Thought it would give me a little more travel so I would not have to C-notch the front rails....

[/ QUOTE ]

If your spring is bottoming out on the frame, you wouldn't gain travel with the larger dropped axle compared to what you have now as the distance between your frame rail and spring perches is the same. The extra 'X' inches of drop just lower the front of the car 'X' inches.

If you want to keep the same height, you could switch to the larger drop and add some more leafs. That'd give you a stiffer ride that'd be a little less likely to bottom the spring on the frame.

 

I have not started the frame yet but your thoughts were on track.... Larger drop means I do not have to lower it as far to get the stance I am after... more clearance between the frame and axle

 

sorry to go offtopic here. But do you guys know anyone who will strech the axel for my 1st series Chevy truck? I know mordrop will. But i cant justify spending 430$ plus shipping both ways for a 4 in drop. Anyone else know of anyone?

 

bttt

 

i have a 7" mas tube in my A sedan....mounted suicide style...with 28 inch tall tires...puts the axle about 4 inches off the ground...and my radius rods about an inch and a half off the ground...