Axle Play at Hub End
 

Latest questions in the brake rebuild saga! Would appreciate some input on the following:

1. With left rear hub off the car, I can move the end of the axle up/down or side/side about 1/8". I am not talking about play in/out of the differential housing. Also, I haven't (yet) pulled the right rear drum to check for similar play. Checking the books, I see no bearing indicated inside the axle housing at the hub end, so a worn bearing at that spot is not allowing this movement.

What amount of movement is normal? If 1/8" is excessive, what problems can this cause?

2. There's a grease fitting on the axle housing inboard of the plate to which the backing plate mounts. What is lubed via this fitting?

Thanks much! And here I thought I could assemble the left rear corner all on my own. :)

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

thats normal. With the hub off, the bearings are missing, so the axle moves. The grease fitting lubes the same bearing. If you can't see the bearing, flip over the hub...its in there. :-)

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

Dave, while you are in there, measure the axle housing race at the 3:00/9:00 positions as seen in the first picture below and record that number. Then measure the race at the 12:00/6:00 position and record that number. Subtract the second number from the first one and see what you get.

One of the things that many folks overlook when re-doing brakes is that if that race on the housing is worn, then it allows the hub to ride up higher effectively not centering the shoes. Depending on how far it is off depends on what percentage the rear brakes are not carrying their part (which if you set them up according to Ford, then the bias is on the rear axle).

.

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

Thanks, Pat. Whew!

Brent, I will check that measurement. What's an acceptable difference?

Thanks!

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

speaking of races, inspect both the axle race and inner hub race to see if the hard facing is still intact. If its deteriorated (more commonly inside the hub in my experience) you will see a grayer, dull metal often with pitting exposed from under the hard facing. Its commonly starting near the inside edge of the hub. If the hub surface has deteriorated, sleeves are available from most A supply houses. Those kits require a new V8 roller bearing. If the axle race is deteriorated, they can be sleeved as well, but its usually cheaper to find a good used axle housing.

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

Both axle race and inner hub race look fine. I measured the axle race as Brent suggested - the measurements are so close to identical that I can't tell the difference. :) All good thus far.

BTW, I am living proof that the rear brake cam can be installed backward....thus stepping on the brake pedal causes the shoes to retract! Happily I did this only on one side. It's interesting that there's no warning in the literature. I've added a note to my copy of Andrews Vol I. :)

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

Years ago,I had an A with no park brake bands in it. I installed relined bands,let the car down on the ground and the car wouldnt move! I found that the brake bands had been left out on purpose because the brg races on the hsgs were so badly worn that the drums were no longer concentric with the hsgs & thedrums were tight on the bottom of the park brake bands.The service brakes would still work because the cam was free to move up in the cam shaft.In those days I was able to find another rear end easily & replace it.

Re: Axle Play at Hub End
 

There's usually a message to be heard when something mechanical refuses to do what it's supposed to do. For example, as noted above I discovered that I had the cam installed incorrectly because I couldn't get the drum on over the brake bands. Sat there staring at things and realized that the cam needed to be rotated in place (along its length) 180*. Things worked so much better once I did so.