Re: Rear Axle Bearing Cups

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/2/4 15:25:58

The procedure given in Motors is as good as any. I guess I'm a bit suprised about the confusion, this is really pretty basic stuff. You assemble the rear axles and backing plates, tighten everything up and give the right-hand axle a wrap with a hammer to seat the LEFT hand race against the backing plate, and then visa versa. Then measure the end-play, it will be the same on either side as your just moving both axles back and forth via the thrust block in the center of the differential. If the end play is not enough, add shims, more or less equally on each side until it is. Each time you add a shim, whack the opposite axle end to seat the race at the other end.

This doesn't apply to the Dana/Spicer in the 56 Packards, or to the prewar seniors that used opposed sets of 2 rollers/cone bearings at each end. Those axles are adjusted independently of each other, and sometimes shims must be added behind the inner race as well.

Here's the Motors Manual procedure.

PS - I'll add the picture of the prewar senior as well.

PPS - it's all about thermal expansion, that is, how much the axles lengthen while rising from ambient to service temperatures.

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