Rebuilding the best T rearend you can have

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Rebuilding the best T rearend you can have
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John P Noonan on Sunday, August 31, 2014 - 11:45 pm:

Well, like it or not summer is coming to an end and before we know it some of us will be putting our T's to bed for a long winters slumber. The only thing that i have not gone through since i bought the car is the rear end. I know from the documentation and a photo journal of the restoration is that the car was completely restored in the winter of 86/87. That's a long time in my book, and with a slightly wobbly left axle i think its time to tear it down and make sure its safe and reliable. Here's my question in a nutshell, what are the best upgrades you can make to the rear end while i have it apart? Has anyone used the modern pinion bearing replacement from Fun Projects, and what are your thoughts on this and other upgrades i can make while i have it torn down.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 12:17 am:

Modern improvements that really are: Fun Projects pinion bearing, bronze thrust washers, neoprene inner seals. Other than those three things, I stay original. Needle thrust washers look to me like an unnecessary complication with the potential for trouble. Those bronze washers will outlast all of us.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Gruber- Spanaway, Wash. on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 12:20 am:

The Fun Projects pinion bearing setup is really slick.
Quick and very easy to install.
I used the non-adjustable one.
John Regan is a real asset to our hobby.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 12:21 am:

I should have mentioned that the hardened axle bearing sleeves now available are an improvement over what was available years ago. I don't know which ones you'll find in there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John McGinnis in San Jose area, CA. on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 08:10 am:

Bronze thrust washers are a good change. Otherwise I stay with the original stuff...it all seems to work and for a long time. There is lots of life left in the original pinion bearing if it is still usable...otherwise find a good used one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marty Bufalini on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 09:40 am:

I agree with Steve. I just rebuilt the rear end in my '14 (the drive shaft bearing sleeve disintegrated.) Being a relatively recent purchase and not knowing the condition of the rear end, I decided just to rebuild it. I did everything Steve mentioned including new drive shaft and axles.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 09:47 am:

I'm with Steve on this one too. And by the way, Fun projects offers adjustable and non-adjustable versions of the pinion bearing setup. The non-adjustable one fits perfectly and is a few bucks less.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 09:49 am:

Did someone mention axles? :-)

I seldom run across an axle in an old rear end which is good enough to use. Lang's has new ones which are the correct length and are very nice, quite a bit less money than the ones which are 1/16" longer than stock.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 10:06 am:

I did my rear end last winter, and I finally wound up doing everything. Once you are in there it is the time to do it right.
I put in a Ruckstell, added floating hubs and did a set of Texas T disk hydraulic brakes.
The Ruckstell was actually put together by Stan Howe using one of Chaffin's Ruckstells.
Here is a picture:



These were taken at a car show, and occasionally spectators would get in the way of the camera (Oh Darn!):


Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 10:08 am:

An even better rear end....!

Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 11:58 am:

I disagree with Steve. The axle bearing sleeves should not be hard! The ones to buy are 100% made just like Ford made them, and are available from Langs. Even though John makes a good set up for the driveshaft, I'm putting mine together today with all Ford parts. They worked good then, and they still work good! I'm even using a NOS front driveshaft bushing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jon Allen on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 12:05 pm:

You guys got no sense of humor...
The front driveshaft bushing in that rear end above is the best of all!
Regards,
Jon


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Chaffin on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 12:34 pm:

Bradley's new sleeves are not hard and they are not made to Fords spec. Fords hardness spec was C20-26. Bradley's are C18. I talked to him about it but he declined to make them harder. Have not heard of any problems with them yet but time will tell.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Walt Berdan, Bellevue, WA on Monday, September 01, 2014 - 05:34 pm:

I really like the Fun Projects pinion setup. Have installed several now. They fit and work as intended. Any rear axles I do in the future will get one. Also a fan of the full float hubs. Brass thrust washers are a must. Good axles too and I look for good used first. Outer bearing surface of the axle is not critical when using the floating hubs but the inner bearing surface, key ways and threads need to be checked for cracks or damage.


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