not sure if i am calling it by the correct term but i believe i can get the question right. While at the swap meet today a couple of friends got into the discussion on front axles like on early fords, the traversed spring type. One of my friends said with the tube type axle a four link set up must be used. He said it was because the stock type (forged) would flex in a manner that allowed one side to have verticle movement but the tube type would not. My other friend said it didnt matter, either the four link or the hair pin type was fine. which is it?
Thats dead right,a stock Henry built axle does twist when used with split bones and a tube type wont. So yes the 4 bar is mandatory with superbell and other crap i beams and tubes . use hair pins on a tube axle and it will strain everything .
Mercmad is 100% correct if running split wishbones, hairpins, etc... However most all of the torsional load can be taken away if you can run stock wishbones-single ball type mount at the trans crossmember. This allows the axle to roll left or right, not twist. I have seen many-many cars built using tube axles and split wishbones or hairpins and driven for many miles/years without fault but this is not the correct/prefered way to do so.
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