Any shops that will straighten front axle?

[Laredo]

Does anyone know of any shops in Louisiana, east TX, or even down to the Houston area who has experience straightening a front axle? I'd even be open to shipping it if not too cost prohibitive. My replacement axle needs some straightening done to it, but it isn't something I'm comfortable doing without seeing it being done first. I've yet to find any video showing the actual pressing work being done (someone really needs to do this - would be a huge help to the hobby). Just reading about it isn't the same as seeing it (strategic press and cribbing/support points to get what's needed - that sort of thing). Any ideas?

[d.]

find a heavy truck service garage in your area...they will have the proper equipment and know how to get the job done correctly.

[Laredo]

Should have mentioned that in the original post. There are no reputable shops in my area that I would trust to do this work. I've had experience with most of the heavy truck repair shops where I am, and I hate even sending our current era trucks to them for any service.

[rotorwrench]

Alignment can be checked on these by using four rods that are centered with cone mandrels on the perch and spindle bolt bores. The four rods should closely align with each other across the top of the axle on it's lateral center line. The difference in angle between the right and left sides is 14 degrees. This would be 7 degrees off of the vertical center line of the axle beam for each side. The perch and spindle bolt bores on the left side should be parallel with each other and same with the bores on the right side.

The axles are somewhat springy. If using a press with locating mandrels, the beam has to be bent beyond the normal position to a certain degree in order for is to stay in the normal position after spring back. Knowing how much to bend beyond normal is a trial and error situation so a person had to work into it slowly and deliberately. Only use heat as a last ditch effort for extreme situations and even then it shouldn't be heated much more than a dull dark red. The big truck shops that still work with beam axles would look at a model A axle and likely comment on how small it is compared to a big truck beam axle. They use some large equipment to do truck axles but they at least know how to go about it.

[Joe K]

Model T axle shown using Rotorwrench's "rods."



The same rig was used on the Model A. I have four rods to do all four "important points" at once.


Joe K

[Laredo]

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I have a rod setup that I made using 1/2" all threads and 1/2" tapered lug nuts to center each rod in the bores. I've verified that it is bent. It's just the bending back process that I'm not comfortable tackling.

[Bigsnapper43]

Ihave an origional BEAM tool with the book. The setup by Joe K is the same. Mine has the gauge to test the angle for camber. Alittle time on a lathe one could make the tool.

[maneri]

stock A axles aren't that costly --many around--replace it could be cheaper

[Gary WA]

How about Brent restorations in Tennessee ?

[wuga]

Joe's speed shop in Ponoka OK specialize in Model A axles. I have had two straightened by them and they came back perfect. They do all levels of axles from stock to major drops. A great company to deal with.

Warren

https://www.joesspeedshop.com/

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Gary WA

How about Brent restorations in Tennessee ?

Thanks Gary. Yes we can do it and I truly appreciate you recommending us however as some have mentioned, it would not surprise me if the freight was $100.00 each way. Ironically, we have found that many core axles these day either have distorted holes, -or are bent too.

[katy]

Originally Posted by wuga

Joe's speed shop in Ponoka OK

That should be Ponca city OK

[todd j]

Joe's Speed Shop is a regular at The Pate Swap Meet every year. If you are going that would save shipping one way.

[Gene F]

I have heard that towing an A any distance with a rope will bend the axle. I am sure that pulling it around the corner to get off the road is acceptable though.

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by Gene F

I have heard that towing an A any distance with a rope will bend the axle. I am sure that pulling it around the corner to get off the road is acceptable though.

One would think more likely getting pulled out of a ditch alongside the road way back in the day. Come to think of it driving into said ditch probably didn't do the front axle much good as well

[HDowse]

Here's a link to Randall's part 1 of straightening a Model A axle. His series of videos are worth watching.
youtu.be/veBwy3UmyeA

[katy]

Originally Posted by Gene F

I have heard that towing an A any distance with a rope will bend the axle.

Old wive's tale, not true.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by katy

Old wive's tale, not true.

Attach your rope at the axle/wishbone junction and you ain't gonna bend squat! Attach your rope mid-axle and hell yeah, it's gonna bend!

Coop

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