Front axle repair

[Lawrie]

I'm reclaiming a front axle that is loose in the spindle pin bores
As usual, hour or so to set up, then 10min to bore the hole.
I will the machine up a sleave to press in using an old model A axle as material
I have done a few of these, and this time I made some nicer fixtures to make it easier to setup, plus a nicer tool for the boring bar
This all worked out well
Lawrie

 

[Synchro909]

Nice work, Lawrie and I love the Vegemite lid to catch the swarf.

 

[mcgarrett]

Lawrie,
Kudos for going the extra mile and doing a quality, precision repair to the old axle beam. Nice work.

To contrast your approach, an old friend of my Dad's did basic blacksmithing work to salvage and re-use heavy truck parts. He would repair heavy truck axles suffering from a worn spindle pin location by placing a new spindle pin in the worn bore and heat the axle end around the pin red hot with a rosebud torch and then take a heavy hammer and hammer-forge the beam all around the pin until it was tight. After it cooled he would drive out the pin and it would always be tight and good as new! The repair was simple and worked well. Those heavy truck axles could be fairly expensive, so he saved the truck owner some serious cash.

 

[Lawrie]

Yes, a fair bit of fidly machining to get the sleave machined, .812 ID and .841 OD so its fairly thin wall and I have bore it out , then us a mandril to do the OD.
satisfying work though
Arnold , the cap saves cleaning up after.
You get your engine sorted?
Lawrie

 

[Synchro909]

Lawrie, PM sent

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

So I am assuming the sleeve is placed in under compression and not glued in? So how do you handle cutting the sidewall of the sleeve to allow for the locking pin to protrude thru??

I tried several times and finally resorted to using two sleeves that were glued in with Loctite that were pressed in from the top & bottom of the hole opening. I applaud your efforts because mine involved a lot more time than you spent and the results were not as nice as I would have preferred.

 

[Seth Swoboda]

Nice work Lawrie.

 

[Lawrie]

Brent, I fit an aluminium mandril inside the bore, same size as the spindle pin, then on the mill using a slot drill bore the hole for the locking pin,
pics later today.
Thanks Seth,
Lawrie

 

[JayJay]

Nice work, Lawrie. I presume you ream the pin hole to 9/16" (0.5625")? I've had to resurrect a couple of axles but never had one that needed the spindle bores refurbished.

 

[Synchro909]

An old time trick to repair enlarged king pin holes was to put a pin in there with the unworn area in the axle, then lay a bead of weld (arc welder or mig) up the outermost end of the eye. That made it shrink when it cooled. Drive out the pin and ream or hone to size. Done!

 

[Cape Codder]

LawrieI had a similar job done here in the states.
Took approx. six weeks to get it completed although the axle was bent slightly besides the pin holes needing attention.
So my question to you is, how much do you charge to do this sort of work ?
Thanks for your time!

 

[Lawrie]

I would not do this work on a payment basis, Only for myself and mates, between us in my town there are 4 model's so the plan is to have a repaired axle and the stuff like stub axles etc on hand,
But there is some hrs involved.
Any competent machine shop should be able to do it.
Lawrie

 

[Lawrie]

Finished job this morning,
pic is the alloy mandril that slips into the pin bore so the sleasve does not get chewed up when boring the retainer pin hole,
Now my mate will come around and take the axle, wire brush it up and paint it, it will be a good spare
Lawrie

 

[Fullraceflathead]

A little bit of ingenuity goes a long way that's a job well done!!!