Axle help

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Axle help
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 01:01 pm:

Help please on rear axle.
I've had the rear axle apart because of some metal that had gone thru the axle and spider gears. It is a long story as to what the metal was, but it was something from a previous restoration now chewed up into tiny pieces. all that part is taken care of and is fine. The only problem is that the right axle is not centered in the center of the axle housing. It is off center approximately 3/8 of an inch. Before I took everything apart i checked to make sure that the axles were centered in the hold because i had just read a post about doing that to check for bent axle housings. This side has been down a couple of times for installing a new seal and once for checking and packing the bearings. The axle has always been in the center and the bearing has gone back in easily every time. I've had this thing apart for the 4th time trying to remedy the problem. I thought that i might have the fiber washers between the axle too thick and changed that out back to one original .065 which put more end play in it but didn't help the problem. With the spider gear/axle housing on the bench i can move the axle around a good bit, but when i assemble everything and put the right axle housing on the axle is off center and doesn't have any free movement. It is not tight or locked up, and it turns concentric and doesn't wobble at all. I have installed a new inner sleeve on that side (1st time down) and the left side is Ruxtell (no inner sleeve).I have the outer bearing sleeves but haven't installed them yet only the right inner. I did take a picture and downsized it but can't get it to upload for some reason.
I'm really stumped because everything seems to be fine and dandy, just the right axle is not in the center of the hole. I am totally out of ideals. the right bearing slides ok into the new sleeve.I can't see that anything is wrong with the sleeve.
I hope someone has some ideals.
Thanks
Roger


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 01:35 pm:

finally got picture to post. Sorry it is not very good. I think you can see the off-center condition. I think i am going to go back now and pull the bearing sleeve back out(new sleeve) and closely examine it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kohnke Rebabbitting on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 02:22 pm:

Many of axles have been sprung putting a gear on. Pull it apart and put the axles between centers and see if they are straight.

If they are OK, then it's the housings that are sprung.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jeff Hood on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 02:47 pm:

Are you sure that the thrust washer packs are on their pins?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 02:53 pm:

If the axle tube is bent it can easily be straightened by selective heating of the "long" side of the tube. Others have used a press.

Here is an old thread on the subject:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/116815.html?1260663871

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 03:14 pm:

Sounds like the steel halves of the thrust washer assembly both dropped off on that side. Each pin is less (3/16"?) than the thickness of the steel washer. ws


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Kullmann on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 03:23 pm:

I know this is a long shot but I'd check. Perhaps there is a small piece of something in the bearing of the differential where the axle goes or maybe on the axle gear itself it wouldn't take much to make it out of alignment at the other end.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By william louis rosenthal on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 03:54 pm:

This is the axle that rides in the removable cap of the differential carrier right? If you can rotate the ring gear, this shaft will either wobble in the housing bore, or it will not. If it wobbles then either the axle is damaged or the differential carrier cap is damaged. If the rotating shaft does not wobble, then the housing is bent.
Regards,
Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 04:09 pm:

Yes.
The axle doesn't wobble. Whatever it is, it has happened during this tear down.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By william louis rosenthal on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 04:16 pm:

Roger:
The carrier can be installed in 3 different positions unless you marked these when you took it apart. I'll be astonished if there is this much variation, but give this a look also. Regards,
Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 04:39 pm:

The axle was in the center of the housing when the housing was still in the car. Would the spring tension (leaf spring) since the housing is out now perhaps have some bearing on this?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 05:23 pm:

I think something is put together incorrectly. Sleep on it and start fresh tomorrow.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By william louis rosenthal on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 05:27 pm:

Hello Roger:
86 that last recommendation...I had sent it when I realized that a carrier misalignment would also result in axle wobble. While you've got the housings apart, inspect your pumpkin gasket surfaces...something tells me you may have debris or a burr aggravating this.
Regards,
Scott


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Dvis on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 05:53 pm:

Roger......If you have not had this particular before then I can't see how your problem is a "bent" housing unless of course in frustration you went at it with a sledge hammer. Be sure that the thrust washer races are centered on the pins. I've used lock tight before just to hold then in place as I put things back together. Keep us posted....I know....but it works....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 06:53 pm:

My buck is still on the thrust rings out of place. If the carrier with spider gears is clamped face to face and the axles rotate, that proves the problem isn't internal. Just remember... everything I know is wrong; that's why mine doesn't leak oil, water or EVER overheat.
Pull the drivers side housing off, and slide the axles and carrier out as an assembly. Ill bet the axles spin free. I cleaned everything up and used spray glue to hold the washers on the pins for assembly, but then again, the rear end is quiet on mine so that's wrong too. ws

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2hz76f9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/1432pnd.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/111jbc5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2chuqdf.jpg[/IMG]


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 07:38 pm:

trooper
I have the thrust washers glued in place with yellow adhesive. Everything turns freely and does what it is supposed to except that the axle is off center. It does not wobble, i'm afraid that somehow the housing is bent. But i would swear that the axle was in the center before i tore it down. I'm going to try again in the morning and pray for better luck.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 07:39 pm:

If the axle is offset either front or back the problem could be in the adjustment of the nuts at the front end of the radius rod. But if it is offset either up or down, it would be caused by the housing being bent.

