The Ford Barn

Terry, NJ · 03-27-2025, 03:52 PM

Hi guys ! It's been a while! Couple of more strokes since last time. and a benign mass or growth has started to grow The RH on my pancreas, not to mention a slow growing cancer on my kidney. Yet, I feel pretty good. This is my "Anno Horribilus" and it's only March. I've been feeling better lately and I want to finish my green coupe. A long while ago, I put 3.54 gears in and somehow locked it up. I did one in the past that turned out fine. Anyway I took it to a pro now here's the problem. To help the guy and save weight, I removed the torque tube and the two radius rods. Problem is the The torque tubes a little off center at the front (drive shaft also) and the bearing is unequally loaded to one side. This may or may not be the cause of this question, but here goes.The left (Drivers) side R.R. (radius rod) fits perfectly. The right side is anther matter. If I put the RH R.R. in place with the LH bolted in, it will miss the front bolt hole by half. Since the two Rad.Rods are the same length, how can this be? Has anyone ever seen or heard of anything like this? Thanks in Advance!
Terry

Synchro909 · 03-27-2025, 04:07 PM

When I've seen that sort of thing, I have pit it down to accident damage sometime over the past nearly 100 years. I figure the rear end was hit and bent out of shape. IMO, you should look at a replacement axle/torque tube assembly.

JayJay · 03-27-2025, 04:32 PM

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When I've assembled rear ends I've run into this issue. If you are sure the radius rods are straight, then assemble the radius rods to the front bolt through the torque tube with the six bolts holding the torque tube to the banjo at the pinion loose. After the front bolt is through both radius rods and the torque tube, start the nut. Then tighten and wire the torque tube at the pinion, and finish by tightening the front bolt. This puts the torque tubes into compression and they will not flex. Don't be tempted to loosen the backing plate bolts, those are a tight fit through the axle housings and there isn't any wiggle room there.

This is the way Mitchell advises assembling the rear end when you install an overdrive.

03-27-2025, 03:52 PM	#1
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,749	Rear end and other woes Hi guys ! It's been a while! Couple of more strokes since last time. and a benign mass or growth has started to grow The RH on my pancreas, not to mention a slow growing cancer on my kidney. Yet, I feel pretty good. This is my "Anno Horribilus" and it's only March. I've been feeling better lately and I want to finish my green coupe. A long while ago, I put 3.54 gears in and somehow locked it up. I did one in the past that turned out fine. Anyway I took it to a pro now here's the problem. To help the guy and save weight, I removed the torque tube and the two radius rods. Problem is the The torque tubes a little off center at the front (drive shaft also) and the bearing is unequally loaded to one side. This may or may not be the cause of this question, but here goes.The left (Drivers) side R.R. (radius rod) fits perfectly. The right side is anther matter. If I put the RH R.R. in place with the LH bolted in, it will miss the front bolt hole by half. Since the two Rad.Rods are the same length, how can this be? Has anyone ever seen or heard of anything like this? Thanks in Advance! Terry

03-27-2025, 04:07 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,040	Re: Rear end and other woes When I've seen that sort of thing, I have pit it down to accident damage sometime over the past nearly 100 years. I figure the rear end was hit and bent out of shape. IMO, you should look at a replacement axle/torque tube assembly. __________________ I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. Even at my age, I still like to look at a young, attractive woman but I can't really remember why.

03-27-2025, 04:32 PM	#3
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,101	Re: Rear end and other woes Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When I've assembled rear ends I've run into this issue. If you are sure the radius rods are straight, then assemble the radius rods to the front bolt through the torque tube with the six bolts holding the torque tube to the banjo at the pinion loose. After the front bolt is through both radius rods and the torque tube, start the nut. Then tighten and wire the torque tube at the pinion, and finish by tightening the front bolt. This puts the torque tubes into compression and they will not flex. Don't be tempted to loosen the backing plate bolts, those are a tight fit through the axle housings and there isn't any wiggle room there. This is the way Mitchell advises assembling the rear end when you install an overdrive. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!