i need some help with a sids dropped axle and spindle fit issues, 41 ford

heres a quick run down of the parts im using:

the axle is a factory 37-41 axle that has been dropped 4 inches by sids axles. the spindles are speedway forged, part number 916-32104. the spindles were actually ordered as the full kit with new kingpins, hardware, etc. steering arms are part number 702-2756 which have a 3 3/4 drop.

the car is a 41 ford and you can see pics of the parts here:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552323

the problem i have is that the steering arms interfere with the axle. i thought i just needed to clean some of the forging marks off the axle but i was wrong. it needs a lot more trimming than i expected. the actual arm isnt hitting, but the "loop" between the two mounting points where it bolts to the spindle. ive tried swearing at it and offering it a beer, and neither worked.

these are the options i can think of:
1-heat the steering arm, bend it down and re-level the ends where the tie rods go
2-grind the axle for clearance, but id have to take out a good 1/4-3/8 chunk
3-buy an aftermarket axle and sell/store the sids axle. id have to look at a buddies car to see how clearance is before i can do this as i dont know for sure how it looks.
4-find factory spindles and modify those to work.

is there another rout that i am missing? is one or more of the above a good fix? maybe i need to use a different steering arm?

thanks ahead of time for any help!
bob

 

This is a common prob. and is even more so with the later axle. You may have the cast steering arms and if so those can not be bent. You can make some custom ones without too much work out of plate or bar stock with some machined threaded lugs.

Another option is to find an origonal pair of spindles with the arms still intact and heat and bend those to get the clearance you need. You could also do as you mentioned get an aftermarket axle.

 

I'm no expert on Ford's but option 4 makes sense to me. The axle in question was probably dropped with the stock spindles in mind. You should be able to get your money back from Speedway. You can always call Sid and ask him what he thinks, he's very knowledgable on what it takes to make his axles work.

I've got one of his axles under my truck and did wind up heating and bending the steering arms down and "flipped" the tie rod so that it mounts from the bottom side of the steering arms.

Very cool project you've got there. I'm sure you'll solve this issue and be happy with the results.

 

After looking at your link it looks like you have a stretch drop, the axle comes straight down off of the king pin boss. You may have trouble getting the clearance you need with even stock spindles. Do you have acess to someone with a stock spindle to try before going any further?

 

the drop isnt supposed to be a stretch, but i never measured to verify. i just assumed it was stock. sid and i had a small conversation about stock vs stretched. maybe he did by mistake? i do not have access to any stock spindles unfortunately. maybe someone in my neck of the woods that reads this has one or two and will chime in to let me test fit

 

Contact Sid, I found him to be very helpful.

 

You need a pair of Chassis Engineering steering arms like on this page: http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/page73.html

 

^^^I have never seen those, that would solve his problem.

 

X two call Sid. He will have the answer.

 

First thing would be to call Sid.

The 37-41 axle is so short between the perch and kingpin bosses that if its not stretched, you will probably not be able to use original spindle with the steering arms on them anyway..... the CE steering arms would be the way to go in my book. Should not have clearance issues with those.

 

thanks for that link! that will probably be the final change. but, i will be calling sid today or tomorrow for his opinion.

thanks again!
bob

 

The best steering arms to use on a dropped 37-41 axle is the stock steering arms on the spindles. If you bend them nice and tight the work great. The super bell bolt on steering arms don't work on stock 37-48 dropped axles. The Chassis engineer arms will also work.

 

Talk to Sid, he'll make it right. You may need to return the axle and spindles.

 

Never ever cut chunks out of axles for clearance. The steering arms from Chassis Engineering should solve your problems as they have hundred, if not thousands, before you.

 

Do you have the torrington bearing on top of the axle by chance? It needs to go on the bottom between the spindle and axle.

 

Yeah, you missed number 5: High drop steering arms (thats how I solved in my '41)

 

Contact Sid, he was very helpful when I asked for advice.

 

Sid already answered.