52's and Measuring For A Front Driveshaft

[nvrenuf]

Today I played around on an ramp to do some measuring. I was really surprised at how little travel my tape measure showed for the front driveshaft, the "compressed" suspension length was 33.5" and the "extended" was 37". I'm sure I'm not seeing a full range of motion on the ramp instead of a lift, etc but shouldn't I have seen more than that?

Suspension: front 2.5" lift 52's, rear stock 56's (8 leaf pack)

I'm ready to build a front shaft, go for it with those numbers or no?

 

[83ChevyK5Blazer]

do you think you were all the way drooped? I was about to ask if you were in 4x on the ramp

 

[nvrenuf]

I'm sure I wasn't fully drooped but I can't think of anywhere to go to do better (in 2wd ).

 

[cybrfire]

You can force a little more flex out of it and of course driveshaft length change.

To do it you'd need to lift one front tire and the opposite rear tire.

 

[blazinzuk]

To get the front maxed out on travel you need to go backwards up the ramp.

Also add an inch to extended length to allow for axle wrap under droop

 

[Stomis]

To get the front maxed out on travel you need to go backwards up the ramp.

Also add an inch to extended length to allow for axle wrap under droop

Truth. Even when I had 47s still in my old truck I flexed it out and said "huh stock shaft has enough travel" Then I went wheeling, had a little bounce climbing over a log and separated the shaft...

 

[nvrenuf]

To get the front maxed out on travel you need to go backwards up the ramp.

Also add an inch to extended length to allow for axle wrap under droop

This is how I got the long measurement.

 

[WJACKSON11X]

You should be able to get more droop out of that front axle. I agree with some of the others, when wheeling you will really find out how much droop you can produce. I've got some pics of mine that are suprising after looking at them. I am running stock 52's with a 6"shackle and a square front shaft with unlimited travel though.
These are some old pics before some other upgrades, but you get the idea.

 

[cybrfire]

This is how I got the long measurement.

Truck is looking bad ass. You got a ways to go to reach the max on them springs.

 

[blazinzuk]

I have 56s in front. They flex similar to 52s. I need 8" of slip at a bare minimum. I have set up 52s before and they all needed long travel driveshafts

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I have 56s in front. They flex similar to 52s. I need 8" of slip at a bare minimum. I have set up 52s before and they all needed long travel driveshafts

That's my experience with 52's as well, the shackle at the back doesn't help, plus lots of articulation and lots of axle wrap needs a lot of driveshaft slip.

 

[jekquistk5]

I ended up getting the crazy long slip from Tom woods. The extended travel ~12" would have been perfect.. I figured if I changed my axle location I would just move the slip out a little more rather than getting another shaft made.