Ok SO! Im getting ready to order all of my front end steering components for my roadster. Steering arms, etc etc. Ive heard that NO steering arms are able to clear with a 4" dropped axel running wishbones. Is this true? Speedway offers one that has a drop to it but I dont think it will clear. They also offer flame-cut flat steel ones which I will never EVER run... So-Cal has one with a drop, and another with a GREATER drop. Which one should work? Does anyone have pictures of their front end steering setup? I need help! I dont want to wind up wasting money on wrong ****. The front end setup Im running is a 4" dropped axel, 2" dropped posies spring. '37-'41 Ford roundback spindles and brakes. All under a model A frame running split model A wishbones, traditional style, NOT suicide. I did a search but everyone just kept saying that no matter what youre going to have to heat them and bend them. Im just wondering if this true. Thanks! -Charlie <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
I put a 4" dropped axle on my 48 Ford sedan. Used speedway dropped arms. It worked but what a h***le. Holes didn't line up. If I had it to do over again I'd just heat them and bend them like I did on my roadster. Not too hard. Just do it before you install your new bushings. Rebel
One other thing that you may consider are the new bolt on arms that Pete & Jakes carries. They are extra-long, & made to clear behind the spring of a suicide axle set-up. They are forged, and the extra length allows you to heat & bend them down far enough to clear the wishbone. I used them on my rpu because it sits low. I just had to heat the arm and straighten out the one bend they came with. Then I could heat & bend them wherever I needed to make them clear. I forget the part #, but call them & ask the about their suicide axle extra long steering arms. They may work. If you need any measurements I can get them off mine in a couple days too Dan
Dropped arms to clear 41 split wishbone. Bent down to clear wishbone and axle and bend in a bit to correct for shorter wheelbase. After Magnafluxing these were smoothed. Don't forget to have them Magnafluxed after bending to make sure there are no cracks or flaws. Canuck
i had to flip my wishbones upside down and pie cut them to get the proper axle angle just for the deep drop arms from speedway to clear, but it worked.
yes there are issues when using a dropped axle & it can be a real pain in the ***. ------ i got lucky & speedway 1 1/2 dropped arms cleared perfect over my bones. dont buy any arms until the front is under the car then you can see whats going on.
I have 4" dropped I beam, 40 Ford wishbones, 40 Ford spindle orig arm cut off, 3 3/4" drop speedway arms. Works excellent. There is about an inch clearance between tie rod and bottom of wishbone.
What about the forged steel steering arms made by Ch***is Engineering in IA? They are often mentioned here as problem solvers for axle interference.
As far as the C-E bolt on steering arms( the regular ones, not the deep drop ones), if you put a straight edge through the center of the spindle mounting holes and mesure down to the bottom of the eye that the tie rod would mount on it's about 1 1/2 inches. After the tie rod is mounted in that hole, the tie rod shaft is around another 1 1/2 in. down from that. Clear as mud?
Charlie, I have a Super Bell 4 inch drop early axle and am using the 40 and later wishbones which I heavily modifed. I cut the front mount spring mount off and then cut the clamp part of the wishbone that goes over the axle and flipped it upside down, when you do this it drops the wishbone so that the drag link will go over it. I made my own steering arms but I am sure that any of commerically available steering arms would easily clear my wishbones. I have attached a couple of pics. Rex
4 inch drop axle on the T. No room above the wishbone. Needed to go below. I had plate fabricated bolt on arms, and could not keep the toe adjusted, I figured the arms were tweaking with every pothole. Researched the availible arms, this was last spring. Couldn't find anything that would bolt up, maybe someoneone makes one now? Bought the Speedway Forged drop arms, the deepest ones they had. Close but not enough. Heated and bent and still could not get enough to clear. And had to fabricate dropped tie rod ends. No more toe problems.
Just got out the rosebud a week ago and bent my arms. I understand early Ford arms are forged, so should not be an issue, but still plan to magnafluxed to make sure. Rather bend originals and magnaflux than deal with questionable aftermarket arms.
The Jalopy Journal
