Uh ho my turn for rear axle problems

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Uh ho my turn for rear axle problems
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Sunday, August 11, 2013 - 07:43 pm:

Went out this afternoon with the wife for a wonderful afternoon drive in the T. about a mile from the house, i heard a big thud that sounded like I either run over something in the road or something fell off the car. My friend and his wife were behind in their 15 touring. He said he didn't see anything. We went on about three or four miles and everything was smooth and quite untill------
Running along on flat and level about 25mph and it cut loose like loose parts being thrown around inside (I couldn't tell if it was the rear or trans), but sounded more like the rear axle. I pulled over to the side of the road to decide the next step. We decided to turn around to the shortest route back home and see what happened next. From this point all the way to the house, not anymore noise of any kind. After I got home, i thought about it and couldn't stand it without going down doing a little checking. I pulled the axle fill plug and got a clean clear plastic cup to catch the grease. I jacked up the left side to make the grease run out into the cup. I knew i was looking for metal fileing's or even larger debree. Sure enough in the bottom of the cup was very fine fileings which seem to be steel.
This car has a Ruckstell which worked fine all the way home. It was in Ruckstell high when this happened. Axle endplay is 0 one the right, and maybe 1/8 on the left. I guess i am going to be pulling it out when i get time. Any thoughts or advice is welcome.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Sunday, August 11, 2013 - 08:09 pm:

A thrust washer is about an 1/8 of an inch thick isn't it? I've done the same, heard a bad noise and stopped and then driven on hoping to limp it home. Probably a natural reaction but I hope it didn't do more damage in the process.

Time to tear it down and make up your list of stuff to order from Chaffin's. I hope it's a short list.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, August 11, 2013 - 08:22 pm:

If you don't already have it, you'll want the MTFCA book on The Ruckstell Axle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Sunday, August 11, 2013 - 08:27 pm:


Yelp, that is what it looks like, definitely steel.After i got some sample grease out with the fine fileings, i woke up said "dummy" go back and stick the magnet down into the bottom of the pumpkin and that is when i came back with lots of shavings. Could that be axle gear or spider washers?


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