Hot Rods Best new Dropped axle ?

I realize this question gets asked every so often, but in all my searching I couldn't find the answer I am looking for. I am looking to purchase a new polished & chromed 4" dropped axle and hairpins to run on a 1932 Highboy. I will be using polished Willwood disk brakes. I guess I have 2 questions:

What brand of axle is the best / strongest ? I'm not up on who makes what where any more. I would like a fully polished beam axle, not rough cast chromed like the superbells used to be. I looked at one in So-Cal that looked nice, but ?

What width do I want? back in the old days you had 46 & 48, and now all sorts of options. I really don't know how wide the Willwood brakes are compared to the cheapie disk brake kits?

Before anyone says Original Henry, yes, I know a lot of think they are far superior but for this car, I just want to buy a ready-to-go chromed aftermarket axle

Thanks in advance !

 

My as-cast Ch***is Engineering axle that is on my avatar car.
Note the Wilwood disc brakes.
Front wheel choice and the look you are after will dictate the width of your axle.


Kingpin C-C is 46&1/2", spring perch C-C is 35".
I believe there are/were two widths available.
Dimensions called out from supplier may vary.
Not positive but I think Pete and Jakes have taken over producing the CE axle.
Depending on the level of finish you require you might consider getting one as-cast and having it prepped by someone like Harv117 here on the HAMB and having the chrome work done by the shop you know will do the quality you expect.

 

I've sold quite a few So-Cal forged/chromed 47 inch axles and the quality has been good to date. They use a readily available 29 inch spring. For the hairpins for chrome I'd use P&J's and for stainless So-Cal. I've also sold a lot of both manufacturers shiny hairpins with good feedback on both.

 

The wheel I am thinking about on the front is a Wheel Vintiques 72 series hot rod wire in 15" x 4.5" with a 1.75" BS. How deep are those Wilwoods vs the old standby GM caliper kit they have been selling for decades ?