The Ford Barn

K9 · 04-24-2013, 06:06 PM

Hi, Folks;

First post on this forum, and it has to be a question.

Building a speedster out of a '30 frame and '28 cowl. The front axle from the donor chassis was pretty bent, as was the steering rods, so it had a "history".

Rather than mess with it, I picked up a swap meet bare axle, whose holes looked in great shape. Rusty, but no where near as bad as the original.

I just got through sandblasting it, and it looks purdy, but cast into the inside of the beam is small "AA". Does that mean it came out of a truck, or is that just a foundry identifier? If it DID come out of a truck, is that OK for this application?
Also, I started wondering which was front and back! Now that it's all clean it looked the same either way, except when looking really closely viewing from one of the spindle ends I can see a bow to the center section. Very slight. Is that supposed to be there, and if so, does it go toward the front or to the rear? I would imagine there would be something to give the alignment some caster, but I'm not sure how they went about doing that.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mike V. Florida · 04-24-2013, 06:12 PM

No worries have at it.

Herb Concord Ca · 04-24-2013, 06:17 PM

Hi insert your spindle lock bolts (pins), let that guide you as to which side is front or back.
Herb
Concord CA

James Rogers · 04-24-2013, 07:11 PM

The AA is just a foundry identifier. The axle should not have a bow and didn't from the factory and will work either way it is installed.

Joe K · 04-24-2013, 08:53 PM

The original AA trucks until about October 29 used the A axle - this might be the source of your AA designation.

Front or back SHOULD be the same. BUT - years of wear typically tend to push the wheels "back" and give it a bit of a bow. Small amounts are ok and will not affect as you compensate with the tie-rods. Larger amounts may be indicative of other damage to the axle which might affect camber/castor. (If they're pushed back they can be pushed up somewhat too.)

You may be able to see where the spindle lock bolt pins have born up against the axle if the bow doesn't give it away by itself. One side may appear to have had a bolt head against it. Although some early spindle lock bolts have heads on both sides (the later ones the stop was typically on the backside IIRC. See Snyder's Catalog for the different spindle lock bolts and their application.)

It is possible that this might be the later AA heavy axle - but you should be able to tell by the weight alone. You will struggle to lift even a bare AA axle. Or examine the diameter of the King pins. The AA heavy were distinctly larger in diameter. You can find the diameters online if someone can't remember them offhand and jump in.

Hope this helps.

Joe K

Tom Wesenberg · 04-24-2013, 09:17 PM

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All my axles have either AA or EE, and if I remember correctly, Marco said it had something to do with the forging or material used in the axle. It had nothing to do with trucks.

Kevin in NJ · 04-24-2013, 10:55 PM

AA and EE are two types of metal used for forging by Ford.

The axle works in either direction though some axles have the holes messed up. The spindle pin wants to go in one way.

Check your axle for snug fit with the king pins. The perch holes should be flat top and bottom. The wish bone should fit snug to the axle.

See my website for how to check the axle and straighten it.

04-24-2013, 06:06 PM	#1
K9 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: 3 miles east of Sandy Hook Posts: 9	Front axle beam question Hi, Folks; First post on this forum, and it has to be a question. Building a speedster out of a '30 frame and '28 cowl. The front axle from the donor chassis was pretty bent, as was the steering rods, so it had a "history". Rather than mess with it, I picked up a swap meet bare axle, whose holes looked in great shape. Rusty, but no where near as bad as the original. I just got through sandblasting it, and it looks purdy, but cast into the inside of the beam is small "AA". Does that mean it came out of a truck, or is that just a foundry identifier? If it DID come out of a truck, is that OK for this application? Also, I started wondering which was front and back! Now that it's all clean it looked the same either way, except when looking really closely viewing from one of the spindle ends I can see a bow to the center section. Very slight. Is that supposed to be there, and if so, does it go toward the front or to the rear? I would imagine there would be something to give the alignment some caster, but I'm not sure how they went about doing that. Thanks in advance for your help.

04-24-2013, 06:12 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Front axle beam question No worries have at it. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

04-24-2013, 06:17 PM	#3
Herb Concord Ca Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Concord CA Posts: 637	Re: Front axle beam question Hi insert your spindle lock bolts (pins), let that guide you as to which side is front or back. Herb Concord CA

04-24-2013, 07:11 PM	#4
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: Front axle beam question The AA is just a foundry identifier. The axle should not have a bow and didn't from the factory and will work either way it is installed. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

04-24-2013, 08:53 PM	#5
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Front axle beam question The original AA trucks until about October 29 used the A axle - this might be the source of your AA designation. Front or back SHOULD be the same. BUT - years of wear typically tend to push the wheels "back" and give it a bit of a bow. Small amounts are ok and will not affect as you compensate with the tie-rods. Larger amounts may be indicative of other damage to the axle which might affect camber/castor. (If they're pushed back they can be pushed up somewhat too.) You may be able to see where the spindle lock bolt pins have born up against the axle if the bow doesn't give it away by itself. One side may appear to have had a bolt head against it. Although some early spindle lock bolts have heads on both sides (the later ones the stop was typically on the backside IIRC. See Snyder's Catalog for the different spindle lock bolts and their application.) It is possible that this might be the later AA heavy axle - but you should be able to tell by the weight alone. You will struggle to lift even a bare AA axle. Or examine the diameter of the King pins. The AA heavy were distinctly larger in diameter. You can find the diameters online if someone can't remember them offhand and jump in. Hope this helps. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

04-24-2013, 09:17 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Front axle beam question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) All my axles have either AA or EE, and if I remember correctly, Marco said it had something to do with the forging or material used in the axle. It had nothing to do with trucks. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 04-25-2013 at 12:02 AM.

04-24-2013, 10:55 PM	#7
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Front axle beam question AA and EE are two types of metal used for forging by Ford. The axle works in either direction though some axles have the holes messed up. The spindle pin wants to go in one way. Check your axle for snug fit with the king pins. The perch holes should be flat top and bottom. The wish bone should fit snug to the axle. See my website for how to check the axle and straighten it.