Relocating Front Axle...

[3/4 Ton Blazer]

So I finally got a chance to go "wheeling" with my new 35" boggers and 4" lift. I trimmed the fenders back a bit beforehand (No further back than the inner fender), but found out the hard way that this was not enough. I dont want to excessively trim the fenders, so I was thinking about moving the axle forward a bit. I was looking at the ORD zero-rates, but I dont want to raise the truck anymore. I was thinking about drilling holes back further in the spring perch for the axle locating pins to go into from the leaf springs (Or fill welding, and then drilling as I cant remember if the spring perch surface is solid or not. Also, I would want to loose the stock front U-bolt spring plates (The cast ones made for mounting my now removed sway bay), in favor of something more logical to drill into for clearance for the top of the axle locating bolt, who makes some? I need to figure something out, as my fenders, and boggers were not a fan of what happened...

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Moving your axle forward will likely cause rubbing in the front.

You can redrill your perches (and spring plate) to move the axle forward if you feel like trying it. There is no reason you couldn't drill the stock spring plate IMO.

 

[blazinzuk]

That bottom part of your fenderwell can easily be moved back a bit without interfering with the integrity of the wheel well itself, that will allow you to cut a bit more. Easier than redrilling perches and such

 

[ccj8008]

top leaf

just drill the top leaf and slide the other leaves forward to align. You can trim more out of the front than the rear. You will need to look at going to crossover steering. ORD zero rates blocks work well too.

 

[3/4 Ton Blazer]

I remember reading somewhere that drilling the springs was a bad idea. What are peoples thoughts on this? It does seem like a good method of moving the axle as long as it is safe.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Don't drill the spring. Redrill the perch if you want to move the axle.

I still think it will make your tires rub in the front of the fender.

 

[buefchris]

With 35", I'm surprised you hav'nt had to cut the front of the fender already

 

[6.2Blazer]

Where exactly is the tire rubbing? If it's on the inner fenderwell than you can trim it quite a bit more without touching the outer fenders any.

 

[blazinzuk]

I remember reading somewhere that drilling the springs was a bad idea. What are peoples thoughts on this? It does seem like a good method of moving the axle as long as it is safe.

I have heard this is a bad idea too but i have done it a couple of times. Its annoying though we had free drill bits both times or else we would have spent 50 bucks on drill bits

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I have heard this is a bad idea too but i have done it a couple of times. Its annoying though we had free drill bits both times or else we would have spent 50 bucks on drill bits

Not only does drilling springs suck really bad (spring steel is harder than all but the best drill bits) but it also weakens the spring.

Ask anyone who has broken a spring if its worth compounding a known weak point

 

[blazinzuk]

Not only does drilling springs suck really bad (spring steel is harder than all but the best drill bits) but it also weakens the spring.

Ask anyone who has broken a spring if its worth compounding a known weak point

My thinking is that as long as the hole is sandwiched in between the spring perch and the spring plate it wouldn't be as bad as say if one of the old holes was right on the edge. I have seen plenty of springs break most of them did not break where there were holes in them.

But there are better ways to do it on a Chevy for sure

 

[GM4wheeling]

doesn't look like you trimmed a whole lot off the fenders yet anyways... why not just try to do some more trimming before you go through all that?

 

[buefchris]

I'm with him, trim some more of your fenders front and back, with 35"'s or bigger, you'll have to.