straight axle rebuild?
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straight axle rebuild?
i did a search and didn't find anything so here it goes. I have a 1949 f1 and want to upgrade the old straight axle. I know it needs king pins and figured while i was at it might as well go through and do the tie rod ends and the tie rod. Anything else i should do and what upgrades to help it handle better would be recomened? Also if i wanted to freshen it up, mabe paint it?
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From: S.C.
Check the spring perches or brackets after years of abuse the rivets get loose or corrode off. If they are broken missing, etc you can replace them with grade 8 bolts. You can also repack the bearing and change the brack shoes and brake parts i.e. springs. Almost forgot since you have the axle off check the leaf springs to ensure they are not cracked you may also need to grind off rust build-up. The brass fitting and hole in the main spring may be oblong if the truck was really used if this is the case you may need new main springs or just the bushings which a shop can press in for you.
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From: AZ
I'm doing all this on my 53 now too. I am replacing king pins, rebuilding drag link ends and replacing tie rod with a HD one with new tie rod ends.
I am going to paint my axle with copper hammer tone finish and the other steering arms, etc black. I am going to sell off my stock drums and use the money to put on discs. While I have everything apart I am doing as jaye suggests and doing my springs as well. I am removing every other leaf and putting in poly liner in between. This should make the ride nice and lower me down a few inches. I am replacing the main leaf in each pack as well.
When I took my springs apart I found that the brackets were messed up. A good member on here sent me a used set of of his so I am going to use those (Thanks again Jack!).
Finally, I am replacing the ubolts that hold the axle on because my spring pack is shorter and I heard you should not reuse the bolts anyway I am then adding 4 degree caster shims under the axle.
Its the old saying that one thing leads to another, but I didn't want to be left with a weak link in there and having to do it all again later.
I am going to paint my axle with copper hammer tone finish and the other steering arms, etc black. I am going to sell off my stock drums and use the money to put on discs. While I have everything apart I am doing as jaye suggests and doing my springs as well. I am removing every other leaf and putting in poly liner in between. This should make the ride nice and lower me down a few inches. I am replacing the main leaf in each pack as well.
When I took my springs apart I found that the brackets were messed up. A good member on here sent me a used set of of his so I am going to use those (Thanks again Jack!).
Finally, I am replacing the ubolts that hold the axle on because my spring pack is shorter and I heard you should not reuse the bolts anyway I am then adding 4 degree caster shims under the axle.
Its the old saying that one thing leads to another, but I didn't want to be left with a weak link in there and having to do it all again later.
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i will probally be taking the front end to a shop to do the king pins so ill make sure to check the bushings. brakes should be good since i put a disc brake conversion on. how about those steering stablizers? do they work or worth the money?
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