So here's where I'm at with this thing. I took it back to the shop that rebuilt it. I forgot to mention to them that one axle may be longer than the other. I did find a tag that was bolted on the casing originally with 3.54, but I don't see any gearing that matches that for a 54. Maybe I don't know what I have, and its super frustrating. The shop owner thinks that the aftermarket bearing is not correct and needs a race that is wider on one side. He tried to shim it but said it would not work because of the amount of shims to cover the space. Below are pictures of the bearing and one I was able to snap before he pressed the bearing back off so I could take it and see about getting one with the larger race. I'm completely at a loss since I don't know anything about these rear ends or if maybe it could have been something in the differential missing like; a bearing cup that would cause the axle to sink too far in on the housing tubes. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry I only know what I've learned here or what I can research from all the original books and other online resources.
WAG but if you determine the gear ratio it may narrow you search.this is not a sure fire answer but looks like you need to possibly determine what rear you have as I said WAG.good luck.you should be able to find the ratio marked on the ring gear then do the math
I had to look up WAG to figure out what it meant, but I get what you're saying and I think that is the only way at this point.
This might help it shows a 3:54 ratio but that would be a Dana with the rear cover not the drop out hogs head like p*** cars 1949-56. The 1956 with the drop out hogs head and a 3:55 ratio is 1956 Ford Ford-O-Matic option
I looked up axle bearing for 54 ford crest line and Customline with 6 cyl and v8 cause I don’t know what you have but here’s the results. Note it has extended inner race AND a spacer. Is this what you have now? (RockAuto)
Thats exactly what I have and for some reason it's not working correctly. I suspect that there is a race cup missing from the differential bearing. Although we haven't taken the front or "hogs head" (as Jeff put it) off, but that's my only real guess as to why the axles are not seating correctly.
No, he used the powder coated backing plate I gave him, and he didn't have the drum. I still had the drum in my garage from when I took everything apart a few years ago.
I didn't see that when I was looking through my text manual, but I tend to miss a lot of things in that manual. I tried the mercury bearing today and its diameter is slightly larger, so I returned it to NAPA. Hopefully I can figure this out soon as I am tired of being stuck on the same issue that really shouldn't be an issue.
Thank you, I hope those measurements do help. I have to speak with Concours about the bearings and hopefully they will have one on had to give me measurements since MAC's didn't.
Still a bummer to be that close. I have no idea how the parts place did my bearings. The few I have done myself, I took measurements of the bearing location before I took them off. Cleaned everything, dropped the new bearings in place and checked my number before the lock ring went on. Did the shop you used do that? Probably the answer may come from what Concours provides.
Unfortunately a friend was helping when I took everything apart almost two years ago for the powder coat. He isn't the sort to slow down and take pictures of things as he dis***embles or measure, and before I knew it he had the entire rear torn apart. Due to reasons outside my control, I had to leave the state for almost a year and I didn't think of measuring things before I took it to a shop. As for the shop, I'm not sure what they did other than put the parts together that I had purchased. I spoke with Concours yesterday but they were no help really. The guy told me he couldn't give me any measurements for the bearing they have. I'm probably just going to pick up the rear end today from the shop and tear it all apart again to ensure all the pieces are in the differential. I'm not interested in searching the earth for some odd ball bearing this guy wants to use when I know it didn't have anything weird in the beginning.
I think the 4039 bearing is for a 9 inch rear. I believe you have the correct bearing. The axle is not held into the differential in any way. It is retained only by the retainer plate, bearing and retainer. I would remove the other axle and try it on the p*** side. If it’s too long and bottoms out in the differential, then remove the diff. and try again. Then you can put your drum on and check fit. Did I miss it, does the driver side axle fit correctly?
I haven't been able to make it over to the shop yet and see if the drivers side is different than the p***enger side yet. I plan to stop by there today so hopefully I can get it figured out, or just bring it home.
That would be great. I won't be able to get over to the shop until after 4pm EST. The shop is in the next town about 30mins away.
To follow up on this, we took out the axles and they are both 27" from back of hub to the bevel and 27 1/8" to flat top of the splines. I'm still not sure what caused the spacial issue, but I used a few spacers after grinding down on side of the race on each bearing. The spacers were placed on the non ground side and then heated the retainer to slip in its normal place. Everything seats back perfectly and spins freely. Hopefully no one else has this issue, but if you do maybe just buy the bearing from MAC's since its probably the more correct item. Now to the front disk conversion for me. Thank you to everyone that gave help, ideas, and much needed ***istance.
Good deal man. I had another thought of letting the bearings be free, no lock ring and slide the axles in place. Possibly grease up the axle and see the mark where the bearing ends up.
I truly feel that if I had bought the US made bearings from MAC's and waited it would have been a different fitment all together but who knows. Anyway, its back together and lined up with the drum perfectly, and hopefully works well for years to come.
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