Rear Axle Woes

Dobie Gillis

Dobie Gillis

Well-known member
In the words of Emily Littela, "If it's not one thing, it's another". I think the rear axle in my 55 Merc has breathed it's last. Yesterday it suddenly developed a lot of play and a loud bang on releasing the clutch. I got the car up on jack stands and can now rotate the driveshaft about 3/4" back and forth before feeling any resistance. I have never abused it, but who knows what's in its past. :(

So my questions:

Are internal parts still available for these Spicer/Dana 44 axles?

Anybody here swapped a later axle into a 55/56 Merc? I'm thinking a 9" or an 8.8" would do the trick, but which donor vehicles have an axle of similar width? I'd like to keep the original lug bolt pattern if possible.

Any help appreciated.
 
55-56 TBirds, 55/56 Station Wagons used the same rear. Parts should be available. Try the TBird vendors, the car vendors plus Joblot Automotive in NY 718-468-8585. Other makes also used the same rear.

If the Merc used the same width rear as the Fords, then length wise 57-59 9 inchers are the same (57 1/4) as are 65-66 Mustang (8 inch). You would have to check to see if the spring mounts (pads) are the same
 
A 65 Mustang 8" will bolt into a 55-56 Ford. Put one in my wagon, but then changed back when I realized that the 56 had more brake shoe surface then the Mustang.
 
If I remember correctly, the Merc has a 5 on 5 lug pattern and the Ford/Mustang/Maverick/Granada rears are 5 on 4 1/2. Will need to change the wheels to the Ford lug pattern if you change to the Ford rear.
 
If you dont put huge amounts of horse power into the stock rear end, have a pro overhaul it. It will be much less work, it shouldn't cost much more if any, it all fits like it was made to, and will work fine for the next fifty years at least.
 
It appears the fault lies with the lowering blocks that were on the car when I bought it. They didn't fit properly and were completely worn out, allowing the rear end to squirm around and occasionally cause a binding situation where the driveshaft goes into the trans. After a lot of online shopping I was not able to find replacement blocks that would bolt directly in. I finally got a set of adjustable blocks from Speedway and a machinist where I work is making the necessary modifications to make them fit. Film at 11...
 
in your search box type (High Q Ties ford 9" rear end info), it should take you to site with a bunch of info on ford 8" and 9" rear ends, year models, gear ratios, rear end lengths and i d numbers, and also what axles can be shortened
 
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Dobie,

Glad you got it figured out and glad it's nothing serious inside your differential. Talk to you later.

Butch
 
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