Drive shaft middle bearing

[Lawson Cox]

When did Ford first use the drive shaft middle bearing. I have a 40 torque tube and it has the center grease seal I am pretty sure, but no bearing. Does anyone have a picture of a drive shaft middle bearing they could post? Thanks.

[ken ct]

37 Lawson,36's dont have them. ken ct.

[41PICUP]

I got mine from Skip Haney, he's known for his water pumps.

[Old Henry]

The Green Bible shows the center drive shaft bearing, part number 78-4658 the same for passenger cars from 1937 to 1948.

Here's a picture of the bearing.

[rotorwrench]

When they changed from a tubular type driveshaft to a solid shaft they had to keep the whipping affect in check on the shaft. They Model A thru 34 strait tube shafts were short enough that whip wasn't a problem. In 35 they used the variable diameter type tube shaft that was wider in the middle than on each end which lessened the chance for whipping to almost nil. The solid shafts were less expensive to produce so they developed the carrier bearing to do the anti-whip chore. The rubber around the bearing dampened oscillation frequencies just fine.

Those bearings were unobtanium for a long time. I'm sure glad some one now makes a replacement.

Kerby

[Lincoln]

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FORD started using the center bearing drive shaft in late 1936. Believe the 1937 Chassis Parts List shows this design.
Lincoln.

[Lawson Cox]

After the various posts in response to my question, I must have the center bearing in my 40 driveshaft. No reason it should not be there. It has no wobble or seemingly out of balance symptoms emanating from the drive shaft area. I refreshed my mind by looking at pictures in the Green Book.

My problem is probably in the U joint. I have greased both up with several shots of grease and will drive it the next pretty day and see if that cures my squeak or whomp whomp. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Mart]

There should be a grease fitting in the middle of the torque tube - so the middle bearing can be greased.

Mart.

[PeteVS]

There seems to be a short steel sleeve spot welded inside the torque tube that the Ford center bearing "snapped" into. Does Skip's new bearing require that sleeve be in place and then "snap" into it?

[Ralph Moore]

While your on this subject, I'm planning on running a replacement hollow driveshaft in my shortened 1937 torque tube. I've already done away with the center bearing, but is it necessary that I run the front bearing? I'm planning on using the original style speedo gear and mating it to a 37 or 38 tranny.

[G.M.]

You still need the front bearing. Skips replacement bearing go's into the original mounting "cup". Lawson you need 2 tubes of low melting temperature grease in the "U" joint. If you use high temperature grease the "U" joint will cut a hole in the grease and run dry in the cavity. Low melt grease gets thinner when warm and drops down to the bottom and the "U" joint dips into the melted gease and keep it lubed. G.M.