1947 Rear Axle Worn Down

S

Sprattman

Junior Member
My 1947 Ford Super Deluxe won’t move when in gear and I noticed the left rear wheel not turning very well. Pulled off the tire and the drum and found that the pin/bar in the axle end had completely worn down and being stripped down to nothing was the issue. I am starting to do research to understand the steps to success. Is there any way to fix this or is it a full replacement of the axle or maybe it’s just the left side to be replaced? Starting a new thread on this here to get some insights and tips from the Ford Barn community to do this right. The inside of the drum itself where the pin/bar slots into looks to be worn down as well. Pictures attached show before and after.
 

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Sprattman said:
My 1947 Ford Super Deluxe won’t move when in gear and I noticed the left rear wheel not turning very well. Pulled off the tire and the drum and found that the pin/bar in the axle end had completely worn down and being stripped down to nothing was the issue. I am starting to do research to understand the steps to success. Is there any way to fix this or is it a full replacement of the axle or maybe it’s just the left side to be replaced? Starting a new thread on this here to get some insights and tips from the Ford Barn community to do this right. The inside of the drum itself where the pin/bar slots into looks to be worn down as well. Pictures attached show before and after.
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You will need a replacement axle shaft and probably another hub. This demonstrates the importance of keeping the axle nuts TIGHT.
 
You'll definitely need at least one new axle and a new hub to go with it. The whole rear end should be taken apart and rebuilt. You might be able to find some NOS axles - lookup BarnFind here on the BARN. He may have them. If it was mine, I'd but TWO!

Also, you are SUPER lucky that the drum stayed on the car when you were last driving it. The whole tip of that axle could have broken off and then the whole drum/wheel falls right off the car.
 
Thanks all for your comments. I have updated my location (thanks for the push). I’m in Mandeville, Louisiana. Glad I didn’t have the axle snap off while driving! Will need to dig deep into part suppliers and steps to fix.
 
Unfortunately you are going to need a complete rebuild, axles, seal, bearing, hub and you might need some work done on the bearing race. The entire rear needs a complete flush to get all those metal fragments that got past the seal. It's a fairly big job and try to use all N.O.S. parts if you can.
 
My good friends, it looks like the drivers side is a mess so can I just replace the axle shaft (and related seals and greasings) on that side AND do it without removing the rear end? Reading my manual, if I unbolt from the differential, I have access to removal on that side. Checking on a simple method first.
 
Awesome. Will I need the whole kit and kaboodle (torque tube, banjo, etc)? Or maybe just the axle shaft and some helping parts? Thanks for the offer!!!
 
You might be lucky and just need one axle and hub. Probably the outer bearing. Surely a gasket/shim set. And if you are unlucky, more bearings and maybe a housing on that side.
 
Remove the drivers side axle housing and the passenger side hub and drum along with the key and the whole unit with the differential , ring gear and axels will slide out.
 
If you’re looking to do a minimal repair without removal of the banjo, take special care to salvage the gasket set from the driver side, if for no other reason than to identify and replace like kind. There are multiple gaskets of varying thickness divied between each side as shim adjustments. When reassembling, do not chase the threads for the banjo bolts, they are interference fit to prevent transmission fluid leakage. Tons more info, too much to list here, do some research on it.
 
If it was mine, I'd pull the whole rear and go through it. It is not easy to work on 1/2 of it while on the garage floor! Just trying to make your life easier in the end!
 
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