Lowering 1956 Ford pickup with 1957 axle???

I've "heard" that you can put a 57 Ford pickup axle under a 56 and drop it an inch.
Does anyone know if it's fact?
Just wondering,
Larry T

 

Yes, Larry. It's a fact.

Length is the same, 53.5".
King pin dia. also same, .859" diameter.
King pin bosses same also, 2-3/8".

Spring perch width is also the same, (32-1/4" c/c) but the 'U' bolt holes are 2-5/8" c/c on the '57, 2-3/8" on the '56. ('57 has 2" wide leaf springs, '56 has 1-3/4" wide leaves) So you can elongate the holes closer together to use your 'U' bolts. Otherwise use the '57 'U' bolts, but they are too wide for the 1-3/4" spring packs...

I'm doing this to my '55 F100 now, have reversed monoleaf springs, but not quite low enough. The '58 front axle will be just enough. (my axle has excessive camber on the right anyway, so it's a good excuse to get an inch lower! Free lunch!)

 

Top Axle: Original Stock Axle 53-1/2" Kp to Kp
Middle Dropped Axle: 3" Over Stock Stretch Drop 53-1/2" Kp to Kp
Bottom Dropped Axle: 4" Over Stock Stretch Drop 53-1/2" Kp to Kp
Will drop any amount up to 4" overstock.
Larry this is from Nostalga Sids web site. 57-60

 

<<<<<< You mean this low

 

Mike: Since you seem to have all the data, does it drop only 1"? I had heard 2".

 

I like that ...free lunch,not 3,4 hundred.

 

Im doing it to my 56 now. What brake set up are you using ? If I rember correcly with rum brakse use the 57 backing plates. Measure the difference in your axles and spindle lines, just over a inch.