Wishbones and Tube Axle

[Henry Rifle]

(I meant hairpins - jc)

Ok, here's the deal. I realize that wishbones are best used with I-beam axles because the I-beam will flex, and tube axles won't. My project (in the photo) is a Gibbon body on a P&J chassis. However, I bought it unfinished from Gibbon, and the tube and 'bones were already installed.

Based on my AutoCadd anallysis, if the right front wheel moves up 2.5" (over a bump) and the left does not move, about 0.200" of displacement needs to be taken up somewhere. One wishbone tube on each side is going to try to compress, and the other is going to try to stretch. If everything equalizes, each bar (less any twist in the axle) is going to have to take up about 0.100." Seems like a lot of pulling, pushing and twisting for good ol' steel.

Any odds on this thing falling apart in the first 500 miles? Opinions?

I guess I'll call Jason or Jerry Slover and ask them.