Benny78
06-25-2017, 05:43 PM
I just tore down the front end on my '64 IIA for refurbishment. As I was cleaning up the front stub axles, I noticed the bronze, inner bushings was very beat up, while they other looked very good.
I checked their fit on their respective half-shafts, and was surprised to find that they were BOTH very loose on the half-shafts. Now here's where it get strange....when I measure the diameter of the half-shaft journal, it is about .040" smaller than the outer diameter of the male splines at the outer end of the half-shaft, on both sides. In other words, even if I were to fit new bushings, I would have to open them up so far to get them over the outer splines, they would STILL be loose on the half-shaft journals.
What's going on here? Am I wrong to assume the half shaft should ride fairly snugly in those bushings?
The half shafts themselves are in good shape. The journals are smooth, and undamaged. I don't know their history, but I believe they have been with the truck for several decades, so they are not likely cheap repro parts.
I checked their fit on their respective half-shafts, and was surprised to find that they were BOTH very loose on the half-shafts. Now here's where it get strange....when I measure the diameter of the half-shaft journal, it is about .040" smaller than the outer diameter of the male splines at the outer end of the half-shaft, on both sides. In other words, even if I were to fit new bushings, I would have to open them up so far to get them over the outer splines, they would STILL be loose on the half-shaft journals.
What's going on here? Am I wrong to assume the half shaft should ride fairly snugly in those bushings?
The half shafts themselves are in good shape. The journals are smooth, and undamaged. I don't know their history, but I believe they have been with the truck for several decades, so they are not likely cheap repro parts.