MTFCA Forum

There is a groove on the driveshaft where the original style thrust bearing sits. The bearing, sleeve and Hyatt looks okay, but the pinion was “just” tight, I don’t think the sleeve was pushed deep enough.
In any case, I decided to go with the FP pinion bearing.
Is this groove cause for worry? Second, the u-joint was worn, but not badly, but the sleeve was chipped and was installed with a thin outer sleeve “shim.
The socket in the drive shaft has a ridge.

Where is the front driveshaft bushing? Has it been removed?

Steel bushing and shim.
Pulled with some difficulty with a home made puller.
The shim fell out during cleaning

Pictures of the axle housings behind the bearing sleeves.
All four are scored and the one has a significant wear divot on the outer right. The sleeves and Hyatt’s look ok to me. I plan to reuse the Hyatt’s , replace the two outer sleeves.

I'm no expert but I had a similar groove and John Regan recommended I replace the shaft. I purchased a new one from FP along with the modern non-adjustable pinion bearing (also per John Regan). Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

IMO, replace that drive shaft, the cut groove is bad to have there, may be place for a break to set in. The drive shaft and related pieces attached take all the torque and load of going forward, reverse, and most important, stopping.

That bore wear in the axle tube may be from earlier wear of original sleeve, would replace all 4 sleeves with new quality higher priced ones. And new bronze bushing up front in the torque tube. Fun Projects modern pinion bearings are fine in my experiences.

I do know that there was a restoration in 1985. I’m guessing that the axle was rebuilt at that time and the grinding in the axle bore , the driveshaft groove and the front bushing was from before that. The sleeves and roller bearings look too good.
Do you think the new front bushing will fit tight?

A new bronze bushing will measure 1.312" approx. You want a press fit so it won't spin.

So you could check bore, if i.d. is too large, order a new one for pattern, and have a machine shop turn a larger piece to match from bronze stock to fit.
Remember to add the hole for the grease/dope cup above.

What do you use to measure that?

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-t ... -oQAvD_BwE

and a 2" micrometer

Ahhh, thanks
The steel bushing that I pulled out was split, is that common or was that a mod?
I can’t figure why the bushing was split and still had a shim?

Certain that isn't the Ford way. That front bushing for the torque tube was original one-piece Babbitt bushing. Simple.

One could suppose the repair was made without a new replacement bushing; and that old worn bushing, with too much slop to the driveshaft, was split to reduce the i.d., and that shim placed to keep the now split bushing snug?

Most of the Original Ford driveshaft bushings were a plain split steel bushing that was babbitted.

What Adam said. The steel part is not a shim, it is the shell for the babbitt. Like today's insert bearings.

I measured the front bushing bore at about 1.37”
It feels a bit ragged too.
Don’t know of a tool to smooth that out. I had a brake hone a million years ago, but I doubt they are still around.
If I have a machine shop make a bushing to fit, should it be exact to the bore ID?

New drive shaft ordered today.
Lang’s said they were back ordered, but called FP Birdhaven, shaft is in the mail.
That confused me.

SonnyC

the machine shop would be the one to make the clean-up. At this point, for some reason, the mounting surface is torn up and you don't know if it's round, tapered, or what.

This will answer your press-fit question: https://www.engineersedge.com/bearing/b ... ss_fit.htm

For the expense to remediate the drive shaft tube, make a custom bushing, etc., you will be better served to purchase a replacement drive shaft tube from one of the fine folks here who manage to find nearly anything behind or beside their barn.

Fifty years from now, your tube may be valuable enough to warrant repair...just don't leave the IRA to one kid and the tube to another...if you do, one of them surely will not let your spirit rest...