When you installed the inner bearing sleeve, are you sure the dimple went into the hole? If it is not in the hole, it could cause the axle to be off center. It would also either be hard to install the bearing, and the axle would turn very hard on that side.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Friday, September 06, 2013 - 09:51 pm:

Lets back up a bit... wait... lets get back to the beginning...
1.What went through the gears originally?
2. Are all 4 bearing sleeves in and in place?
3. Are the 4 bearings in and in place?
5. A well used "fit" from the axle gear to the carrier will be around .010" + or -. If the outer bearing is not installed, you should maybe be able to wiggle the axle end in a 1" circle.
6. Slide the outer bearings in and check for free turning.
7. When the housing joint is made up, it goes together into a "fit" (male and female. A gasket is optional for thrust clearance. I happened to use one but others don't.
8. With a GOOD eyeball and a straight edge (machinist scale), the face across both where the driveshaft spool attaches should be dang near perfectly flat. Mine was about .001 tight on the spool so I had to gently tap it into place
9. If none of the above makes sense, STOP. Pull it apart and start from the beginning. FWIW... the axle housing assembly is best assembled in the vertical position like the transmission to MAG coils BS issue...
10. Another FWIW... my pinion bearing was shattered and I replaced it with a fun projects unit. I had a terrible rub after assembly and did a run out check on the drive shaft. It was sprung in and out in about 4 places of at least .020" each... impossible to straighten. I bought a new one. Maybe you sprung an axle, but Ive never seen one before, and Ive got several with shattered hub keyways.
11. Takes lots of notes, measurements, and pictures. ws

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/350whgl.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/k2byj7.jpg[/IMG]

Look at the pinion bearing:
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2vdrvc4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2dh5yqu.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/2rnit12.jpg[/IMG]


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Saturday, September 07, 2013 - 08:46 am:

here is a better picture of the assembly and how i have it set up.

After sleeping on it, I am very suspicious of something wrong with the inner sleeve (new).
The axle goes in ok and turns fine but it is snug.
Before the housing goes on the axle has lots of wiggle, but when the housing is down the wiggle goes away and the axle is off center with the housing hole. This is without the outer sleeve and bearing installed.
I am going down to the shop now to:
1. try to determine if the housing is bent or not
2. pull the sleeve (new) back out and have a look see if there is anything wrong there. I will post when i find something. Thanks for the help guys.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Saturday, September 07, 2013 - 09:59 am:

The inner sleeve should have the locating dimples just like the outers (for anti rotation purposes). ALWAYS double and triple check the chinaman work! REFTY ROOSY, RIGHTY TIGHTY. I used the JELF method of locating mine on the outers, but never removed the inners. They must've drilled the locating holes before riveting the assembly together. Use a sharpie and some kind of squaring device to prove alignment. I'd also strongly recommend neoprene inner seals as long as the sleeves are out. Felt is satisfactory for grease on the outers. Slept good eh? ws

[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/20aytdj.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/rv992e.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/1zbf72e.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/2aiqx3s.jpg[/IMG]


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Brown, NC on Saturday, September 07, 2013 - 12:28 pm:

Thanks to all the great help from the members of this forum the problem is solved and fixed. The problem was the ID of the sleeve was too snug. When i reinstalled the old sleeve the axle went back to center of the housing and had lots of movement.I wound up picking the best of my old sleeves and installed one of them and that worked out well.I installed new outer sleeves and had trouble getting the bearing (old bearings) into the sleeves, but once in, everything worked ok. The assembly is together and everything turns freely and the ruxtell shifts well. I have gone from frustration to elation in just three short hours. I can't wait to get it in the car and get back on the road.
With greatest appreciation,
Roger


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ex trooper on Saturday, September 07, 2013 - 01:17 pm:

Next time you order General Tsoa's chicken make sure you tell them no MSG! Glad it worked out! ws


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Saturday, September 07, 2013 - 03:33 pm:

That's great.
Norm


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