Model A suicide front end question...

Having no experience with a spring-behind-the-axle set up, I question the strength.

The model A wishbone was not designed to take twisting/and downward shearing forces. They seem to be fairly thinly built.

Is it necessary to reinforce it to be safe?
Do they break a lot?
This is where all of your experience will really pay off for me. THX, DB

​

 

try the search feature. This is a dead horse.

 

"Search feature" already used to a silly extent. So many conflicting answers exist with a database this large.

My thanks to you, sir for at least taking the time to respond. DB

 

Model A axles are not normal candidates for spring behind because it isn't necessary. Spring behind is usually reserved for the axles that originally had the spring in front. i.e. a '39.

Spring behind is not what defines a suicide front end. A suicide front end has the spring perched out in front of the crossmember, and can be configured spring over or spring behind.
There are a lot of HAMB threads that discuss it. Your concerns about wishbone strength have been addressed quite a few times here, and opinions differ. I use Google vs HAMB search to get more specific results. Try this list of threads..........

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2006-42,GGLG:en&q=%22spring+behind%22+site:www%2ejalopyjournal%2ecom

 

here is Kirks post

 

and here an awsome fabrication from Paul

 

you flatter me,
but I think this is more to the point...

suey side frunt in a Aye frame

 

I did goof...you got the right one....but they are both great work

 

even then, the second example isn't really a suicide front end,
it's a spring behind with spring in the stock location but axle in front and still under the frame.

 

...and/or having your spindles flipped around with your tie-rod out front becoming your bumper. Not to mention Ackerman geometry that can never quite get perfect due to the way the spindles are flipped around.