hey, i was just wondering if anyone really tried flipping their axle upside down and just flipping their ring gear(and diff) around with their diff cover reinstalled turned 180 degrees. i would think thats probably how people originally did it but i have always been a minitruck guy. anyone know if this is possible? i'm sure i will be throwing disc brakes on the rear anyways so doing a true axle flip wouldn't be that much more work unless there is something i am missing.

 

Do you want 1 forward and 4 reverse gears?

You gotta keep the diff in the same orientation.
I would guess adding some spring perches to the bottom of the axle would need to be done for this.

The full size have the axle below leafs while s-10 has axle above leafs.

But, I've never done it. someone around here has.

 

By rotating the axle 180 on that axis that you speak of would not change the gearing or trans gears. It would not work w/ a fullsize due to oiling issues afaik. From what i've seen there are oil passages that circulate the oil to the axles and pinion in a certain way that would not work the same submerged w/ oil completely dry (not sure how they would end up). I would def. recommend against it and say that anyone wanting to put the leafsprings under the axle would be safest to keep the axle in the same orientation as it is and just find a new way to attach it to the leaf packs w/ them underneath. Sorry if i sound preachy or stupid.... i'm not sober

 

you cant turn the ring around due to the casting of the case

 

figured there would be something disallowing it. just thought i would ask.