Vintage Parts Axle - … And A Beaming Smile Spring Time …

Posies ElliptaSlide quarter-elliptic springs feature rolled and tapered leaves with the company’s SuperSlide buttons. Supplied with shackles, stainless spring clamps, and frame mounting brackets that allow adjustable ride height, there’s also the option of a perch kit, though I made my own. Quarter-elliptics offer a certain vintage feel, which is why I was keen to use them.

The spindles are shipped by Vintage Parts with the kingpin bushings already installed and reamed, which is a time and money saver for most home builders.

The first order of business was to install the spindles on the axle. This cup and felt washer go on first …

… while the thrust bearing goes between the lower spindle boss and the axle. Shims are also provided should they be required.

These locking wedge pins locate the kingpin by passing through a groove halfway down its length. Make sure you install the kingpins with the groove aligned with the hole in the axle. Early Fords also used the over-long nuts on the pins as steering stops.

I’ll be using F-1 drum brakes, and used original Ford hubs. Although aftermarket versions are available in steel and aluminum, I should point out that this is a “dry” build, and as such I used old bearings, and wasn’t concerned that each hub only had two studs.

For the purpose of illustration, I installed a stock Ford spindle on the axle. It’s clear that steering range is limited—even more so than that caused by using a split ’bone, where the tire fouls the radius rod—as the cast steering arm hits the axle. This is a common problem with dropped axles, and is by no means limited to the Vintage Parts product.

I, ahem, forgot to order flattop axle perch bolts, hence the regular bolt used in the previous picture, and throughout the dry build. Those shown here are from Speedway Motors, and are available in plain steel, chrome, or stainless. On a regular frontend, this perch bolt would include the spring perch.

Here it’s mocked up with wheels in place, and on blocks at ride height in lieu of tires. Now’s the time to sit back and open a cold one or make a cup of tea (hey, I’m British!) and decide just how far forward of the chassis the axle should be mounted. My decision was kinda of made for me, but I’ll come to that in a minute.