Do rear diff U-bolts have to point down?

I am looking to flip an 8/34 axle on my 55 Dodge truck, the original axle is still in and is overslung, i want to run under slung and drop the rear. in doing so, by looking at the factory brackets that the axle is sitting on now , looks like i can take the right side and put it on top of the axle on the left side and vice versa, meaning a highter bottom shock mounting point and the u-bolts will have the threads and nuts pointing up instead of down to ground.

is this cool? dangerous? silly question ?

Derek

 

Sounds like a good idea. You would have to weld the spring perches on top.
I would put double nuts on the U bolts, to prevent loss of a nut.

 

It will be much easier and safer --oh and cleaner too to take the original mounts off the axle and replace them by welding new ones to the bottom side of the axle then re-mounting . The u-bolts don't care if they point up or down , but your breather on the axle does and also it is designed for the oil "sump " so to speak to be on the bottom , not the top.

 

I'm sorry , but I mis read --you need to put new perches on the opposite side any way ---

 

Yeah the diff will be in it's original orientation, vent up, etc....just thought i could save a few bucks on new shock mounts by flipping them uspide down and side to side....i thought the alxe tube is as round on top as is on the bottom and the brackets i have are curved to fit the contour of the tube.

I was going to double nut with lock nuts on the bottom as well.

Didn't think the "upside down" u-bolt idea was a bad one.

Thanks guys!

Derek

 

Derek,

If my thinking is correct , flipping the axle would change the rotation of the wheels on the ground ! You would have 3 or more speeds in reverse and one in forward gear !

Good Luck,
Sonny

 

As long as the perches are welded solidly,
the U-bolts don't care,"right side up" or not.