Rear End Rebuilding Stand

Vic in E-TN

Well-known member
A few weeks or a month ago someone posted a picture of a stand/fixture that they used to hold the parts when rebuilding rear ends. I have searched but cannot find the picture or plan. I would appreciate if someone remembers where it is and can direct me to it.
Thanks,
Vic
 
Vic, IMHO a regular table works well. Even with the amount of Rear Ends we rebuild each year, I cannot justify the time needed to build, -nor the space to store a special stand. My thoughts are don't get caught up into spending time & money just in an effort to save 30 minutes in the entire project.
 
Vic,
I agree with Brent. I have done probably 150 Rear Ends over the last 35 years.. both "A" and V8... and I don't have/use a stand.
I think Tom Endy's stand is really cool and would be really handy for painting... I do most of my work up on the bench... elevated table, and sometimes on the floor for disassembly quick. It is definitely not necessary to have a fixture.. and not sure it would really save you any time. Some of the other tools for working on the rear end are much handier..
Of course I prefer and use KRW tools ... but others can be made /fabricated
seal driver
Hub seal remover
pinion race remover
carrier bearing remover
Torque tube race remover/seal remover
etc.
Best of luck,
Larry Shepard
 
The best differential fixture setup I ever saw was three milk crates (wire, not plastic!) and some styro blocks from a computer printer shipping box. Shop rags over the styro blocks on the crates and nothing gets scratched. Easy to store away when you're done!
 
Unlike the Wilson the one we have in the shop has a folding table for the torque tube. When not in use the table folds up an the foot print is not that big. Sure nice to have the rear end clamped down to work on it and the one end can tilt up to set carrier bearing preload.
 
Someone just posted some photos of a home built rear axle holder using a pipe vice. The vice was mounted to a plate with a tube that was put in a holder mounted on a sturdy work bench. It worked like an engine stand. The way it was setup you could put the rear axle housing in the vertical position to do your pre load on the differential then turned to do the pinon pre load.
My OP is; That 3 legged vice looks like if it got bumped could fall over and unless there is a way to rotate to the vertical would be a pain to use for setup.
 
I agree with Jim and made two stacks of 2 x 12's for the first two guy's rear axles I rebuilt. It was quick and easy and made the job much better than working flat on the bench. After the first two I decided to make one for myself and make it a box to hold some of my other model A special tools. I also varnished the box after I took these pictures.
 

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Many thanks to all who have offered suggestions. It is probably not worthwhile - time wise to construct a specific stand. I will keep my eyes peeled for a used pipe vise stand. I was lucky last summer to find an inexpensive entire rear end and salvage a 3.27 R&P, a pair of good axle shafts, two trumpets a good backing plate and two good hubs. I have a speedster kit for next year and I want to have a good rear end assembly with the 3.27 for it ready. Same goes for a new rear with a 4.11 for my new woody. The instructions by Tom Endy and others seem like they can be followed.
Vic
 
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