Who makes the best dropped axle setup?

Who makes the best dropped axle setup?
I have been looking on the web and I have come up with quite a few companies.

Ch***is Engineering
Superbell
TCI
Magnum

I am planning the build on my 36 Ford ch***is. I am wanting a 4" drop with disc brakes and stock bones(well 37-40 bones).

I see they have quite a range on width and spring perch width....

 

i have used ce, superbell and tci. no problems with any of them! superbell is my favorite.

 

***US

 

Funny thing, the one I bought from TCI is a SuperBell.

 

I just wanna make sure that they aftermarket stuff will interchange between themselves.

What was the stock width 48"?

 

I've used all 4 companies over the years and as unusual as it may sound I've had great sucess with all 4. Just make sure you discuss with them EXACTLY what you want to do and I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.

Frank

 

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Ch***is Engineering
Superbell
TCI
Magnum

I am planning the build on my 36 Ford ch***is. I am wanting a 4" drop with disc brakes and stock bones(well 37-40 bones).

I see they have quite a range on width and spring perch width....


[/ QUOTE ]

Have a TCI "tube" under my A. No problems.

Remember "tube" front axles don't work well with "split bones", but you said "stock" so either "I" beam or "tube" from any of the companies you listed should work. (looking at a couple you mention, up close, I can't help but wonder if they all get them from the same source)

 

Pardon my ignorance...why don't tube axles work with split bones? Something to do with how an I beam axle twists when compared to a tube?

-Bugman Jeff

 

I beam is what I am after. I am trying to keep the look as traditional as possible but I do want disc brakes. So compatability on brackets etc is my main concern.

 

I have a SuperBell 4" drop tube axle on the 32.
Mustang disc brakes with SB adapter kit, SB spindles, SB steering arms, Deuce Factory batwings, Deuce Factory lower shock mount, Deuce Factory weld-on upper shock mount, Deuce Factory mild steel tie rod and draglink.

The 31 has a SuperBell 4" drop beam axle.
Camaro disc brakes with Magnum adapter kit, SB spindles, SB steering arms, Deuce Factory batwings, SB lower shock mount, SoCal upper shock mount, home-made mild steel tie rod and draglink.

 

Who makes the cast iron axles? Superbell ?
And does anyone make a I-beam axle with more than 4" drop?

 

can you drill an axle yourself?...would it still be strong?...they cost so much more drilled,but i like the looks

 

Oh yeah, I drill all my own axles. It'll cost ya 3 holesaws and a couple of hours.

 

Seems like C.E. is the only aftermarket forged axle.

 

TCI doesn't actually make anything. They are a packager. They use components made by the others to put together parts that work together. I've never used Superbell because the logo in the center looks too streetrod kit for me. Had great luck with Magnum axle, Posie's springs and deuce factory perches and stuff. The Superbell spindles with bolt on arms are killer easy to use. All excellent quality. I'm more into making the old stuff work again now tho.

 

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...why don't tube axles work with split bones? Something to do with how an I beam axle twists when compared to a tube?

-Bugman Jeff

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When wishbones are split they move the ch***is "roll" (side to side) out so the wishbones become the "arms" (like an antisway bar) that "twist" the axle. "I beam" axles will twist but the "tube" axles resist twisting.

 

I have a Ch***is Engineering with the CE stamped in the middle, but have you noticed the new CE's dont have it & are thinner in places....apparently not made in the US any more but farmed out to ning pong as with most things these days!

 

all those axles are good, i have used them with no problems. but if you want to put in a dropped axle without splitting your 37-40 bones , magnum is the one. their part # 2860 is 47-1/2" kingpin to kingpin and has 38-1/2 spring perch to spring perch, same as 37-40 ford...so you can use the stock bones unsplit and a stock width spring

 

Magnum is also your choice if you want to use the stock spindles without cutting off the steering arms. They've got the most clearance between the axle drop and the steering arm.

 

The axle and disc brake kit on my 39 came from Speedway.
I don't know who it was made by but I did have to cut off my steering arms to clear the axle.
The brake kit I used is the one that uses the 73-93 F150 rotors and GM fullsize calipers.
The 16" wheels clear the calipers but with the 15" truck wheels I have to use 1/4" spacers.

 

Root,
All Ford I beam axles were drop forged steel.As far as I know CE is the only drop forged axle on the market.Both Magnum and Bell are advertised as cast ductil iron.The drop forged axle is WAY stronger.
Ever used thos cheap ductil iron C clamps and have them
bend just when you didn't want them to ?For my money I'll always use the drop forged axle, specially if you're going to spit the bones out to the rails.
Ted

 

it's true that the CE axle is forged and probabilly stronger. i have used them on at least 3-4 `32 fords. but i feel there are some things about it that makes it unpractical for the later cars , like 35-40 fords. the kingpin to kingpin is 47"....but the spring perchs are 35" center to center. when using 37-40 wishbones , you have to use a VERY narrow spring , the only one available is from CE. with the magnum axle i recogmended,you can use a stock width spring and not have to split the bones if you are using the old ford transmission. of course, if you are using a later transmission like a chevy t-350, you will have tp split them anyway for clearance

yes, i know the magnum and superbell axles are ductile iron, but they are heat treated....i don't think those cheap c-clamps from china are. i have a supebell in my `36 ford and had one in `35 ford that now has over 30,000 mile son....with no problems

 

I had split the 36 bones years ago. I started reading their catalog(CE) and they said the 37-40 bones had more clearance so I have set out to find a set of those next.

 

Brought this up for the newbies.

 

Ch***is Engineering makes a spindle with a GM snout so they accept a GM mid-size rotor without adapters.

 

Used them all, but Magnum is the set-up that I prefer.

 

Has anyone drilled a cast axle yet? I mean anyone on the HAMB drilled one?

 

A 5'' drop is now avalible from Speedway in a I -beam configuration

 

Ch***is Engineering is the only forged aftermarket axle. The others are cast. I would not drill a cast axle. Also, the axles are different widths. I believe Magnum and maybe Superbell are available in 46 and 48 inch widths and the Ch***is Engineering axle is 47 inches. Magnum makes a 5 inch drop I-beam axle. The others are all 4 inch.

 

- superbell and magnum both have 5" drops now
- ive drilled SB, Magnum, and CE (they all drill the same but magnum is alot thicker)
- CE is a taller beam (like an original 32) but if your running 2" wishbones or batwings they'll have to cut it down for you at the bosses, and i think it looks like hell.
- i think the CE are the best looking, just make sure you have 2 1/4" components
- superbells are cheap, thats probably why they are so common.(i have one)