Axle Wrap
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 213
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From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Axle Wrap
I was wondering what anyone has done about axle wrap, my F100 is bad for that especially taking off from a light or around the corner and spinning the rear tire, or tires, or when doing a burnout, it shakes the whole cab somthing furious, so I was wondering what some people have done short of installing a 4 link system?
Thanks Tom
Thanks Tom
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 213
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From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Axle Wrap
it's an F100, so there is not real "spring to them" , I had my 351w in the back, and she looked like it was almost overloaded, hmm, might have to look into 150 or 250 springs
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 523
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From: Illinois
Axle Wrap
I'm in the process of putting some traction bars on my '84 right now. Got them from J.C. Whitney and they are made by Desert Steel. They just have a bracket that bolts on top of the spring hold down plate and have some 1" steel tube that runs to a bracket that bolts to the front spring perch.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 22
From: Springfield, PA
Axle Wrap
i_alone,
Did you have a 351W with or w/o a tranny in the back? Just an engine shouldn't have compressed your springs that badly. I recently replaced my springs in my '84 150 because they sagged under a moderate load. Turns out when I removed them, the top leaf - the only one that goes from one shackle to the other - was broken on BOTH sides. The only thing holding them together was the pressure from the axle U-bolt sandwiching them between the saddle and the other leaves. I drove it like that for 2 years!
If you think your springs are weak, check them for cracks. I think I got off lucky.
Did you have a 351W with or w/o a tranny in the back? Just an engine shouldn't have compressed your springs that badly. I recently replaced my springs in my '84 150 because they sagged under a moderate load. Turns out when I removed them, the top leaf - the only one that goes from one shackle to the other - was broken on BOTH sides. The only thing holding them together was the pressure from the axle U-bolt sandwiching them between the saddle and the other leaves. I drove it like that for 2 years!
If you think your springs are weak, check them for cracks. I think I got off lucky.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Axle Wrap
I got the Desert Steel traction bars on my 84 F150 4wd they would work great if I would go down there and tighten the darn things up! I payed around 65-70 dollars for em, they were easy to install some drilling was required. they worked excellent when I first put em on, I gotta tighten em up again! Now to answer your question Jessica...axle wrap is when a spinning tire hops or jumps violently. It can be caused by weak springs, shocks, improper pinion angles , loose or damaged suspension components, axle lift blocks are stacked too high. It also happens to rigs with really tall tires, when torque is transfered to the ground the whole axle housing want's to torque downward causing wheel hop AKA axle wrap. Wheel hop can really tear up a truck: snap axles, break U-joints, break springs, damage axle housings and a good many other costly things. Traction/Ladder bars stabilize the axle housing when large amounts of torque are put through. the usually bolt to the axle housing rigged with U-bolts or something similar and then tie into a pivot bracket mounted on the chassis of the vehicle. Hope That Helps!
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 118
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From: Minnesota
Axle Wrap
You can also look into getting a set of snubber bars. I have a 450+ horse 351 cleveland in my 1982 F100 2wd and I have no problem with axle wrap or wheel hop. I had a set of solid traction bars on it and didn't like it cuz my ride sucked. So I went with a set of snubber bars that are made for a pickup and set them up pretty tight, like 1/4" on right side and 3/8" on left. The only problem I have is A LOT of tire spin. Need to get the weight to transfer better somehow. Hope this helps.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 213
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From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Axle Wrap
Yeah, it was just the engine in there, I know, it's sad, I plan on replacing those springs with 4 leaf F250's becasue I want to haul a little more in the back, and also a trailer, once I replace my trans
ok, snubber bars, what are you taking about there? I have never heard that term before
ok, snubber bars, what are you taking about there? I have never heard that term before
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 5
From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Axle Wrap
I tossed a set of Rough Country Add-A-Leafs in the rear on my 84 and it helped A LOT for carrying weight! The rear sits about 2.5-3 inches higher, which really helped my departure angles off road too. Easy to install only about 60 or 70 bucks JCW.