MTFCA Forum

Hello all,
I''ve roughed out a bronze bushing for my two piece drive shaft on my lathe. I need some measurements to finish it but cannot find them on the internet. What is the pre-finished thickness of the flange? Also, should the outside diameter of the flange be just a few thou slide fit into the I.D. of the ball casting? Or should it be a loose fit? From the pictures I did find on the net for "regular" off the shelf bushings, that O.D "appears" to look to be around 1.5". The actual I.D. of my ball casting is 1.563". I would think it should be a nice slide fit. I want to leave some meat on it to face it off for proper fit with the U-joint. Thankfully, I have a lathe and steady rest big enough that I can finish it with the lathe.
Thanks in advance!

I found a problem with the reproductions , but used it to my advantage. I’ve done two in the past couple of years. The bushing was supposed to be a light press fit, but both just dropped in. This made it easier to take in and out to face until I got the perfect fit, then I installed it with bearing lock glue. This didn’t really answer your question , and I don’t have a loose one to measure.

Darren, I have a NOS Babbitt one here and the flange is .180 thick. It doesn’t appear swollen but could be. This should get you in the ballpark.

New repro measured o.d. 1.313" Flange thickness .170"
Grease groove on flange and down one side (where you drill your hole for the dope cup) .180" wide

Old worn Babbitt measured o.d. 1.312". Flange .180" and grease groove .155" wide



Yet to have any trouble with repro's, they need a bushing driver to place, you don't want the bushing to rotate or move forward.

Many thanks Tim and Dan!! What is the actual flange O.D. ? Is it 1.500" or is it bigger? My bushing will be a be a press fit for sure.

Hi Darren,
I have a new one, that I bought for my 1913 T. If you need to see it let me know.
Scott

Outer flange o.d is 1.5625"

The bushing shaft o.d. is what is pressed to secure.

Many thanks Dan and Scott!!

Ok, probably TMI but here goes. How many have plucked these babies out of a driveshaft and just threw them in the scrap? I looked at my cosmolined NOS one today, and had to degrease it. This is ford script. A steel shell, with a babbit rim and lining. What I found interesting is the single grease groove stopped short from the end. Also, the spot for the grease hole is in the steel shell, which would make it easy for the mechanic to install correctly, right side up. Grease groove and grease hole up. An easy drill for the mechanic through the babbit for the grease hole. Best of all, this original style would limit oil travel8mg back to the rear axle. Ok , TMI but I thought pretty neat.

Very interesting Tim! Thanks for sharing!

You have some cool stuff Tim ! Thank you.