C1-58 Axle Housing

[Bill B.]

Recently completed some minor frame repairs and getting ready to take for sandblasting. Got to looking at my axle housing assembly (breaking it down too)and wondering about rubber bumper assemblies welded to top side of axle housing which would place them just inside the leaf u-bolts. Familiar with the 1958 upper bumpers on the underside frame arch but are these correct on the housing? My case was cast numbered and date correct for nonposi unit. Additionally, they look weird as they are not very well aligned with each other (one canted vertically more than the other) and they are both welded in the same orientation respective to their brackets (ie, seems one of them would have been rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal direction and then welded).

[Al C.]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

I've never heard of axle-welded bumpers on a '58; were not present on either of mine.
... Al '58 #378

[Bill B.]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

Car is seq #7430 which is pretty late but I have to believe these "rubber bumper things" don't belong. Wouldn't be the first thing that I have found goofy on the car. I just want to make sure before I get my grinder out and wack'm off--I love that grinder! Would just hate to be wrong because I bet I would have a hard time replacing them if I had to back track? Wish I had picture but they look similiar in shape and size to the frame bumpers and have about a 3-4 metal saddle that is welded on top of housing. Rubber is offset on the saddle about 1/2 inch on one side and maybe an inch on the other. This is the orientaton I referred to above. Both of them are put on in the identically same direction on the housing. Surely they are just plain wrong-----aren't they?

[Steve D.]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

I have the body off my '58 and see no indication that a bumper bracket was ever welded to the axle housing. It is an early '58 however

Steve

[Robert Willis]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

1955 through 57 Chevy Passenger Cars had a axle bumper like that. I kinda thought they were just clamped on by the edges under the U bolts. Maybe someone has changed the angle of the spring perch and put a Passenger housing under your car ? The 55s and 56s didn't have a drain plug in the centre to drain the rear while the 57s did. Then again maybe someone just added the passenger bumpers to your housing. Bob

http://members.kos.net/willisb/

[Bill B.]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

Two to one--You guys win. Really cannot believe time of year matters on production and bet I have the only car with these things on it. VROOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Hey, I think my grinders running--see ya later and thanks very much.

[Bill B.]

Re: C1-58 Axle Housing

Consider this thread closed. While speaking with Dale Pearman on another matter, he confirms that these axle housing bumpers are not "factory" installed. Thanks to all for input.