Technical Rear Spindle Question

Hi All

I removed the rear hubs on my Model A for the first time today. The car has been fitted with later rear hubs. Upon removal I noticed both sides of the spindles had been wrapped in a thin steel sheet type affair. I've attached a couple of pictures, and I wonder if this is the norm, or an attempt to alleviate another issue?

Thanks in advance

 

Looks like someone was trying to take up some slack in the hub maybe.

 

I think that is a Rube Goldfarb adapter

 

'rear spindle' sure got my attention. Even in England I doubt if anyone calls an axle shaft a spindle. The shims are to space the drums off of the backing plates. Ordinary stuff. Been used for 80 years. All the vendors sell them

 

Those are shims designed and manufactured with the intent of tightening up the fit between tapered axle and the tapered hole in hub. Were sold in any parts store worthy of the name back when Ford banjo rears were in everyday use.
When a wheel key gets sheared, a driver unaware of potential for damage may have attempted to get home or to some destination for help. Every time that axle spun in that hub, some metal was ground out by the metal on metal contact caused by the sheared key.
Or in some cases it coluld have been simply a mismatch caused by stacked machining tolerances (which were much broader than those today) resulted in a too loose fit.
Either way the shims took up the excess clearance and allowed further use of parts that otherwise would have to be replaced.
Worked OK for easy driving, but would almost act as a slip sleeve when used by hot rodders. Ask me how I know.

 

Thanks for the replies so far, certainly makes sense that the shims would be in place to allow for wear & tear/ limits & fits tolerance. Sorry about the use of the world spindle in the ***le, posted late at night is my only defence It appears most people knew what I meant? I think the closest UK English vernacular would be "half shaft" maybe?


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