Technical Drilled axle in the wrong place! And more...

So, I’ve always been into 60’s and 70’s cars, but have had a few older ones. I recently bought a hot rodded Ford truck. I liked the look, but knew it had issues. Someone had spent some time and effort along the way, but then there has been some stupid shit done. I often wondered why I never saw axles drilled in this area, and once I did some searching on this site I found out why. It has Vega box cross steering, and split ford wishbones on a Superbell dropped axle. Never knew the axle ends flex a bit, so, is a new axle in my future?

 

All axle ends flex a bit and it used to be pretty common to drill them between the spring perch and the king pin boss.

 

I wouldn't drill a cast axle (Super Bell are cast). But that's just me.

 

Works ok for the 'Bones boys

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Me neither but you can buy them drilled from Slover. Just not drilled on the ends like that one.

I have been around for a while and think I have seen about one of everything ( I do get surprised once in a while). I have seen them with most of the web cut away and been that way for gawd knows how long. The strength of the axle is in the flanges.

 

Right, I don’t see them drilled out there either. And since it’s a cast axle should a red flag be waving here?

 

The bending strength of the axle is in the flanges, but the shear strength is in the web

 

The frame is also notched to allow for a lower front spring. However, it was just about left with no travel. I couldn’t even see the front spring! Look how low the steering is in that same picture. That light bulb won’t fit under the steering!

 

This is the one I don't care for.

 

This is the front spring that I took out. That’s why it’s so low in the front. I’m ordering a new Posies spring, with a one inch drop. Crazy, it was pretty much bottomed out

 

that cool low look is far more important than ride...or safety...

 

I’m starting to hate it myself...

 

When it doubt, take it out.

 

With the front spring : take the spacers from the bottom & put on top to regain the travel.

 

could something like that be filled in or "boxed" so to speak? I've seen some axles that have had that done, not for holes...

 

When is was in there, it was pretty much flattened out, the ‘spacers’ are the four leaves cut down. It just can’t handle the weight, almost laying on the axle.

 

On a forged axle, possible.

 

If it were me I would replace the axle as well as the spring. I'm assuming the pic is with the car on the ground, and if so, you're going to have some big bump steer with the new spring and raised front. New steering arms with less drop may be in your future as well.

 

......Sounds like a Seinfeld episode.

 

Yes, pic shows it on the ground. I am thinking that with a new spring, that the steering will end up parallel with tie rods. Right now pitman arm is lowest part of steering. I’m no expert, I’m hopeful!

 

Looks good, would look really cool as a wall hanger, the safest place for it.

 

Crap... Maybe mount it to my kitchen ceiling n’ hang pots and pans from it like some fancy gourmet restaurant!

 

I'm not sure how well that cast axle will weld but if you look up "dropped and filled axles" it was real common to make filler pieces to weld into that area back when. check the photos Titus posted in this thread, https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...le-as-in-the-walker-morrison-roadster.953024/

 

JMO, but I think a "porta band" might be the best fix for both of them!

 

So, probably a new axle and more problems headed my way.

 

I know nothing about axles, but if YOU are worried about it, replace it, if you don’t, you’ll worry about every time you drive it. Just my .02s .Bones

 

Those guys use Henry Ford forged axles. HRP

Don't do that,you now have a cool wall hanger or sell it to someone that builds rodent rods....You know,I saw it and just had to have it. HRP

 

Cast means brittle to me. I can't think of anything that would restore the strength. The loss of web reduces the torsional stiffness. Removing 25% of the cross sectional area reduces the torsional stiffness by that much. The web was stabilizing the flanges in the corner until it got the big hole.

 

Where that hole is is exactly where I've seen broken ones.

 

Id drill a hole anyplace but there