MTFCA Forum

I’ve done all of the rebuilding work on my rear end with the housings set vertically into a notched slab of hickory that’s attached to my workbench. All of it has gone very well. Now it’s time for final assembly of the rear, torque tube and rods.

Here is my concern. I’m a scrawny old guy with two bum shoulders. Before doing teardown I managed to wrestle the rear assembly (without torque tube) into my fixture using a floor jack for extra lifting power and control. It was a mighty struggle. I’m afraid that if I do final assembly with the rear vertical, as the books show, I won’t be able to lift it out safely. One contributing problem is that my bench is 38” high plus the 1”-thick hickory on top. That is about 6”-10” higher than necessary but it’s what I have to work with.

Are there any concerns about using jack stands and assembling with the components horizontal? I have room behind my car to do that. At the moment I have the left housing and axle/diff assembled. I should be able to move that assembly to jack stands. I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject.

No issues doing it that way. Actually easier to fit the radius rods as threaded ends go first into the tube , with nuts backed off to fit the yokes.

But assembly of the right hand axle housing will take care to keep thrusts and steel washers from falling with gravity, adding grease to surface can help. Just be cautious if the axle housings don’t meet as a washer or thrust could be out of place. Don’t tighten all the pumpkin bolts until you fit the pinion end of the torque tube with radius rods.

After bolting the axle housings together, I lay the assembly down on two jack stands and bolt on the radius rods and then the drive shaft assembly. It's much easier this way than doing it with the rear axle vertical. Just make sure you are holding the flange that holds the drive shaft in the transmission up around the ball when you attach the drive shaft assembly otherwise you'll have to take it back off again. I've done that a couple of times.

Stephen

Here's how I did it:

Being slightly "vertically challenged", here's my test assembly station - old steel milk bottle crate, some tubing and an adjustable collar for height to hold the torque tube. I use this for setting the r. & p. then after removing the d.s., assemble the other half on this set-up, remove by engine hoist or similar assisting device & set onto jack stands, re-assemble radius rods & torque tube/d.s. & set on to a rear axle dollie w/wheels to roll back under the T.

A good friend to persons of the elderly persuasion who lack the muscle we once had is the hydraulic lift. It's not just for engine removal. I bought mine at auction for about half of retail, but even at full price I'd consider it money well spent.

I did two of them this winter on my lift.

Thank you for the replies. I had considered using a hoist I made to go on the back of my tractor to lift the rear assembly and lay it down. I dismissed that idea since the tractor doesn't have the finesse that is required. I will assemble on jack stands.