The Ford Barn

CTH automotive · 05-06-2015, 07:44 AM

Recently got a 40 Woody in from a customer complaining about brake problems. Fixed them up no worries, However when I took apart the rears the passenger side was soaked in gear oil apparently from a bad seal. Both side rear bearings appeared to be lubed by gear oil. The 33 I'm also working on has a Zirk fitting on the outside of the axle for the bearings with an obvious port on the bearing hub. Another Ford guy told me the axles are all the same and should be grease on the bearings. The 40's axle has neither a Zirk on the outside of the axle, nor hole in the hub...Is this maybe an exception to the rule? Or different year or what?
Any help as always greatly appreciated. JR.

Kube · 05-06-2015, 08:51 AM

That grease fitting at each rear - outer bearing was eliminated very late in 1939. Some early '40 Fords were equipped with them. They were eliminated as all too often they were over utilized and as such, the brakes would get "soaked".
It appears that the seals within the axle housings have failed. A very typical dilemma. New, good quality seals are readily available. The axle housings must be removed to install new seals. New seals, $6. Labor, about $500. Easy task but time consuming.

deuce_roadster · 05-06-2015, 08:24 PM

Gear oil was never intended to lube the rear wheel bearings. As Kube said, there is a seal inside the outer end of the housing to keep the gear oil in the rear end. This seal is the same one that is at the end of the torque tube behind the speedo gear.

40 Deluxe · 05-07-2015, 01:18 AM

The aftermarket made a "quick fix" seal that went over the axle shaft on the outside of the housing, held in place by the drum. I picked up a handful off of ebay a few years ago for my '40. Haven't pulled a drum to check, though.

Terry,OH · 05-07-2015, 07:25 AM

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As Kube mentions the Zerk fitting was removed for 1940. The threaded hole was filled with a plug, with a screwdriver slot, often painted over. In later years the Zerk fittings were re-introduced. All of the 32 thru 48 Ford passenger and commercial vehicles used grease to lube the rear wheel bearings.

05-06-2015, 07:44 AM	#1
CTH automotive Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Greenwich NY. Posts: 42	1940 Woody axle question. Recently got a 40 Woody in from a customer complaining about brake problems. Fixed them up no worries, However when I took apart the rears the passenger side was soaked in gear oil apparently from a bad seal. Both side rear bearings appeared to be lubed by gear oil. The 33 I'm also working on has a Zirk fitting on the outside of the axle for the bearings with an obvious port on the bearing hub. Another Ford guy told me the axles are all the same and should be grease on the bearings. The 40's axle has neither a Zirk on the outside of the axle, nor hole in the hub...Is this maybe an exception to the rule? Or different year or what? Any help as always greatly appreciated. JR.

05-06-2015, 08:51 AM	#2
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,850	Re: 1940 Woody axle question. That grease fitting at each rear - outer bearing was eliminated very late in 1939. Some early '40 Fords were equipped with them. They were eliminated as all too often they were over utilized and as such, the brakes would get "soaked". It appears that the seals within the axle housings have failed. A very typical dilemma. New, good quality seals are readily available. The axle housings must be removed to install new seals. New seals, $6. Labor, about $500. Easy task but time consuming. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

05-06-2015, 08:24 PM	#3
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,971	Re: 1940 Woody axle question. Gear oil was never intended to lube the rear wheel bearings. As Kube said, there is a seal inside the outer end of the housing to keep the gear oil in the rear end. This seal is the same one that is at the end of the torque tube behind the speedo gear.

05-07-2015, 01:18 AM	#4
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,818	Re: 1940 Woody axle question. The aftermarket made a "quick fix" seal that went over the axle shaft on the outside of the housing, held in place by the drum. I picked up a handful off of ebay a few years ago for my '40. Haven't pulled a drum to check, though.

05-07-2015, 07:25 AM	#5
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,186	Re: 1940 Woody axle question. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) As Kube mentions the Zerk fitting was removed for 1940. The threaded hole was filled with a plug, with a screwdriver slot, often painted over. In later years the Zerk fittings were re-introduced. All of the 32 thru 48 Ford passenger and commercial vehicles used grease to lube the rear wheel bearings.

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