my 1967 patina project build

[rdarnell]

Decided to do some clean up on the rear axle today. I need to put axles back in truck so I can get some parts out my was so I can stage my engine parts better.

[moore_rb]

I need to put axles back in truck so I can get some parts out my was so I can stage my engine parts better.

Welcome to my world... Sometimes I think I spend more time moving parts around, than I do wrenching on projects...

Just getting the blue bondo bucket back together has had a considerable positive benefit on storage space in my garage...

[Daner]

I think I've got a backache just looking at photographs of you moving those around!

[rdarnell]

Well I started to clean the third member still in the axle (real joy lifting that thing and putting it in my parts washer). I was turning the ring gear and spotted this.


I pulled the gears out and found damaged shims on the carrier bearing and on the pinion.



So I decided it was time to go visit my FFL, who also happens to own a business called Kentucky Differential. He has quite a few extra shims laying around. All the bearings look good so we test fit the replacement shims and all is good again.

[Esteban]

Did your friend have an explanation for the failure of those shims?

Very clear pictures, by the way.

[rdarnell]

We both think it was from low oil allowing friction that destroyed the thinnest shim.

[moore_rb]

Well, this was the right time to find it....

[rdarnell]

The replacement shim that I was planning to use on the pinion had nearly a 2 inch outside diameter and was touching the race of the outer pinion bearing. I ordered this from McMaster-Carr and it fits much better. The outside diameter is still l little larger but tolerable.

[rdarnell]

Today was a good day to visit the parents and get to some pressing events! I started with the bushing replacement for the front leaf springs. A couple months ago I went to a local spring shop and we tried to find a match to the original. The closest we could come was Flagg Suspension Parts RB101 bushing, the rubber also had Clevite 63308 stamped on it. Bushings are for a 1967-79 F250. the Diameter was a little smaller and the body was a little longer. Dad chucked them up in the lathe and cut them down to the correct length.



Now was time to remove the backing plates on the rear axle to make room for disc brake.


I had thought I got all the seals and bearings but did not realize that there were inner seal on the axle tube itself, but at least I had enough parts to do the outer seal and bearing. When i too the axle apart I noticed some prior damage in the bearing, guessing the nut came loose and tore up the bearing a bit. The bearing on that side (the short side) was a Timken from Indonesia so it was not original. I also noticed that the locking ring was missing a couple tabs. I had purchased a pair of NSK 38208J bearings that were sold as Krone brand. The outer seal is original part number 40227-32201, I had a pair of National #1977 and one original style Apache #40277-32201. The Apache was much easier to work with, probably because it was the correct part and the National was and ish part. Update... I was looking at other bearings and came across Timken, Precison, and National showing a part number 1012N that looks much more like the original seal I took out.


Both bearing had damage on them but the short side was more significant. There were a couple pieces actually broke off the bearing, not sure if that was from a poor installation of from use though. the long side (drivers) side has some pitting on the race but the bearing it self looked okay. Neither bearing had much grease and it looked like the long side had gear oil leaking from that side.


After cleaning and assembly I noticed that the axles were a little different. When I got home I compared it to a pair of old axles in my parts stash. The short axle was infact slightly different. there is a K on the outside and the metal guard on the back is rivited on all my other axles but on the replacement short axle it has small nut and bolt holding it on. I did notice the heads of the bolts do stick up a little. that surly causes some interference with the drum laying down. I might have to either grind the heads down for the rotors when I get to that.



The bearings on the carrier and pinion all look good and I will be running them. I will now research the inner seal number 38212-01300 to see what is available. You can see some of the trauma in the axle area that I mentioned earlier... but now I do not think it was a loose bearing as I previously thought. I think they might have broken the axle or something that warranted replacing the complete axle and bearing. Update... Looks like that part is NLA but Toyota has a similar part with number 90311-35071 and Timken #223540, I have ordered a pair of each.

[Esteban]

Excellent report! The pictures, as always, very clear on the details. Thanks for taking the time.

Nice tip about the spring bushings!

Regarding the axle seals, I have this in my notes:

Inner seal: ATM 2116213 35x55x11 mm
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATM2116213

Outer Seal: NOS-550225 48x65x7 mm
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOS550225
https://www.amazon.com/48x65x7-Rubber-C ... B00SVIPCFQ