Lowered straight axle

[Jeff56]

I have a 56 Chevy pickup with a 3inch lowered axle my ground clearance from the axle to the ground is only 2 inches. I know I should have more do you know what my problem could be. The guy I bought the truck from only has 2 leafs on each side but that shouldn't effect the ground clearance. Any ideas thanks for the help guys
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[Lockedup]

What size wheels and tires? That's the only thing that will affect how much clearance the axle has with the ground.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Lockedup

What size wheels and tires? That's the only thing that will affect how much clearance the axle has with the ground.

One more thing. The previous owner may have installed drop spindles.

[Jeff56]

Do they even make drop spindles for a 56 Chevy pickup
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[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Jeff56

Do they even make drop spindles for a 56 Chevy pickup
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Yes, they make a 2" drop spindle for the stock axle. You can in fact, purchase them on eBay.

[Jeff56]

Chevette do u have an idea what could be wrong. Or anyone else I just want to drive the truck but it's to to low.
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[Larry Lindley]

ouch on the speed bumps,run 15s on the front of mine 6inches to payment,full spring pack 4inch lowered axle.good luck.

[mr48chev]

I know guys who used to make their own with a steel plate and a Rambler spindle and hub.
That was back in the rude and crude days of modifying vehicles though.

With stock springs a 3 inch dropped axle should drop the truck three inches at a chosen measuring point from stock.

Two inches of ground clearance at the axle tells me that you have some pretty small low profile tires on the truck. Or there are other mods along with the dropped axle.

Can you post some photos and give the wheel and tire sizes?

[Jeff56]

I'll try to post pic soon. My tire I believe is 215/70/15 standard truck tire and wheel. I don't know what's wrong.
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[special-K]

Try to post a picture,since you don't know what you have and neither do we. We could speculate all day long.

[Jeff56]

It's not letting me post pic for some reason sorry. I will try again
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[meter swinger]

Yeah post some pics when you can. Your scrub line sounds really low. Post pics with a measuring tape by the axle showing the clearance if you can.
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[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Jeff56

It's not letting me post pic for some reason sorry. I will try again
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Email them to me if it doesn't work an I'll be happy to post them.
mr48chev@yahoo.com

[Jeff56]

Mr48chev email sent. Thanks very much
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[G&R's57GMC]

Sounds like someone did an old school heat and stretch axle drop.
If that is the case you'll have to replace the axle.
If they just put drop spindles on, all you'll have to do is replace then
With stock spindles.
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[Jeff56]

Ok i have what might be a dumb question. Still trying to figure out why my truck is so low with just a 3 inch drop axle. If there's only 2 leafs on each side and I replace them with the original spring pack will that increase my ground clearance or just the truck height.
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[Chevette]

Originally Posted by Jeff56

Ok i have what might be a dumb question. Still trying to figure out why my truck is so low with just a 3 inch drop axle. If there's only 2 leafs on each side and I replace them with the original spring pack will that increase my ground clearance or just the truck height.
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There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers. Because you axle is mounted under the leaf springs, replacing the leafs will do nothing to get you more clearance between the axle and the ground. Like I mentioned before, post some pics (make sure the files are the maximum size allowed by the forum. Try using the "attachments" that's the paper clip to add your pics) and someone will be able to help you.

[mr48chev]

You can't really tell anything from the photos as we need to see how it is set up under the truck.

[Jeff56]

I sent you more photos to our email mr48chev.
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[1BadAction]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Man that's wicked, I'd rock it every chance I got!

[mr48chev]

It almost looks like it has a four or five inch drop on the axle.







It looks like they put the axle on top of the spring here which is normal to lower one of these trucks.

[Jeff56]

I've never seen a truck this low with just a lowered axle. What you guys think is better. Put original leaf pack back in or replace with a 2 inch drop axle with new stock leaf pack which has the disc brake kit on it for $500 bucks. What u think or any other options thanks guys.
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[RINC]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Holy cow !

I dont see a problem with clearance.

[Jeff56]

Yea sorry about the ugly pics been sitting awhile.
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[mr48chev]

The broken white line across under the crossmeber is the axle RINC. Ol' Jeff gets a bit carried away with the "in the weeds" thing but you can still make out the outline of the axle.

And you are right Jeff, that's probably the lowest truck with an axle and leaf springs under it that I have ever seen that still had suspension travel. I've got an old axle that is around a 38/39 Chevy that has been stretch dropped quite a bit and it still has a lot more clearance than that.