OK guys,
Go easy on me as I'm sure this has been asked before. I was getting ready to assemble the rear axle for the speedster my son and I are building and I realized that I'm not exactly sure that I have everything I need. In a nutshell, I was about to bolt the two axle housings together to check the preload on the carrier bearings and noticed that both axle housings were worn (one much worse than the other) where the inner axle bearing had tried to walk outwards. Is there any kind of thrust washer that should be dropped down in the tube before the the sleeve is installed, or did Ford just assume that the bearing would stay put?
Thanks in advance!
Deron
Deron,
Looking inside the axle tube, you should see a ring riveted in place that is meant to prevent the bearing from working itself further into the tube.
As to "preload on the carrier bearings", there really is no such thing in a Model T rear end. If you can take and post photos of everything you've got we can probably help you out better.
Do you have "The Bible" and Glen Chaffin's book? They pretty much show it all.
http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html
Thanks guys. I have the roller bearing conversion for the carrier bearings rather than the bronze thrust washers, hence the "check the preload" statement.
The riveted ring is what's worn, one of them down to the inner rivet heads. That's why I was wondering if there wasn't some kind of hardened thrust washer that should be inserted before the sleeve. This rear end had been apart before (probably many times) so I wasn't sure if someone had just left that out accidentally.
So just to be sure that I understand it correctly, the riveted ring is the only thing that keeps the bearing from creeping down the axle tube?
And Steve, I do have the Ford manual but not Glen's book. The Ford manual doesn't say anything about a separate thrust washer, but the photos aren't exactly the clear.
Thanks again,
Deron
Deron, I know that somebody is going to disagree but, I recommend that you not use the roller bearings and stick with the bronze.
Stephen
Stephen,
You're the second person to suggest that. Now I'm second guessing my decision.......
I'm the type of guy that is only going to do this job ONCE if at all possible, which is why I bought the torrington bearing kit in the first place. Just out of curiosity, why do you recommend against it? Have you had experience with them failing?
Thanks,
Deron
The brass washers and plates offer a much greater surface area than the Torringtons.
But the
Torringtons turn much easier. Lots less drag. I put them in a 27 touring about 12 years ago and they are doing just fine. With there hardened races and a little oil they will last a very long time and the end play wont change. Scott
Yep, I can see both sides to that. Hmmm.....
Robert, using roller bearings is not going to remove enough drag to make any difference. The bronze washers last a very long time, are much cheaper, and have no moving parts to wear out or fail so why use anything else?
Stephen
Ditto.
Simple is often better than complex.
Certainly can't disagree with that statement, Steve!