The Ford Barn

Robert Dip · 11-20-2012, 11:37 AM

This has been bothering me for years. The rear spring on the ’32 – ’34 is curved and the spring hangers on the rear end are fairly perpendicular to the axle housing. This causes a miss-alignment of the shackles…as if one shackle bar should be slightly longer to compensate for this. It also leads to an uneven wear distribution, which in turns causes problems in the long run.
Is this another Ford weird design like the wheels not being centred in the wheel well??
Maybe I’m missing something…any comments…..Robert

Andy · 11-20-2012, 11:58 AM

You might have the wrong rear end. The 32-4 rears have the hangers angled to match the springs. You may have a 37-41 rear and that would move the rear forward.

Robert Dip · 11-20-2012, 12:10 PM

Andy, the rear ends are totally different, and '37 - '41 do not fit on '32s. I have a 'B' model '32 diff, and yes, the spring hangers are properly angled. However, I have two '34 diffs and they are straight. This is getting stranger all the time. I don't see why that is.....would be strange that somebody heated the hangers over time and made them straight. Now I'm going to have to crawl under '34's to check this out.....and who knows what has been done to these ole Fords over time. Robert

Andy · 11-20-2012, 12:20 PM

You do have a strange one. If someone heated them and straightened them, what spring would they be using? I can only think a T or an A would fit. If the rear is a 32-34 with the radius rod mount tabs on the housings, then somone bent the hangers.

FlatheadTed · 11-20-2012, 12:47 PM

It is possible you have a early 32 were they angled the radius rods to match the spring ,Then later they angled the ends of the spring for a better hinging action ,at right angles to the axle

Mart · 11-20-2012, 01:14 PM

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The spring hangers are in line with the ends of the spring, in other words not at 90 degrees to the axle. If yours are straight, they must have been heated and bent.

I think Ted is referring to radius rods, which are different between 32 and 33/34, but not what the poster was asking.

Mart.

DavidG · 11-20-2012, 02:07 PM

Robert,

Your spring perches on the axle housings are bent out of shape. All '32-'34 rear axle spring perches are at the same angle as the center line of the eyes of the spring, be they early or late '32s or '33s or '34s. Perhaps someone along the way used a Model A rear spring or a post-'34 rear spring and bent the axle housing spring perches to aligh with that type of straight-across rear spring (as opposed to a bent-in-the-center '32-'34 rear spring).

Robert Dip · 11-20-2012, 04:24 PM

I now believe that my spring perches are definitely out of shape...hard to believe that they would get this way in use....the '34 rear end I have is from a pickup....must have been carrying quite a load to force then inwards....if that's the case. Yes, the 'B' diff has the bent wishbones, and the very late '32 to '34 are straight. It's the welded tab on the later models that are welded on an angle for the straight wishbone. I'll get out the torches and fix this.......I guess I am the only lucky guy to have this dilemma. Thanks guys..Robert

11-20-2012, 11:37 AM	#1
Robert Dip Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Candiac, Qc. Posts: 483	’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment This has been bothering me for years. The rear spring on the ’32 – ’34 is curved and the spring hangers on the rear end are fairly perpendicular to the axle housing. This causes a miss-alignment of the shackles…as if one shackle bar should be slightly longer to compensate for this. It also leads to an uneven wear distribution, which in turns causes problems in the long run. Is this another Ford weird design like the wheels not being centred in the wheel well?? Maybe I’m missing something…any comments…..Robert

11-20-2012, 11:58 AM	#2
Andy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kerrville, Tx Posts: 2,770	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment You might have the wrong rear end. The 32-4 rears have the hangers angled to match the springs. You may have a 37-41 rear and that would move the rear forward.

11-20-2012, 12:10 PM	#3
Robert Dip Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Candiac, Qc. Posts: 483	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment Andy, the rear ends are totally different, and '37 - '41 do not fit on '32s. I have a 'B' model '32 diff, and yes, the spring hangers are properly angled. However, I have two '34 diffs and they are straight. This is getting stranger all the time. I don't see why that is.....would be strange that somebody heated the hangers over time and made them straight. Now I'm going to have to crawl under '34's to check this out.....and who knows what has been done to these ole Fords over time. *Robert*

11-20-2012, 12:20 PM	#4
Andy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kerrville, Tx Posts: 2,770	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment You do have a strange one. If someone heated them and straightened them, what spring would they be using? I can only think a T or an A would fit. If the rear is a 32-34 with the radius rod mount tabs on the housings, then somone bent the hangers.

11-20-2012, 12:47 PM	#5
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,705	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment It is possible you have a early 32 were they angled the radius rods to match the spring ,Then later they angled the ends of the spring for a better hinging action ,at right angles to the axle __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

11-20-2012, 01:14 PM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,754	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The spring hangers are in line with the ends of the spring, in other words not at 90 degrees to the axle. If yours are straight, they must have been heated and bent. I think Ted is referring to radius rods, which are different between 32 and 33/34, but not what the poster was asking. Mart. Last edited by Mart; 11-20-2012 at 05:30 PM.

11-20-2012, 02:07 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment Robert, Your spring perches on the axle housings are bent out of shape. All '32-'34 rear axle spring perches are at the same angle as the center line of the eyes of the spring, be they early or late '32s or '33s or '34s. Perhaps someone along the way used a Model A rear spring or a post-'34 rear spring and bent the axle housing spring perches to aligh with that type of straight-across rear spring (as opposed to a bent-in-the-center '32-'34 rear spring).

11-20-2012, 04:24 PM	#8
Robert Dip Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Candiac, Qc. Posts: 483	Re: ’32 – 34 rear shackles not in alignment I now believe that my spring perches are definitely out of shape...hard to believe that they would get this way in use....the '34 rear end I have is from a pickup....must have been carrying quite a load to force then inwards....if that's the case. Yes, the 'B' diff has the bent wishbones, and the very late '32 to '34 are straight. It's the welded tab on the later models that are welded on an angle for the straight wishbone. I'll get out the torches and fix this.......I guess I am the only lucky guy to have this dilemma. Thanks guys..Robert