Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

The previous owner destroyed the hole on the passenger side where the shackle goes in. Do I have to buy a replacement wishbone axle? I'm about ready to give up on this car.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Not sure what your dealing with, but I see coil springs and welding to the backplate. Might explain what this is!

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

It's where the rear leaf spring goes in. The holes are where the pin goes in to hold up the leaf spring shackles. The first picture is the passenger side and the 2nd pic is the drivers side. The passenger side hole he drilled above the pin destroying the hole.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Remove the old pins from the original holes. You should be left with a partial 3/4" hole. Fill the holes left by the PO with Devcon plastic steel. Let it harden properly. Take a 3/4" hand reamer and ream the original hole to proper size and install new shackles.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

find another rear axle and change out. around here you can get one for free from a hot rodder, I just brought home 3 from a shop and they called me and offered to bring them to the house!!

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

With due respect, DEVCON is not the answer.
Can you please post more photos showing the entire suspension package you are working with?
It's a bit confusing as it looks home made to a large extent.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Coil springs, backing plate welded to the housings, and you want him to use Devcon? Oh, well, it figures.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

A person could just change the axle bells as long as they have the right ones. It might need new carrier bearings & bell seals but what the hey. It would be like a new one if the pinion bearings are still good to go. I assume this is a 42 thru 48 type wide axle assembly. It can be welded and rebored but it would be a lot of work either way.

I can attest that Devon plastic steel is tough stuff but spring and road pounding pressures would likely be a bit much for anything but forged steel.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Where do you get the Devcon plastic steel from?

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

I'm still not sure what I'm seeing in the photos, might need to post a photo backed out a little. The coils look like overload springs maybe. But it still looks like the spring bracket is welded to the backing plate, is it just an optical illusion?

Seems like it would be much easier and a better fix to just replace the axle assembly or at least the bells and backing plates.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Here this should help.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Thanks, that helps. Now to figure out the best solution!

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

I'm with the guys recommending replacing the bells. It'll be easier and faster than trying to repair those holes and you won't waste time grinding off the coil spring set-up. Also, have you had the wheel bearings out? You may find the axel races in a condition that replacement bells are your best bet.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

How much am I looking at spending to replace the bells, and how do I go about finding them?

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

If you're looking for housings for a "Fat-Fendered" Ford (like in your avatar), I have a couple (I think they're '46-'48) you can have if you want to drive to Breezy Point. It's nice up here this time of year!

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

I think you have to find a group of people in this hobby local. There are many clubs and some businesses that cater to the HotRodder. THis Hobby requires some mechanical experience to deal with how to fix things that go wrong. I Haven't used a stock Ford driveline in 50 years, for just this kind of issue. But I've helped others. You asked what kind of money you'll need to fix this? It's an old car, this won't be the last one. If money is an issue, wrong hobby.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

I've got a couple old cars and an airplane...now, if I could only find a boat to complete this money-sucking trifecta! :D

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

If you have an airplane, you don't need a boat.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Of the banjo ford rears, 42 to 48 are the cheapest and most plentiful of the 32 to 48 rears.

Re: Rear axle/wishbone destroyed
 

Just my 2 cents, but some times its easier to find a complete rearend. And just change it out. I have two of them I picked up a while back. Both from dudes putting late model running gear in theirs. Just a thought.