Rear axle bearings - repair?

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Rear axle bearings - repair?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 07:14 am:

So I'm sitting here with a bunch of bearings, seemingly all contain 7 good rollers and one roller badly pitted or with some other problem...Then it occures to me that cutting and replacing 2 of the 4 rods on the end retainers would allow me to replace a single roller and have one good bearing when I'm done. Or perhaps cutting all 4 rods and replacing them entirely after defective roller is replaced. Are they riveted? Spot welded?

If not, does anyone know of where I can get my hands on some decent originals??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By VRay on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 10:10 am:

Scott:

I too have the same problem. I have not tried taking them apart for fear of ruining them forever. I bought some replacements from Chaffin's and I hope they will stand up well.

Originals are all worn that I have come across.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David_Cockey on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 08:33 pm:

I have a collection of 25 or more used rear axle bearings. Wear ranges from .003 to .025+. I've noticed that the rollers in any given bearing are all worn the same. If the replacement roller is larger than the other rollers it would carry more of the load until it wore to the same diameter as the others. In the meantime the heaving point loading on the axle shaft and sleeve would cause faster wear of both. If the replacement roller is small diameter then it wouldn't carry any of the load so there wouldn't be any point in installing it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 07:31 am:

David

My experience, while limited has shown that the ends of the rollers are about .001 smaller than the center, with variation around .0005. At the mid point of the roller, they are much more closely matched/evenly worn, likely due to axle deflection at outer end of bearing, or cross-axis deflection of rollers during rotation. To the extent that primary diameters should be matched, I agree with you. Given their loose, self aligning design, I'd disagree with your statement that a slightly smaller (< .001" for instance) wouldn't carry a load...If it were a flat surface, I'd agree. Since this is a circular path, such small variation in size would create a minute slide due to varying rotational rates of two mismatched diameters. I'd imagine that it would be inconsequential relative to material yield at the axle, sleeve and roller.

Back to the original purpose of my question, I discovered last night that dismantling and replacing one roller and 4 new stand-offs wasn't really that difficult, though the whole effort probably proves that I have too much time on my hands.

Thanks for the input. Seems few folks are interested, so your comments are all the more appreciated.

scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Noel Denis Chicoine, MD on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 09:47 am:

Scott,
I appreciate the question, and have been following this thread. I have 8 or 9 old bearings that I obtained at an auction last year. I also have a few rear ends to rebuild. I plan to clean and check these bearings and hope to re-use them due to concerns about the new bearings. Like many topics on this forum, for every person offering comments, I suspect there are at least a dozen who are reading and learning from others. Happy T'ing.
Noel


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By karl schlachter on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

what would axle nut torque spec be any help would be appreciated took off wheel last night and parking brakes fell out also i took off wheel with hand shouldn't i of had to use a puller


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Bender on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 01:30 pm:

A friend in Kansas, long time Model Ter claims he has had good service from used axle bearings by adding a shim between the housing and the sleeve. He measures the bearing and sleeve for the correct thickness of shim stock. I haven't used his process. Has anyone done this?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Mullin on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 04:25 pm:

Karl,

In my experience (limited) the wheel should have resisted coming off. The taper on the axle end is a lot like the taper in a glass Cognac bottle, Communion wine cruet or similar. With adequate torque on the axle nut in service - 100 ft-lbs or so - it should have been a struggle to get the wheel off even with a good puller. I had to use a 12 pound hammer and swing hard.

If it was that loose, the wheel might have been able to rotate on the axle. I would take a real good look at the keyway in the axle for damage or enlargemnt before putting it back together. Also, check your wheel to see if it wants to slide on too far. You might need one of the wheel shims.

Tom


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By karl schlachter on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 09:53 pm:

well here i go, jacked up the other side and could take it off without puller. and parking brakes fell off. springs or springs must have been broken for quite sometime she's been in garage for 10 years. does anyone have pic of parking brake assembled or just tell me if its one or two spring. I think two springs but could be one i think all thats necesssary is to return shoes to rolling position but could be wrong, also if torquing axle nut to 100 ft lbs what am i torquing against it seeems its is torquing against dust cover or is it torquing against taper of axle. any help would be appreciated i feel bad asking questions because i am not a member but want to make sure it is road worthy before i become one


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Mullin on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 10:29 pm:

Karl,

The nut should be pressing the wheel tight against the taper of the axle. So tight that the contact between the axle and the inside of the hub are transferring the torque to the wheel. If you can put the wheel on more than that and the nut is fully tightened but the wheel is still loose, you probably need the rear axle and hub shim. They are part number T-2505SH and available from the vendors.

If you post where you are, or register and provide an E-mail address, there is likely someone nearby who could advise you better.

Tom,
Detroit

PS: Neither national Model T club or their chapters requires a drivable Model T to join. Join both and get two great magazines with lots of technical tips, club news and such.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By karl schlachter on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 - 11:15 pm:

wow, nice car tom, you can see mine on a thread on june 29 saying pictures i promised. does the parking brake shoes or band take one or two springs


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 07:12 am:

Mike

I have a shimmed sleeve and it works great. I measured original axle deflection of .014, wrapped .005 shim stock around OD of sleeve and ended up with .002 movement when finally done. Worked great. I've read that some folks secure it to sleeve with contact cement...I didn't but think that would work fine.

scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Mullin on Thursday, July 19, 2007 - 10:02 pm:

Karl,

Thank you.

The stock Ford brake shoe uses two springs. Looking through Murray Fahnstock's "Model T Ford Owner" today, I noticed there were a lot of after market brake shoes, and some of them only used one spring.

Tom


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration