Who's done sealed axle bearings in a lowered swing axle?

[gkeeton]

Looking for info on building a swing axle for significantly lowered swing axle vehicles? I personally HATE the look, but have a few friends that insist on driving their cars like that. I've always built swing axles with the open bearings, and stock seals for the caps/backing plates, but never have had a customer run a vehicle lowered past a degree of negative camber. I always see the "run sealed bearings" when it comes up in the forums, but have never seen anyone do it. I have seen rubber sealed bearings in the stock size, but what else do you do? Does the gear oil eventually make it into/past the bearing? If not, do you still use the outer bearing cap seal?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

thHGLR37WU copy.jpg

Not trying to be a smart A$$ here but I think I remember (a long time ago) seeing or hearing of the complete torsion assy being raised/lifted higher up on the pan before. That and along with the move the shifter and support bushing mount also had to raised on the tunnel too.

I suspect it is a lot of work but it will keep the suspension working better like you talked about. It would be almost equivalent to the old hotrod thing of Zee-ing the frame in the rear.

Lee

[gkeeton]

No, not being a smart ass at all. Engine/trans raise is the only way to lower a swing axle car, and keep the axles somewhat level. There are also trailing arms, and CV joints that allow you to lower your VW quite a bit, and still have somewhat of a tread contact patch. There are still those that insist on lowering swing axle cars with stock suspensions to the point of needing to remove the bump stop mount.

If I can’t talk them out of it, I’d like to give them a little more bearing life.

I’m talking about cars like this....