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What did he do to my axle?

baldpegasus

baldpegasus

Scrambler Sponge
Lifetime Member
City
Woburn
State
MA
I tried searching this forum for these answers but to no avail.
I'm doing a frame off on my '82-8. The PO was kinda a rebel and did what he wanted to without any end goal. I am taking the axles to get rebuilt and sandblasted. He had said that he installed a soa kit them switched back. I want the lift and no soa. What should I do ? I know he welded some things to this axle, just not sure what/why? Lastly, is my axle a wide track? Thank you in advance.
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Used my phone
 
He welded on new spring perches....circled red

He welded on new shock mounts....green

He broke off your factory shock mount....blue

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The shock mounts are still there, its just that the studs are facing inwards.(see the first photo)
 
So my guess is from your observations that he did a soa conversion, which explains the top perch and top shock mount. But there is a shock bolt on the bottom plate inside. Is that the factory location or did he turn the plate around? Nice reply too...I love the added graphics. I hope to be that versed on this phone someday:)


Used my phone
 
It looks like the original shock mounts are still there(2nd pic) on the spring plates. The added shock brackets and spring pads for the soa don't really need to be removed unless you want them gone. This axle still has the 2pc. shafts so going to 1 pc. shafts should be your first major upgrade. Also, it appears there are shims between the springs and pads and by the look of them they're aluminum, not steel, so it wouldn't hurt to remove them to see if they might have broken as they frequently do. It may be that the shims are not needed anyway. No way to tell from pics if this is a wide-track or not, measure it to determine that.
 
Cool. I was really puzzled when I noticed two shock mounts in front. What's that all about?
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Used my phone
 
SeeJayAte said:
It looks like the original shock mounts are still there(2nd pic) on the spring plates. The added shock brackets and spring pads for the soa don't really need to be removed unless you want them gone. This axle still has the 2pc. shafts so going to 1 pc. shafts should be your first major upgrade. Also, it appears there are shims between the springs and pads and by the look of them they're aluminum, not steel, so it wouldn't hurt to remove them to see if they might have broken as they frequently do. It may be that the shims are not needed anyway. No way to tell from pics if this is a wide-track or not, measure it to determine that.
Click to expand...

Could I convert the axle to a full floating axle too?


Used my phone
 
baldpegasus said:
Cool. I was really puzzled when I noticed two shock mounts in front. What's that all about?
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Used my phone
Click to expand...

The "second" front mount is from the narrow track design which didn't have mounts on the tube for the shocks instead it went to one of those studs and the other stud was for the sway bar.
The fact you have these double studs leads me to believe you might have a pair of narrow track axles....however.....my wide track rear axle is approx 49.25" back of backing plate to back of backing plate. Backing plate being the "disc" that the brake hardware mounts to. So see what yours is ;)
 
Also just noticed you have a six bolt locking hub there which is also indicative of the narrow track axles
 
baldpegasus said:
Lastly, is my axle a wide track?
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Based upon what's viewed in your front axle photos, I would make the assumption that your axles are Narrow-Track. This assumption is based upon the use of lower spring plates after the PO switched back from the SOA. The welded shock mounts to the front axle on Wide-Track also worked in combination with a taller shock tower on the frame. Thus, it would've been odd to use the front spring plates and longer shocks if the correct shock mounts are already welded to the axle. As mentioned in the previous post, a tape measure will remove all uncertainty, but I don't remember the dimensions (something like 52" vs. 54"?)
 
baldpegasus said:
Cool. I was really puzzled when I noticed two shock mounts in front. What's that all about?
qa6y7aru-1.jpg

Used my phone
Click to expand...

The front has 2 posts on each spring plate. One is the lower mount for the swaybar link, and the other (the rear post) is for the lower shock mount (since it is on the plate, this indicates that you would also have the short shock tower on the frame). I've only seen this setup on narrow-track axles (wide-track front axles usually have the lower shock mount welded to the axle tube, not on the spring plate).

edit: ah you guys type too fast.
 
Anyone want to buy some axles? Looks like with my Chevy sb350 it might be a better idea to get D44's?
Thoughts?


Used my phone
 
Other words ..... Is my family of six going to be safe driving around town(no serious wheeling), or could I roll easier. I just want to be rock solid safe...


Used my phone
 
I have swapped 6 bolts onto my wide tracks, so it is possible that he did the same thing when he did all the SOA work, but it is a bit more work to do.

The measurements are wheel to wheel

AMC 20/CJ Narrow Track 36" 50.5" '76-'81
AMC 20/CJ Wide Track 36" 54.5" '82-'86

So, there are 4 inches of different, so you should be able to tell right quick what you have.

cb
 
baldpegasus said:
Anyone want to buy some axles? Looks like with my Chevy sb350 it might be a better idea to get D44's?
Thoughts?


Used my phone
Click to expand...

if you're not going original, then go with the axles you want....44's may not be bad
 
I don't want to hijack anyone's thread, but I just got to this point on the kid's jeep rebuild, and I have virtually the identical issue. PO did a SOA, but I'm trying to go back to SUA with a 2.5" lift. The jeep is an '84 with the higher perches. The front spring plates have only 1 stud for the sway bar, and a shock mount welded to the axle (although the weld is pretty crappy and doesn't look factory). The rear has no studs on the spring plates and shock mounts welded (very poorly) to the axle.

For the front, is it better to use shocks in conjunction with a spring plate with 2 studs (and will that even fit), or should I re-use the one-stud spring plates and the shock mount on the axle?

My intention is to ditch the axle shock mounts for the rear and get spring plates with a stud on them.
 
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