sounds like you've got a later axle from a late '40s car or a 47-54 truck. do the brake drums look the same as the ones on the front? i could be wrong but i didn't think any of the torque tubes were bolted directly to the springs. i always thought they were hinged. sounds like something mickey mouse to me. if you're driving it, how does it go? OK? i hope someone else more knowlegable will post, i'm really curious about this.
robert.