Rear Axle Rebuild

[qmcdugan]

Rear Axle Rebuild

I have the tag info or at least some of it de-coded.

The question is... Are the bearings pressed onto the axle from the spline end toward the hub (requiring a shop do the service). OR Are the bearings (some what like the front wheel bearings ) driven / pulled out and new pressed / driven into the housing, with the axle then slid through the bearing during re-assembly ?

I'd like to know that I'm not opening Pandora's box... and I'd like to have the correct parts on hand, whether I do replacement or the shop does.

Truck is a stock 1970 Sport Custom
Ford F100 Differential Tag

WDM - S FORD

3.25 9 313A

Code Vehicle Ratio Ring Non- Axle
Application Gear Locking splines

WDM-S Ford Pickup '63-'72 F-100 3.25 9 in NL 28

[eggman918]

Been many moons since I did a 9" but IIRC the bearings are pressed on/off the axle shaft and slip into the axle housing being held in place by the retainer with 4 bolts

[eggman918]

There is also a retainer that goes on the axle shaft after the bearing #1180 in the illustration linked below
#4020 is the retainer that holds the axle assy. in




http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... ential.jpg

[sargentrs]

All of the above. After I used a cutoff wheel to remove both the retainers and the bearings from my axles, a local shop charged me $50 for both axles to press on the new bearings and retainers.

[eggman918]

[basketcase0302]

They are pressed on and the retainer has to go on before the new bearing.
Don't let a hack job try to replace the bearing for you! I've almost maimed myself once trying to press the old one's off and have seen hack job's destroy a good axle by torching the inner part of the bearing off of the axle shaft. Find a GOOD machine shop and look at the bore of the axle real...good before throwing a bearing at it as the bores wear out from the bearing being ran bad for so long,-(necessitating a new axle).

[ultraranger]

The axle bearings and the bearing retainer rings (collars) are interference fit items that requires pressing them on. This is a one-shot deal of putting them on, since the act of pressing them on slightly stretches the I..D of the bearing and the retainer. They will never be this tight again so, if you have to take them back off --because you forgot to put the stamped steel axle retainer on first, you can go ahead and put those new bearings and retainers in the trash can.

The bearings and retainers should not be pressed on together. After you install the stamped steel axle retainer, press the axle bearing on then press the bearing retaining collar on.

[qmcdugan]

The " Old School " shop is about four blocks from my house. Just like when I needed the front end rebuilt. I'll drive it down there and drive it home when they are done. It took their 20 ton press to get the King pins out. Guys, thanks. I'd hoped that this might be within my grasp to do, but it is clear, it is not.