I've been looking around at parts for this rear end rebuild. The big ticket items I will need are the axle shafts, ring and pinion and the bearing sleeves. What's the latest line of thinking on these items? I know at one time, there were some axle shafts that had some problems. Who is it that manufactures the best ones? Same question for the other parts. I was looking at Lang's and Snyder's. No price difference on the ring and pinion. Seems like I heard once that Glen Chaffin made most if not all the rings and pinions. If that is the case, I should probably get those from him. Axle shafts vary in price significantly from vendor to vendor. Are the expensive ones necessarily better?

Hal -- The pricier axle shafts are a bit longer than stock, and they're useful for applications where RM brakes are used (two brake drums need more length) and where the hub you're using is worn enough that it slides farther up on the axle than it should. I have used several sets of the standard length axles from Lang's, which are made from 4140 steel and cost $97.50/ea.

All the ring and pinions are made by Mark Auto and are of good quality (after a bad batch 10 years ago)

There is no need to make an axle shaft longer. If the current Rocky Mountain Brakes were made like they were in the first place, this wouldn't be the case. I have original Rocky Mountains on three of my four T's, and they all have standard genuine Ford axles. Why change a part for another that was made incorrectly in the first place?

Thanks, guys.

Snyder's axles are good. Mark's current batch have incorrect machined key ways. Don't buy. Marks ring gears and pinions are good. Most of the bearing sleeves being sold by the dealers are too soft C18. Ford made them C26, Hyatt made them C35. We just had a batch made at C35.

Glen,

Can you elaborate regarding your comment above about "Mark's current batch have incorrect machined key ways" - I'm assuming you are referring to axle shafts - gear or hub key way ? And do you recall which vendors might carry such ?

Steve, We did carry the standard length axles made by Mark and the longer Axles once made by Texas T Parts. I'm not sure if Snyder's makes them now but they are god. Both keyways in Marks current production of standard axles are too long. The one on the inner side can interfere with the axle bearing and the one on the outer side will sit under the outer seal and damage it. I don't know what if anything Mark intends to do to fix this problem but don't buy any from the current batch. In response to Rogers comments. We manufacture the correct 40 tooth Ruckstell ring gear and all of the pinions, 9 tooth, 10 tooth, 11 tooth and 12 tooth. We haven't made the 13 tooth since Mark produces that.

Thanks Glen !