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Tom Endy · 08-10-2012, 12:14 PM

Since I remove the sleeve and seal on each rear axle assembly I rebuild I made up a tool. I purchased an axle seal insertion tool from Bratton's a number of years ago, part number 6270, Now $7.50. I had a friend turn down the outer flange on a lathe to a nominal 1.33" and screwed it onto a 5' length of 1\2" water pipe.

The process is to stand the torque tube on its nose on some newspaper. Insert the tool from the flange end and fish it around until the end of the tool goes into the seal. About four hammer blows from a heafty hammer and the seal, sleeve, and the whole cruddy mess exits onto the newspaper.

Be sure to install a new seal first before you take on the task of installing the sleeve. If the sleeve is an original and in good condition I would re-use it. Many of the reproductions on the market are pure junk. The ones Bratton's sell are close to the original and I have used them in the past.

There is a trick to install the sleeve.

First make sure the seal has been installed. For this you will need an unmodified seal insertion tool screwed onto about an 8" length of 1\2" water pipe. Clean the area thoroughly where the sleeve will reside. Be sure to clean out the hole where the dimple in the sleeve sits. Put the sleeve in a vice and squeeze it somewhat closed and wrap a piece of safety wire around the top just above the dimple. Put a chalk mark on the top edge of the sleeve just above the dimple. Stand the torque tube on its flange and put another chalk mark on the edge just above the hole for the dimple. Set the sleeve down into the torque tube with the dimple up and line up the two chalk marks. It is important that the two chalk marks be placed accurately. I use the flat side of a 36mm socket on a short extension and gently tap the sleeve into place. As it goes in it will push the safety wire off at the top. If the chalk marks were accurate the sleeve dimple should snap into the hole. Inspect the sleeve and make sure it is firmly seated. Put a Phillips screwdriver in through the speedo opening into the dimple and tap it with a hammer to make sure it is seated. You should see a space where the split opened and the circumference of the sleeve should be tight up against the inner circumference of the torque tube. If the sleeve is not accurately installed you won't be able to get the bearing and drive shaft to install.

Tom Endy

08-10-2012, 12:14 PM	#3
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Torque tube bearing sleeve Since I remove the sleeve and seal on each rear axle assembly I rebuild I made up a tool. I purchased an axle seal insertion tool from Bratton's a number of years ago, part number 6270, Now $7.50. I had a friend turn down the outer flange on a lathe to a nominal 1.33" and screwed it onto a 5' length of 1\2" water pipe. The process is to stand the torque tube on its nose on some newspaper. Insert the tool from the flange end and fish it around until the end of the tool goes into the seal. About four hammer blows from a heafty hammer and the seal, sleeve, and the whole cruddy mess exits onto the newspaper. Be sure to install a new seal first before you take on the task of installing the sleeve. If the sleeve is an original and in good condition I would re-use it. Many of the reproductions on the market are pure junk. The ones Bratton's sell are close to the original and I have used them in the past. There is a trick to install the sleeve. First make sure the seal has been installed. For this you will need an unmodified seal insertion tool screwed onto about an 8" length of 1\2" water pipe. Clean the area thoroughly where the sleeve will reside. Be sure to clean out the hole where the dimple in the sleeve sits. Put the sleeve in a vice and squeeze it somewhat closed and wrap a piece of safety wire around the top just above the dimple. Put a chalk mark on the top edge of the sleeve just above the dimple. Stand the torque tube on its flange and put another chalk mark on the edge just above the hole for the dimple. Set the sleeve down into the torque tube with the dimple up and line up the two chalk marks. It is important that the two chalk marks be placed accurately. I use the flat side of a 36mm socket on a short extension and gently tap the sleeve into place. As it goes in it will push the safety wire off at the top. If the chalk marks were accurate the sleeve dimple should snap into the hole. Inspect the sleeve and make sure it is firmly seated. Put a Phillips screwdriver in through the speedo opening into the dimple and tap it with a hammer to make sure it is seated. You should see a space where the split opened and the circumference of the sleeve should be tight up against the inner circumference of the torque tube. If the sleeve is not accurately installed you won't be able to get the bearing and drive shaft to install. Tom Endy