Rear axle question

I need to move my rear axle back half a inch, should I drill a new hole in the leaf or drill the spring plate and axle pad.

 

Axle Pad. Not the spring.

 

and you might need to weld up the old hole first. half an inch isn't much.

 

Thanks for the feed back.

 

Or, you could make up a spacer with two offset holes. A 3/8 or 1/2 inch lowering block.

 

welded up holes and drilled new ones, thanks

 

Great question.
So how much over can I drill the new hole in the axle pad(safely),1 inch?

 

You can really go to probably about 2 inches, or at the edge of the spring pad and be OK. The hole is to locate the rear, and the U-bolts are what clamp it down. It *should* be centered, but many people alter it and it works fine. Especially the 49-54 Chevy guys when they put an open drive rear in.

 

1/2" likely wasn't an issue but any more and you should redrill the hole in the u-bolt plate also. Then your u bolts aren't running on an angle.

 

The falcon spring pads arent flat, so I had to make plate to offset the hole. Hope it works.