Saturday after having a wonderful day touring with "The Granite T'ers", I noticed a rubbing sound that keep getting louder and louder on my home. Today was the first chance I had to check it out in my garage. I jacked up the rear end and checked the wheels for play. Passenger side was nice and tight, with no play in or out and top to bottom. Drivers side was another story, movement in and out and I could wiggle it side to side and top to bottom. I check the rear axle grease and it was right up to the where it should be. I also checked for metal in the grease and found only something that was like very, very fine sand. So I'm thinking I need a new rear end, any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Happy motoring,
Warren
Warren, Just a guess, but it sounds like one of the thrust washers came apart and is ground up in the oil. Do you know if the rear end was rebuilt before and had the Babbitt thrust washers replaced with the brass ones.?? If not then that is probably the problem. As to needing a new rear end you will at least need to rebuild yours. May be a simple replace of a few parts or a total replace of parts. You never know till you "open it up" Its not a real hard job to do. Just common mechanical skills, and take your time. The Service Manual will show most things you need to know and then ask here for anything else. Remember: someone is always here, and willing to help ... Good luck....
Warren --
I agree with Donnie - sounds like you have a bad thrust bearing.
I took the rear apart on my T and found that the drivers thrust washers was ready to fail.
I did the whole job without removing the rear end from the car. It was messy - that gear lube is a pain - but it was not brain surgery.
I replaced both the washers on sides when I had it apart.
Thank you Donnie and Fred, I agree, I need a rear end rebuild and I always wanted to add a Ruckstell to my T and feel this would be the best time to do it. Sambuca never let me down, the great steed that he is he keep plugin away until we were safe at home.
Happy motoring,
Warren
unless you can find a recently rebuilt Ruckstell, I'd suggest you tackle the job of rebuilding the rear end on your car. It's not difficult. I've done 2 and am currently working on rebuilding a Ruckstell. If you rebuild your current one, and it won't take long, you can still drive it while you procure a Ruckstell either new or to rebuild. If you replace yours with a Ruckstell, you've now got a spare. I'll again suggest to anyone that if the rear end is rebuilt with new thrust washers, put a metal tag on it like on moderns stating when rebuilt. that way the future generation won't have to worry if it has babbit in it.
Noel ; do you mean this metal tag ?
Toon
Thank you Noel (I'm trying to talk my wife into letting me go to Miles City, Montana to look at a T. I use to drive truck cross country and would love to be back in South Dakota and Montana) and Thank you Anthonie, (I'm friends with Joris Bergsma, editor of PreWarCar a great magazine). Both of you have help a great deal in my quest for knowledge about Ruckstell rear ends.
Happy motoring,
Warren
Warren,
The title of the thread says you need a new rear end...what about your car
Noel. Good idea about the tag. I had thought about something like that but never followed thru with it. very good suggestion ....
You won't know just what you need until you get the rear axle assemlbly apart. I would suspect the outer wheel bearing on the drivers side is worn out and maybe one of the thrust washers too. You won't know the extent of wear to the gears and bearings until you get it all apart. Unless you know for sure another unit has been "rebuilt" and what the rebuilder means by "rebuilt" you might not find one any better than you already have, so disassemble it first and see what it needs and replace everything that is worn and you will have a truely "rebuilt" rear axle.
Norm
Thanks again to everyone for their advise, it's greatly appreciated. Dennis you are correct I do need a new rear end, as I have a severe case of sciatica. My Mom and Dad always told me "it's tough to get old", but as usual I didn't listen.
Happy motoring,
Warren
Why, when I read the headline, do I keep thinking; try "Preparation H"? ;-)
Warren - did you get my email?
I'm with Roar. I too had rear end problems, but a local surgeon was able to correct them.
Fred, yes I did thank you. I sent you an email with my address. Hope to see you at the next meeting. Roar and Henry, if you check out my original post
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/411944/460880.html?1405391973 you will see I already covered that subject, but thanks for sharing.
Happy motoring,
Warren
Mine's been dragging for a few years. Any suggestions?
I rebuilt the Ruckstell myself in 2013 using Chaffin's manual and then had to tear it all apart again this April when the driveline sleeve broke (a relatively brand new one) and got chewed up in the differential. If you have the money and time, I would highly recommend the Fun Projects spool/bearing when you rebuild the rear end. It is easy to install and runs quietly.
Chuck,
Get the lead out! (Put in bronze thrust washers.) Sorry, I couldn't resist.
It is not brain surgery - at least in my case it was not-
No brain to work on
Swapping out thrust washers is easy before things are broken as long as the rear end is OK Maybe I am over simplifying things but my biggest problem was cleaning up the gear lub that got on the garage floor
warren -- the check (book) is in the mail
Fred, I got your package in today's mail,THANK YOU. It is greatly appreciated, you're "a gentleman and a scholar" and I take back every word that I never said about you.
Happy motoring,
Warren
Someday - We will have to hack around together!
I'll let you know as soon as I get my T "back on the road again", did I just hear Willie Nelson sing that?
Happy motoring,
Warren
I pick-up the Ruckstell Axle at ABF yesterday afternoon. It looks great, Carl Leonard the man I bought it from did a wonderful job getting it ready for shipment! I can't thank Carl enough for all his help. I'll keep posted with how the install goes.
Happy motoring,
Dr. Warren
Oh no! The Ruckstell is on the wrong side!!! Bummer. Looks like you got 2 speeds going backwards. Lol, just kidding, it's just upside-down on the pallet. =)
Looks really good - like it's ready to be oiled up, u-joint packed with grease, and then installed and run. No mess, just presto-change-o. Very nice.