Another drop axle/spindle choice question

Rford

I try to study up and use the search engine before just posting...I really do. I have a 98 TXT stock, I use it around a 100 acre hunting spot for lots of small chores--I added a receiver on the back and use an ATV rack to haul stuff around. I'd like to raise it a bit - 3 inches probably - and put some 22 x 11 X 10 tires on it. That will give me enough clearance over stumps where I've cleared some areas and avoid a few rocks. I don't go fast, don't run it hard, and probably don't run it faster than a quick walking speed 95% of the time.

I see $100 economy lift kits, the $250 spindle kits, and the $300 drop axle kits. Can't find much on the economy kits. Lots of people are using the spindle kits which look easy to install, and quite a few guys think the drop axle are superior because of their strength but they are a bit harder to install. I've got lots of tools and plenty of time, so I can put any one of these on. I know what the experts recommend as far as manufacturers -- Jakes, Allsport, etc. Prices don't seem to vary much between sellers.

So given my situation, and with the understanding I'm never going to go faster or beat this cart, does anyone think I'd be just as well off with a spindle kit as a drop axle, and is there any thoughts on whether I could get by with an "economy" kit? I'm not trying to be cheap, but if I don't get any real benefit based upon my use why spend the extra money.

I am leaning towards a 3" spindle - ease of installation and not much chance that I'd break or bend a spindle putting around like I do.

Thanks in advance.

BGW

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kab69440

If you're crawling over logs, rocks and the like I would go for the drop axle. Of the choices you are considering that would appear to be the best choice. I've seen a fair amount of posts here on broken spindle lifts. They don't seem to like off-roading very much.

BrewCityMusic

Here's the rub - NONE of the kits are going to give You any more clearance in the rear, your differential will still be hanging down whether You go cheap, mid, or high-end (including the standard "Long Travel" kits) ...

For heavy off-road use, I avoid the drop-axle kits as they leave the tie-rod hanging down at stock height, just BEGGING to be bent or broken, this is a pic of a 6" drop-axle, You'll see what I mean:



Now, as to broken Spindle lifts, I have beaten the living You-Know-What out of MANY carts with them, Big Block carts, carts with rear seats, heavy-duty cargo carts, TXT's, Workhorses, MPT's, etc and never EVER even had one bend or break (including two different rollover situations) ... That said, I only have ever used the Ductile-Iron "Jakes" spindle lifts, never the cheaper cast models that other companies market. You pay more for the Jakes, but the slight cost is definitely money well-spent.

As to front clearance, here's another one of my Workhorses with the Jakes Spindle kit:



As you can see, the spindle lift protects the front-end and steering components MUCH better than the drop-axle, the sacrifice is ground clearance - but again, both styles will NOT change the rear clearance anyhow ... It's up to You. Spend the $ for a GOOD (IE Jakes) spindle and I can pretty much assure You that You will NOT break it, go with a drop-axle and plan on buying an extra tie rod or two to keep around, or possibly invest in a stump grinder, LOL. The top cart of mine I generally use for yard maintenance (I keep about 17ac of my property groomed, mowed, trimmed, etc) while the bottom one gets a lot more use in the woods, trails, etc so I decided to save a few bucks and do the drop on the top one, that's the only reason it's on there.

StoveBolt

He has a 98 Brew (early steering) no tie rod hanging down. I vote for the dropped axle too.

Rford

Hmmm....I'm not much of an engineer...I figured a lift kit would give me some lift...if the rear axle is going to be the same height off the ground I'll be wasting my time. I'm really surprised to learn this...I'm not rock climbing or evcen on rough terrain, so I'm not going to break anything...heck, I'm running standard golf cart tires with no problems other than constant flats from honey locust and hedge apple trees.

Second question, then, I assume a higher profile tire (22 vs 1 will give me more actual lift---maybe I'll just go that route, if I can figure out if the 22s will rub without a lift.

StoveBolt

You will need a lift for 22s and also offset wheels or you will be rubbing.

I would go with atleast a 4" lift.

BrewCityMusic

stock tires are 16", so for every 2" larger You go with your tires You will gain 1" of clearance at the transaxle (regardless of lifted or not) - and Stove is right, You'll need a minimum 4" lift to go with 22's as well as offset rims or wheel spacers ...

Good catch, SB - it's been so long since I've messed with anything pre-2002 I didn't even think of the old-style setup

StoveBolt

Thanks Brew,... say on your diamond plate workhorse, did you install the tierod ends up through the spindle arm from the bottom or from the top down? Does make a big difference and yours looks to be hanging low.

BrewCityMusic

I had no choice BUT to sling it underneath, the riser for the steering arm interferes, and would actually give me about 10 degrees of steering to the left if I had it mounted up top (and yes, I tried coming up with a ton of different things to get around it, to no avail - I thought about having some tall rod adapters fabbed up and swapping the factory joints for Heims so I could get the clearance, but it just didn't inspire confidence as a plan) ...

StoveBolt

hmm, I did a few dropped axle lifts on txts with later steering, the first I mounted from the bottom and thought that it hung awfully low, then changed to the top with a big difference and no trouble, but I used the all sports axle lifts that come with spindles and have taller arms.