4 inch drop axle, front for 31 A

daveymc29

daveymc29

Well-known member
Seems to me that several folks have replaced the front axle with a 4 inch dropped axle and taken a leaf out of the rear spring to make their coupes look like the period hot rods had. Where do you find the axle? I was looking at my coupe as it sits and it appears there is 8 inches from the top of my 600 X 16 front tire to the underside of the fender. Close to that on the rear. Any suggestions and thing to not do?

Thanks,
Dave Mc Arthur
 
speed way motors has the axles, you want be careful on the drop. it can mess with the tie rod. I have a good contact with them. that is pretty savvy on setting front axles up.
 
Speedway Motors. Their prices are better than most, and good to deal with. I put a Model T spring in the rear of my widebed. In my tudor I removed the top 4 leaves except for the top one, it is needed as it is contoured to match the cross-member.
 
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Stock A suspension with a "rubber rake"..205/55r16 front,225/75 r16 rear..

4h5r7zP.jpg
 
By using a '32-'36 front axle and a Posies reversed eye spring I lowered my car 3". You either have to heat and bend the tie rod arms on the spindle or use Jeep tie rod ends to clear the wishbone.
Posies can also sell you a spring that will drop the car 2" by its self.
 
Chris Haynes said:
By using a '32-'36 front axle and a Posies reversed eye spring I lowered my car 3". You either have to heat and bend the tie rod arms on the spindle or use Jeep tie rod ends to clear the wishbone.
Posies can also sell you a spring that will drop the car 2" by its self.
Click to expand...


I'm curious about the Jeep Tie Rod ends solution? I have a '32 front axle which drops the front about 1.5 inches, but on sudden bumps, the tie rod taps the chassis and I haven't found a solution to dropping the tie rod 1.5 inches? Any other suggestions that doesn't include goose necking the tie rod?
 
Tie rod function gets dicey the further you are away from the line of the king pin..drop too much below the lower king pin bushing and bump steer increases, the spindle gains leverage on the tie rod.
 
Over on the H.A.M.B. nailheadroadster made a number of posts in the summer of 2018 outlining work that he did on his 29... with a very detailed description of how he lowered his car including pictures and a parts list.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-tale-of-my-29.1114472/

Here is what he used for the front:
1) 33 Ford axle
2) 32 Ford spindles
3) 32 Ford spring perches
4) Posies 2" front lowering spring (part # 1002L)
5) Stock Model A Ford kingpins
6) Stock Model A Ford brake actuators
7) Stock Model A Ford shackles
8) Stock Model A Ford wishbone
9) 1/4in spacers (2) These go between the TOP of the axle and the wishbone (VERY important!)
10) 32 spindle bolt bushing (reamed to spindle size after installation)
11) 32 spindle bolt rebuild kit, with new bearings
12) 1 ½” shorter pitman arm (this is not required, but definitely helps to ease steering effort)

In the back he used a Model T spring with couple of leaves removed off the top and a couple of alternating leaves after that leaving him with five T leaves total...
 
I had Okie Joe drop, and stretch my stock front axle, reverse eye leaf, ‘32 spring perches, and ‘37 Willys tie rod ends, so I could use my stock tie rod. Oh, and a T rear spring
 
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Thanks Chris #12 What I can't tell from the photo is whether the Jeep tie-rod end comes with it's own ball and therefore requires the replacement of the original Model A ball? I have already replaced the balls on the ends of the steering arms with new balls welded in place.
 
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