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68, 327, 3speed stick. I'm doing the rear axle bearings. I purchased the whole unit remaned from Mid Am. The old arms had the 4 mounting studs pressed into the arm. The new assemblies have the studs pressed into the bearing assembly from the brake plate towards the diff. Is this a design improvement/change? Any one way correct or better than the other? TX Dave
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Dave-----
It was never done this way in PRODUCTION. The only reason that I can think of that it would be done this way on the arms you have is that the holes in the trailing arms for the splined bolts were worn and would no longer retain the splines.
I don't see any functional problem that would be created by the configuration you described, though.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: 68 Rear axle
The arms are newer and had the pressed in splined studs. The re manned bearing assembly (minus the trailing arm) from "Mid" had the studs installed from the plate side with the e-brakes and plate assembled as a "drop in" unit? Maybe to hold it together while shipping, though it would stay together the other way too? I assembled it to the arm and as you mentioned it doesn't appear to be a problem as far as function it almost looks easier to remove this way. My main concern is always safety and I don't see an issue either. Does the half shaft(s) inner u-joints get "french" locks or just the outers at the flange? I don't see locks for the inners reproed? I'm using ARP nuts with the integral washer along with blue loctite on the inner u-bolts.
Hope your not tired of hearing it but thanks for your knowledgeable responses! DaveComment
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Dave-----
There are a few POSSIBLE problems that I could possibly foresee with the bolts installed as you described. First, I'm not sure that the bolt splines would fit tightly enough in the spindle support to prevent them from rotating when you try to install and torque the nuts. Since the heads of these bolts are round, it wouldn't be practical to try to use any tool to hold them.
Second, with the bolts oriented so that the nuts install on the inner surface of the trailing arm, due to the higher profile, there MIGHT be an interference problem with some of the rotating components. I doubt it, but it's possible and something to check for.
If the splines of the bolts do not fit tightly in the spindle support holes, it may just be that they were installed this way for retention for shipping purposes only.
The french locks are used only on the OUTER flange bolts. The inner u-joints, retained by caps/hex bolts (all big block and some C3 small block) or u-bolts (most small blocks), use no french locks, at all. The u-bolts use a nut and lockwasher. The caps use a hex head bolt and lockwasher. You can replace the lockwashers with Lock-Tite. The latter will lock the bolts far better than any lockwasher.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Joe,
It went together and it all fits and functions with out any fit/interference issues. I am able to obtain all the proper torque specs from both the spindle nut and the support bolts. I'm on the fence whether or not to take it apart and flip the splined bolts, of course the french locks and locktite are already on, sooooo-----I'm calling the tech dept to inquire about this and the fact that the backing plate was bent due to shipping. They were nice enough to put a tag on the spindle stating the proper castle nut torque, washer orientation and a cotter taped to that tag, but no mention the support bolt difference. Let ya know what they say. Thanks again for the info. DaveComment
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Dave-----
Yes, I'd be interested in what they have to say. However, if you were able to properly torque the nuts without the bolts rotating and if you've found no interference problems, then I'd say the set-up ought to work just fine no matter what they say.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Up date. I spoke with Mid Am's Tech dept wed. Terry, I believe was his name, said I was the about the 10 person to inquire about this issue in the past 2 weeks. He said they must have changed this procedure at the "reman" house. He said, "functionally there would be no difference". The only problem would be for a "flight" car, this would most likely be a point deduction. He was placing a call to the reman house to see what was going on. I asked if he would call me back regarding the answer to that. Stay tuned. Good news is I finished the job tonight and took it out for a test run!Comment
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Re: 68 Rear axle
Dave-----
I agree with the fellow you talked to; I don't see any functional problem as long as you are able to tighten the nuts to torque spec without the bolts turning and as long as there is no interference with rotating components on the inside end. It will be interesting to hear what the actual rebuilder says about this, though.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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