Rear end

[Mike Fortney]

Do you fill the rear end to the bottom of the fill hole thank you mike

[TWrenn]

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.

[TXGOAT2]

Do the late axles have the fill hole located lower than the earlier ones?

[Steve Jelf]

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.

[greenacres36]

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.

[TWrenn]

Thanks Steve, I'm used to my earlier cars!!

[DanTreace]

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.