Hot Rods tube axle question.

I have a tube axle I dug out of one of my trailers that i'm never going to use my problem is i don't know it from the axle under the race car trailer. What i want to know is how to identify it I looked for marking on it found none, What information would i need to offer it for sale measurements from where to where, how to measure the drop. It has gm calipers on it chrome caliper brackets bolt circle looks to be 4 3/4 the rest I need to determine. I put a picture in my album of the axle Any help will be greatly appreciated Rory

 

Looked in your album,no axle. Thanks for the waste of time bro.



unknown axle.
This album does not have any pictures.

 

Don't make us dig for pictures to help you out, post them right in the thread and you will get much better answers. We don't get paid all that much for doing this.

Don

 

An album called "axle" with no pictures in it.
Thanks. There 2 minutes gone from my life that I'll never get back.

 

Me too, waisted time

 

Sorry About no pictures I just loaded them 2 more times and finally got them to the album..I'd be glad to post them here if only I had that knowledge.
sorry again and thanks for the effort...

 

I see the photo's, looks like an aftermarket tube axle with GM spindles to be, but dont quote me on the spindles i cant see them good enough

 

I think i got it now! Sorry for to those I in convinced. after market I'm sure but don't these vendors mark there product?

 

There probably aren't any markings.
Things a buyer would want to know
OD of the tube axle.
King pin center to center.
Batwing center to center.
Length of radius rods,
Maybe the length of the steering arms.
Drop.
To find the drop,
With axle on flat surface & positioned as it would be if in use on a car -measure from spindle center to the flat surface subtract 1/2 the OD of the tube.
Block it up if you have to and remember to discount the blocks out if the calculation

 

Interesting formula for measuring drop on fabricated axles. Never ever saw that before.
The drop then is the difference between top of the spindle boss of an invisible absolutely straight axle and the top of the spindle boss of the fabricated axle you have on hand.
There aren't any markings on fabricated axles and most other front suspension, steering and rear suspension parts because...liability, liability, liability.

Drop on original stock axles that are dropped is the amount the spindle bosses are move UP from stock axles.

 

From what I can tell from the pictures, what you have there is an axle made by someone like Total Performance or MAS that uses 49-54 Chevy car spindles that have probably been machined to accept later GM disc brakes. But that is strictly a guess and without seeing more it is hard to tell.

Along the way someone has added a watts linkage setup welded onto the axle, and a very odd draglink / tie rod combination. They were evidently using a cross steer setup with something like a Vega or similar steering box.

A lot of that could be salvaged, if you carefully cut off that watts linkage bracketry and grind the axle smooth. Then you can replace the existing tie rod with just a regular straight one, and put a steering arm on the drivers side that would enable you to use a steering box out of a Corvair or F100 Ford pickup from the mid 50's. The radius rods look savable and all you would need is a proper length spring and some shackles and perches to complete the deal.

At first I thought what you had there was a mess, but a day spent cleaning some of that welded on crap would probably get you a front end you could use. I wouldn't use it under a heavy car, because of the small diameter tubing used for the axle, but on a light T or A hot rod it would probably be fine. I would also heat and bend those steering arms outward a bit to correct your ackermann, and use a longer tie rod.

Don

Here, I found a picture of a car I had years ago that had what appears to be the same axle you have. Mine came from Total Performance.

 

Thanks for the help and information People and the picture Don I looks a lot like what I have, Now I can do some measuring and check some sites and get a close description of what I have. This is a helpful joint I enjoy reading here as much as reading tractor stuff.

 

Sold...
Thanks Again for the help!!
I just dug out all my old 30's headlights and 30's ford wire wheels I'll be asking about them as I get to them I have motorcycle and tractor parts at the front of the line.