The Ford Barn

Bob from Northport · 12-08-2013, 12:00 AM

Is there a front side or rear side to the front axle unit. I have an NOS axle to use, and can not see a difference.

Thanks!!
Bob

RUNNERBUN · 12-08-2013, 12:03 AM

I do believe either way is correct.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-08-2013, 12:08 AM

Correct, it can be flipped either way.

ursus · 12-08-2013, 12:37 PM

Near one end there are usually a pair of raised letters that are forging marks. I recall these as "EE" or "AA" on the passenger cars. Every original car I have seen had the axle installed with the forging letters facing the rear. This may be just a coincidence, but I wonder if this is mentioned in the judging standards.

George D · 12-08-2013, 03:49 PM

If I recall the holes where the king locks go are tappred. The looking nuts would face forward or rearward depending on how axle is installed. Don't know if it matters or not.

van Dyck · 12-08-2013, 06:01 PM

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I've always seen these nuts facing the rear, and are used to prevent the steering spindles from turning too sharply.

wrndln · 12-08-2013, 06:05 PM

The holes where the kingpin retainers go is NOT tapered. The holes go straight through. The axle can be installed either way, they are symmetric.
Rusty nelson

Joe K · 12-08-2013, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George D

If I recall the holes where the king locks go are tappred. The looking nuts would face forward or rearward depending on how axle is installed. Don't know if it matters or not.

Um. I think the holes are "straight through" on the later axles. Some of the early axles have a "direction" relative to the pin - but that was set aside early in 1928 in favor of tapering the "flat" on the pin and having it match the notch in the kingpin.

It is possible to put the pins in with the nuts to the front (in fact the early pins have nuts on both ends), but I think the original setup was the spindle/backing plate mount hits the nut as a limit stop to the rear side.

Heh. One of the early king-pin, pin retainer kits I used had "ordinary" hex nuts as the kingpin-pin keeping nut/stop. I could move the steering wheel to the point where the wheels would hit the fender braces - and achieved a turning radius such that I could turn the Model A completely around within a two car garage - drive in one door and out the other without stopping.

Joe K

Kevin in NJ · 12-09-2013, 10:56 AM

The retainer holes should go either way, but on used ones they may seem one way.

What I found is slight damage to one side, like from beating the pin out, may shrink the hole a bit. So now the pin will only go in one way. This is just at the edge and cleans up quick with a light filing in the hole.

12-08-2013, 12:00 AM	#1
Bob from Northport Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670 Posts: 941	Front axle question Is there a front side or rear side to the front axle unit. I have an NOS axle to use, and can not see a difference. Thanks!! Bob __________________ Bob from Northport Northport, Michigan

12-08-2013, 12:03 AM	#2
RUNNERBUN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Queensland Australia Posts: 640	Re: Front axle question I do believe either way is correct. __________________ Adjust your points with gentle blows of a 2 pound hammer

12-08-2013, 12:08 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Front axle question Correct, it can be flipped either way.

12-08-2013, 12:37 PM	#4
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,375	Re: Front axle question Near one end there are usually a pair of raised letters that are forging marks. I recall these as "EE" or "AA" on the passenger cars. Every original car I have seen had the axle installed with the forging letters facing the rear. This may be just a coincidence, but I wonder if this is mentioned in the judging standards.

12-08-2013, 03:49 PM	#5
George D Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Little Falls NY Posts: 67	Re: Front axle question If I recall the holes where the king locks go are tappred. The looking nuts would face forward or rearward depending on how axle is installed. Don't know if it matters or not.

12-08-2013, 06:01 PM	#6
van Dyck Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 190	Re: Front axle question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've always seen these nuts facing the rear, and are used to prevent the steering spindles from turning too sharply.

12-08-2013, 06:05 PM	#7
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,165	Re: Front axle question The holes where the kingpin retainers go is NOT tapered. The holes go straight through. The axle can be installed either way, they are symmetric. Rusty nelson

12-09-2013, 10:56 AM	#9
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Front axle question The retainer holes should go either way, but on used ones they may seem one way. What I found is slight damage to one side, like from beating the pin out, may shrink the hole a bit. So now the pin will only go in one way. This is just at the edge and cleans up quick with a light filing in the hole.