Going price for a good rear-end?

Al 29Tudor

Al 29Tudor

Well-known member
What is the going price for a good rear-end?
I need axles and axle housings and at this point I don't know if my banjo is good or not. I runs fine and is not noisy but I know it needs work. I might be able to buy one from a club member but don't know what to offer him.
I'd appreciate any advice and experience you might be able to offer.
Thank you.
Al Leach
 
I put a rear axle with struts, & spring in the Houston Craig's list for $300. No takers:( It came off my 30 Tudor when I installed a Mitchell. Too bad your not closer as I would gladly give it to you.
Hugh
 
I was given a complete rear end for helping to load some Model A parts onto a trailer. The car was being rodded, so I suspect the rear end is OK.

I saw a free one at a swap meet two years ago, but I didn't have my trailer to haul it home.
 
Al 29Tudor said:
What is the going price for a good rear-end?
... I might be able to buy one from a club member but don't know what to offer him.
Al Leach
Click to expand...

How much work has it had done to it? Bearings alone are expensive.

I have three. One probably low mileage, broken carrier patched up, repaired spring hangers, bearings good last I checked, needs checking for rust. Number two is well worn, hard life. Number three has had an attempted restoration years ago. Could be an import as the rust doesn't look like ours (salt?). Seems to have had water thru it from sitting outside maybe with the torque tube up. Maybe I'll need to add to the collection ...
 
I would say 100-150.

about the same as a trans. More of a hassle to store then they are worth.
 
Gotta to pull the drums off to know if it has any potentially good axles, take a puller and assorted tools.
 
Be very careful when buying a Model A rear axle assemble as they can hide all kinds of ills. Many that have been off a car for years have been stored outside with the torque tube pointing to the sky. Even with a tin can over the top they can fill with water. Your best bet is to overhaul the one that is on your car. The cost of all the bearings, seals, and gaskets is around $275. This is generally all that is required to make it serviceable again. However, trashed axles and ring & pinions can send the price out of sight.

If you find one for sale that you know recently came out of a running car $150 would be a good price for it.

Tom Endy
 
Al,
Agree with all that Tom said... I have a pretty good supply of parts if you need something.. I dropped you a PM. Axles of course are very common to have issues. If you're taking yours apart or looking at rebuilding I would just do yours and get whatever you need for it as opposed to trying to build one up and swap unless you have a whole unit handy there to do that with.
Shame you're not closer!

Larry Shepard
 
I've been looking for one for a while. None to be found here either good or for rebuild. You guys don't know how lucky you are.
 
Craigslist is usually priced higher than what the stuff actually
sells for. Usually opening the drain and seeing what comes out is
quick and easy. If it looks bad it is! Water, anything brown,
or nothing at all stay away!
That said there are at least (I took a quick look just now)
5 that I can see from NY! for sale in Sarasota on CL.
They are all $125-$175. I'm sure there are many more around the
general area. They are not at all rare.
Also, there are many hot rod take offs that many times
come off a runer driver that is getting a newer rear.
They tend to be the ones you want.
Not the ones laying around for 50 years.
Just my $.02!
 
California Travieso said:
Dennis,

There are a couple guys that have them in the Inland Empire Craig's List. One in Lake Elsinore and I believe one in Ontario. I see them periodically.

David Serrano
Click to expand...

Thanks David, I'll check those out. Mine is running yet but I know very little of the condition. Barely had any oil in it when I got it home. Had been sitting since 1980. When I filled it there was a few drops after a day. Tightened bolts on torque tube and pretty much slowed that down.
 
Wow you guys have so much information
I checked CL Sarasota and there they are - thanks Tony.
My diff is working fine but I know I need axels because of bad key ways and tapers. Also axle housings because the races are going away.
Then I won't know about the banjo until it is opened up.
Great advice Tom and everyone - larrys40 I'll check your pm.
Thank you everyone.
Al Leach
 
By the way,
Is there any difference between a diff for a 28 - 29 and a 30 - 31?
Completely interchangeable?
Thank you
 
Value is how much you want to risk.

I have seen really nice looking housings but all the insides were junk. Any rear stored torque tube up can collect rain inside.

I bought a nasty coated with oily dirt axle for like $75 and got 2 axle housings with no wear on the races. Kind of took a chance, but I was looking for nice housings and usually the nastier the oily dirt the less chance for rust pitting.

As a general rule if the stuff is together you have to put a big discount on it cause you do not know if you are buying scrap metal. This goes for engine, ******, steering box, and rear.
 
Hi Al,

All replies above are great from past experiences:

A. First, "strongly" consider what you reported that you already have:

"It runs fine and is not noisy; but, I know it needs work."

B. Second, after his rebuilding many Model A differentials, and after having written articles for same, maybe seriously consider the statements that comes from many "years" of "expert", professional differential "rebuilding" experiences stated in message #11:

(1) "Your best bet is to overhaul the one that is on your car."

(2) "The cost of all the bearings, seals, and gaskets is around $275."

(3) "This is generally all that is required to make it serviceable again."

C. Third, again from reply no 11 is additional past experiences, laced with "Cautions":

(a) "Be very careful when buying a Model A rear axle assembled as they can hide all kinds of ills."

(b) "Many that have been off a car for years have been stored outside with the torque tube pointing to the sky."

(c) "Even with a tin can over the top they can fill with water."

Even if you never considered this before, this may be a good time to smile and consider a 3:27 ring & pinion.
 
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