1959 Front axle installation (Backwards?)
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Freshman User
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From: Belmont usa
1959 Front axle installation (Backwards?)
Is it possible to install an axle backwards? We put a dropped axle in a '59, and can't get it to drive right, and I swear it looks like the kingpin inclination is foward on it, as in no caster. Somebody help me out here.
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From: Erie, pa
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From: Waynesville, OH
The holes in the axle for the spindles are vertical. That means the axle can go in either way. The king pin retainer tapered bolts do have a front and back, but I can't measure the caster difference with the axle in either way (I tried it both ways. I could, of course, be wrong as it has happend a number of times before. 
The caster is set by wedges between the axle pads and the springs, plus the angle of the bottom spring leaf where it crosses the axle pad. You might have the caster wedges in backwards, or the wrong wedges, or none at all. In addition, the springs may be worn or sagging and the angle where the bottom leaf meets the axle pads is not what it should be. That would also cause the caster to be off even with the correct caster shims in place.
The caster is set by wedges between the axle pads and the springs, plus the angle of the bottom spring leaf where it crosses the axle pad. You might have the caster wedges in backwards, or the wrong wedges, or none at all. In addition, the springs may be worn or sagging and the angle where the bottom leaf meets the axle pads is not what it should be. That would also cause the caster to be off even with the correct caster shims in place.
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From: Maryland
Spring shops should have the caster wedges. They may be also called pinion angle wedges. Sense it is a drop axle it may be made with a little caster built into it so it may need to be fliped around. I would ask the people who made it to see if their is a difference.
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From: Belmont usa
There were no shims under the axle, as a matter of fact I can't recall ever pulling a axle on the 48-60 F100's that had any, and I 've had a bunch of these trucks. I gonna run it over to a local front end shop tomorrow and see what caster and toe read on a machine. The guys been doing it for 40+ yrs and is pretty sharp.
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From: Kalispell, MT
How exactly is your truck driving terrible? Lots of reasons depending on symptoms.
NAPA has caster wedges - just need to find a guy that can read a book instead of the 'puter screen. Bought mine there Sept '01 when I changed out the rear end - pn 704-1168 is a 5 deg "shim" (under line BK - napa reference) Believe JCWhitney has them also (Jeep section)
NAPA has caster wedges - just need to find a guy that can read a book instead of the 'puter screen. Bought mine there Sept '01 when I changed out the rear end - pn 704-1168 is a 5 deg "shim" (under line BK - napa reference) Believe JCWhitney has them also (Jeep section)
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From: Waynesville, OH
Yeah, Tim has it right on. Ask 'em if they'll let you look at their books if you promise not the tear any pages. 
On a related note, I was just out in the garage and noticed that the angle of the spring pack where it contacts the axle pads on my stock axle is definitely not horizontal. I also checked the king pin holes and, best I can measure, they are perpendicular to the axle pads. I don't have any shims in there (I'll take care of that when I get it driving), but I definitely have a few degrees of positive caster (top leaning back). I wonder if the springs were designed to give you the right caster without any shims, and the shims come into play as the springs sag???
On a related note, I was just out in the garage and noticed that the angle of the spring pack where it contacts the axle pads on my stock axle is definitely not horizontal. I also checked the king pin holes and, best I can measure, they are perpendicular to the axle pads. I don't have any shims in there (I'll take care of that when I get it driving), but I definitely have a few degrees of positive caster (top leaning back). I wonder if the springs were designed to give you the right caster without any shims, and the shims come into play as the springs sag???