Binding rear axle... what now?

mustangbrandon

mustangbrandon

Member
OK, have a 41 Ford coupe that the rear is now binding when turning, then releases with the sound of someone hitting the bottom of the car with a hammer. Bang! I need to pull it all out but curious if somone would know the likely culprit in this so I can reasearch where to get parts. It's basically acting like a very angry Detroit Locker. She's parked for now. And it only happened at low speed as I quit going any speed as soon as I heard it. Thoughts? Thanks for any suggestions...

Brandon
 

Attachments

  • 41 Coupe.jpg
    41 Coupe.jpg
    71 KB · Views: 14
Sounds like the spider gears are mess up.Pull the rear-you will have to anyway.Or you could start by pulling the brake drums and check that first.
 
Check the drive shaft connection with the pinion shaft. The pins break and start trying to come out. It will make some noise. Otherwise, there are several things that can lose a tooth inside.
 
Last edited:
Jack up the rear wheels and turn one of them. Put the gearbox in gear. The other one should turn in the opposite direction with no perceptible drag. If there is drag it is something to do with spider gears.

If that feels ok, jack up one wheel only and have the gearbox in neutral. turn the wheel. Any drag? If so it is something to do with pinion bearings or driveshaft or UJ or gearbox.
 
Ok based on the comments and Mart's explanation of some testing, I believe the spiders took a dirt nap.

Both tires off ground in neutal, they do turn opposite, but clunky, and then one will stop and freewheel the other way then clunk and go back opposite.

One tire off ground (drivers) with it in gear, turns and clunky inside the center. Switch to passenger off the ground and it damn near locks up. Quick movements forward and reverse rotation frees it up for a little bit and then it locks... same process over and over... very hard noises inside the center.

I also learned I need to back off my left rear brake shoes :)

Coming out this weekend, I'll update what I find.
 
It is possible to rework the diff assembly without removing the complete axle from the vehicle. For example if you have replacement shafts and spider gears.

You remove the rear hubs and take off the left side axle housing. The diff/axle shaft assembly can be withdrawn out of the left side of the axle.

I did it on my pickup and showed it in some videos. It might be worth looking at those if you want to try it.

Mart.
 
Mart said:
It is possible to rework the diff assembly without removing the complete axle from the vehicle. For example if you have replacement shafts and spider gears.

You remove the rear hubs and take off the left side axle housing. The diff/axle shaft assembly can be withdrawn out of the left side of the axle.

I did it on my pickup and showed it in some videos. It might be worth looking at those if you want to try it.

Mart.
Click to expand...
Mart, I am lucky that this is a very clean "original" car. Someone had took the time to at least detail the rear, nice safety wire around the torque tube bolts. I have another 41 I need to install/swap a columbia 2 speed so I figure I'll learn the first steps on this one. I don't have any rusted/seized bolts to deal with. I do need to order a hub puller but I can get the whole assembly out this weekend pretty quickly. Hell, even the E brake works nicely :) Thanks for your tips. Spinning the tires around really makes be believe something is up with the spiders. I MAY have been rolling pretty hard down a dirt road getting a little sidways when it got angry with me. I guess now to figure out if it's that cross that the gears are on or maybe lost some teeth. Hoping it's not axle teeth...
 
If the spider gears are broken, it is likely that axle gear teeth will also be damaged.
Hopefully the broken teeth did not get up into the ring gear and pinion.
 
drolston said:
If the spider gears are broken, it is likely that axle gear teeth will also be damaged.
Hopefully the broken teeth did not get up into the ring gear and pinion.
Click to expand...


I'm thinking that this is likely the case, but may not a critical issue, unless you plan on spinning sideshows again. Axles are not cheap, and you might get away with replacing only the spider.
 
Just wanted to follow up to everyone on what the deal was on the rear. So turns out both axles had their teeth beat to heck. They were sharp as razors and basically ground down. I'm pretty sure whoever put it together had the clearances all wrong and it finally died. Luckily, through people here and on the net, I ended up with a few good axles, housings, spiders... more than I actually needed. So now I have spares :) I swaped a good rear out of my 41 convertible and now that one is getting a Columbia. Just need to get that one bullet proofed and assembled... correctly. Thanks for all the advice!
 
Brandon, we appreciate the update. You may resume your recreation of Thunder Road after a correct rebuild. Fords can take a licking and keep on ticking if put together properly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top