A dropped axle is a modified straight front axle that lowers a vehicle’s ride height while retaining original suspension components. It became popular in the 1950s and remains a cost-effective method of lowering a vehicle’s stance. Modifications may be required for steering linkage, and while several companies make round tube drop axles, few can deliver a custom axle from a stock beam axle.
A dropped axle is a straight front axle that has been altered or constructed to drop a vehicle’s ride height. It became popular in the 1950s, and the trend remains a popular alteration and styling trick on custom vehicles of the modern era. Originally created by heating and stretching the original solid beam axles that come from the vehicle manufacturer, a dropped axle provided a vehicle’s custom stance while retaining original ride quality. The art of stretching an original beam axle while providing proper axle geometry was made less expensive by the addition of the round tube, dropped axle. This axle uses a section of round tube fitted with custom forged axle ends fabricated to the proper height and welded into the ends of the round tube.
Used on nearly every type of vehicle, from the roadsters and coupes of the 1930s to modern hot rods and pickup trucks, the dropped axle is often the most cost-effective method of lowering a vehicle’s stance. This is possible by eliminating the need to replace other expensive suspension parts such as shocks and springs. The dropped axle retains all of the original suspension components, as the only alteration to the factory suspension is that the axle ends are stretched, thus pulling the tires further up and away from the road. This makes the vehicle sit lower and places the front suspension closer to the ground.
Occasionally with an extremely dropped axle some modifications are required to allow the steering linkage to be operated under the underside of the vehicle frame. This is achieved by adding spacers between the tie rod ends and the tie rod mounting points on the front spindles, the original front suspension geometry is left virtually intact while retaining the original factory ride quality of the car. vehicle. The success of the dropped axle has led to the introduction of dropped spindles to be used on independent front suspensions, which achieves the low stance without altering ride quality or handling.
While several companies make the round tube drop axle to fit nearly all of the most popular custom vehicles, the number of suppliers that can deliver a drop axle from a stock beam axle is dwindling. Very few fonts can create the downfall of the original straight-shaft style that helped foster the enduring trend. When a qualified producer is found who can apply the required camber to an original axle, it is not uncommon for a long turnaround time to accompany the delivery of the custom axle.
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