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pros and cons of reverse 56s

O

obijuan

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im gonna throw reverse 56s in the rear of my k5 for a few reasons:

four inches more wheelbase
better driveline angle with cv
get to cut some sheet metal

aaaand thats about it.

are there any reasons i should just not even try it and just put it like theyre supposed to be? enter stage left my dad saying "what the hell boy whyja always gotta go up changin ****?" im gonna try for the same 6-8 inch lift in the back like i have now with normal 52s. experienced i am not. :o
 
there should be no problem with doing that; In fact I plan on doing the very same thing. The operation of the leaf spring does not change at all, simply the location of the pin. Go for it and then post some pics. I am betting your departure angle gets a lot better.
 
Main problem, is now you get lots of axle wrap, I did that, and with the axle wrap spit the rear driveshaft out twice in Moab at BB, came home, built an Anti wrap bar, seems to be good to go.
 
spit the driveshaft out due to axle wrap? sounds like your driveshaft didn't have enough travel. Damn those slip yokes!
 
no, spit the axle out due to it binding on the u joint, cause the pinion tried to point up.
 
If your gas tank is in the stock location, your rear diff may try to become one with the tank or its skidplate.

I had to put my 56"s short side forward to keep my diff from banging the tank. That's with stock hangers in original location on the forward side, and a Jethro-bilt 14BFF cover, which is fricken huge. YMMV.

-- A
 
mine are backwards but have a 0rate pushing it 1in forward. Axle wrap gets bad in sand.
 
As everybody has said, axle wrap should be worse with the long side of the leafs forward. Should be about the same as 52" with the short side forward.

I plan to use 56" springs in back with the short side forward to keep the diff cover out of the gas tank - I may move the axle back a little with a zero rate, but I couldn't go 4" back without relocating the tank and/or limiting uptravel.
 
I run mine backwards and have not wheeled it that way yet. I have a 14FF with stock cover and it will not hit the tank based on measurements. My shaft needs aboot 4" added to it but it is not a stock shaft. I am not sure what it came out of but it is 1350 at both ends. Here is what the wheel base looks like.
Before
Picture 002.jpg
After
newwheelbase.jpg

Dik

Picture 002.jpg

newwheelbase.jpg
 
obijuan said:
forsee any problems crunchin that sheet metal under the gas filler?
Click to expand...

My springs are almost flat as it sits. So the shackle would actually come forward if I were to compress the spring past flat. I will trim more if needed. The body is just superficial to keep it on the street.

I have not run it this way yet so I can not say for fact if the gas filler is AOK

Dik
 
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