Rear end
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Topic author - Posts: 29
- Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:51 am
- First Name: Mike
- Last Name: Fortney
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 model t touring 1917 model tt
- Location: Oskaloosa Iowa
- Board Member Since: 2018
Rear end
Do you fill the rear end to the bottom of the fill hole thank you mike
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- Posts: 3743
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Rear end
Generally just fill it to where you put your little "pinkie finger" in to bend at its first joint the lube touches the end of your finger.
Too much lube oil in there and it'll end up oozing out into your brake drums.
Too much lube oil in there and it'll end up oozing out into your brake drums.
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- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Rear end
Do the late axles have the fill hole located lower than the earlier ones?
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- Posts: 7238
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Rear end
What Tim said applies to the earlier rear axles. In 1919 the filler hole was placed lower on the housing to prevent over-filling with oil. From 1919 on, fill to the hole.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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- Posts: 156
- Joined: Sun Sep 27, 2020 3:50 pm
- First Name: Brian
- Last Name: Williams
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Tudor, 1915 Runabout
- Location: Prospect, Ohio
Re: Rear end
Depends on the year of rear end. Improved cars had a lower fill hole. I bought a 26 Tudor that was filled a finger tip below the hole. When I Took the rear end apart to fix the noise I found that the thrust washers were blew from being hot. It had bronze thrust washers and they were scored from heat. I have safety hubs so I fill it to the bottom of the hole. The hole is much lower on that car then it is my 15.
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- Posts: 3743
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Rear end
Thanks Steve, I'm used to my earlier cars!! 

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- Posts: 3813
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘12 open express,'23 cutoff, '27 touring
- Location: North Central FL
- Board Member Since: 2000
- Contact:
Re: Rear end
The early Owner's Manual didn't specify the lube amount for the rear axle housing, but only supplied a drawing with the note to "fill with grease", that did lead to overfill and leaking. The fill plug was at mid-line of the housing on these.
So, later Ford re-positioned the fill hole to below the mid-line of the axle, and noted "not be more than 1/3 full" and to keep the level " 1 1/2" below the fill hole.
Have done it that way, and used the little pinky to check the fluid level. Some use a bent wire to to it, like a dip stick.
Filling with suction gun, checking with pinky.
So, later Ford re-positioned the fill hole to below the mid-line of the axle, and noted "not be more than 1/3 full" and to keep the level " 1 1/2" below the fill hole.
Have done it that way, and used the little pinky to check the fluid level. Some use a bent wire to to it, like a dip stick.
Filling with suction gun, checking with pinky.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford