Carrier side play
 

Can anyone tell me a measurement for the side play of the stock T differential carrier? This is governed by the thrust washer assembly.

Re: Carrier side play
 

Should not have any or very little in the axles or carrier. If you do, could be the thrust washer between the axle ends is shot or the carrier thrust washers are. If this is an unknown rear end, could be the babbitt washers are coming apart. If you are setting up new, I set mine for a little preload/drag. I set the one side to get correct contact between the ring and pinion then set the other side to get a little preload.

Re: Carrier side play
 

Thank you, I am rebuilding a prototype model N rear axle using T parts where they fit & making others. Originally it had fiber thrust washers but had Babbitt installed at a previous rebuild. I am using bronze washers now.


What is the thickness of the T fiber thrust disc between the axles?

Re: Carrier side play
 

RE the fiber disk; The axles need to turn in the carrier, there is no set number. Sometimes it will need a thicker disk sometimes thinner. You can use brass in place of the fiber, it only moves when you go around a corner anyway.

Re: Carrier side play
 

That's what I do. A 5/16" (hole size) thick brass large area washer fits with no noticeable play but allows the axles and differential to operate properly.


The fiber washers are always gone when I tear the differentials apart. I don't think they were ever a good idea.

Re: Carrier side play
 

Thank you both. I will use a brass disc even if I need to make one. The end play without a washer measures .180" . It seems I am working with a model T carrier & N axles in the N housings & the N torque tube assy. The axle has obviously been reworked before. It is under extra stress since the car has a 6 cylinder engine.

Re: Carrier side play
 

:) Ah that car!

Re: Carrier side play
 

Is this Henry's special made six cylinder N that he terrorized the streets of Detroit with?

Re: Carrier side play
 

I saw an image of it (unless there were more then one) in I one of the 1956 or 1958 Horseless Carriage Gazette's last week. Just catching up on some reading during lunch! LOL

Re: Carrier side play
 

Yes this is the same car. There was only one built. The axle rebuild & some other work is mainly preventative maintenance, the car is up and running well.

Re: Carrier side play
 

Thanks! I recently saw a photo of a newspaper clipping from back in the day about Henry blowing off the high dollar cars of the day. Is that an actual clipping, or a later made up story? Also, was the top speed of this car ever tested?

Re: Carrier side play
 

I assume this car came after the K, and supposedly the K soured Henry on six cylinder engines, so did his hot rod tendencies override his dislike of sixes? (We may never know.)

Re: Carrier side play
 

This car was built in 1907 at the same time as the K model. The fellow who owns this N also owns a very nice K touring. The N has not had much driving since it arrived here after a 9500 mile trip home. Our weather will not clear until April. We will see then how it actually performs.


I have the axle pretty much done & a word of warning on new T drive shafts - the one I used had a .015" warp over the 3 1/2' I used. It is beautifully made of ground shafting but UPS may have bent it.

Re: Carrier side play
 

Jack, Have you been inside this N's engine? I'm curious about the crankshaft: Is it cast or whittled out of a billet, or adapted from a K engine? Just wondering how Henry did a one-off engine. Thanks!

Re: Carrier side play
 

I have not been inside the N engine & certainly hope we do not need to any time soon. It is not a modified K crank since the K is a much longer engine. It would be a custom built shaft.