1953 Ford: 17 and 28 spline axle shafts??

[Chris]

Hello fordbarn,
My 53 Ford has a noise rear end due to the crush sleeve being gone and the pinion moving around. I'm taking the car in a longer distance drive so decided to address the issue. I removed the axles and 3rd member, car had a 3.90 gear set. I also discovered a twisted axle shaft.

I have a spare rear end I pulled from a 1954 Ford. I tore it apart and was delighted to see 3.78 gears. Upon closer inspection I discovered the 53 axles are 17 spline, but the 54's are 28 spline. The axles, bearings and seal surface all measure the same, but why the different spline count?

Thanks, Chris

[rotorwrench]

17-spline is normal for the flathead era. I'm not sure about the 28 spline. I'd have to check the later manuals to see about that. The 9-inch came out in 57 and the early types were obsoleted. Trucks and station wagons used the Dana 44 but it's not a third member type rear axle.

[JSeery]

The increased spline count is normally an indication of a heavy duty application. But know idea on which application was which in these years.

[Chris]

Thanks guys. The 54 rear came from a coupe I parted out. It was a V8/3 speed car. Luckily it's axles look good so I can use the 3rd member and axles...just wondering why the difference. I have never heard of different spline counts for these years

[rotorwrench]

I found this on Google. http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn...s/3709971.html
It indicates that the late 55 thru 56 used the 28 spline. You may have a later axle or perhaps the third member & axles were changed somewhere in its history. There are also some differences in the Canadian stuff but that is getting into unknown territory.

[V8COOPMAN]

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More splines usually indicates a more robust design. The infamous "nine-inch" Ford rear ends which began in '57 ALL had 28-splines as a minimum. Some of ya know that it also became common to find 31-spline axles in "heavier-duty" and racing variants of the nine-inch rear. Modern transmission output shafts are another example of moving toward higher numbers of splines as they sought to keep-up with higher power outputs and torques. DD

[Chris]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

I found this on Google. http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn...s/3709971.html
It indicates that the late 55 thru 56 used the 28 spline. You may have a later axle or perhaps the third member & axles were changed somewhere in its history. There are also some differences in the Canadian stuff but that is getting into unknown territory.

Thanks, that is an eye opening read