Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

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TorontoMD
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Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by TorontoMD » Sun Oct 18, 2020 8:02 am

Looking for a set of safety hubs for my project. I only know of a set that requires cutting the axle housing to shorten it. Is there a hub that i'd be able to just install?

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Mark Gregush
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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by Mark Gregush » Sun Oct 18, 2020 10:29 am

While you can buy the modern bearing replacement for the outer and inner bearings they are not safety hubs. You would have to cut the axle tube down in order to have enough room to mount the needed parts to install the safety hubs and flange plate the wheels mount to and keep the brake drums in correct place. While someone may have built their own, cutting that 1 inch with what is being sold, allows the wheels to stay at the same distance apart as stock.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by Original Smith » Sun Oct 18, 2020 11:12 am

Leave it stock. You will be better off!


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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by Dan McEachern » Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:38 am

As long as you never break an axle!

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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by dykker5502 » Mon Oct 19, 2020 5:48 am

Dan McEachern wrote:
Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:38 am
As long as you never break an axle!
Put modern axles in that they have better resistance towards fatigue.
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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by Allan » Mon Oct 19, 2020 6:19 am

The advantages of floating hubs are manifold. Almost ever truck and the heavy loads they carry ride on them. Fitting them to a T has advantages too, but the disadvantage is the necessity to modify the axle housing tubes.
The only way around this I can see is to find a suitable bearing which has an internal diameter equal to or somewhat larger than he axle tube. But then you would be getting in the way of the pitch circle of the wheel bolts to make a carrier for the external diameter of the bearing. Problems, problems, problems.
The present offerings do a most satisfactory job, and greatly add to the safety of a T, if you can live with the modified axle housings.

Allan from down under.


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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by TorontoMD » Mon Oct 19, 2020 7:58 am

I had assumed this was a common task but i'm getting the feel that not a lot of owners on here have them installed.

What are the odds of a newly manufactured axle breaking, especially in a speedster?

Are all the new axles the same? is there one source spread amongst the vendors?

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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by DanTreace » Mon Oct 19, 2020 9:03 am

Snyder's and Lang's offer the better new axle shafts, come in std. or 1/16" extra taper end ideal for worn hubs. These are made to Ford print, and fit well. These are 'GN' brand, by logo mark, and noted by the heat treat color surface of the unturned shaft. Korea made with quality steel.
New GN brand axle shafts.jpeg

Always the best choice to fit NEW axles, old Ford axles are years and years tired and questionable.


Even with 'floating hubs', axles can and do break :o
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IMG_1410 (552x600) (543x590) (542x589).jpg (177.51 KiB) Viewed 1953 times
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IMG_1507 (589x442).jpg (145.64 KiB) Viewed 1953 times
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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by Dan McEachern » Mon Oct 19, 2020 12:46 pm

Those are not true safety hubs as the spud should never have the ability to separate from the inner race of the bearing as shown in the picture above. Safety hubs require that he spud and the wheel/hub need to be removed from the housing as a single assembly.


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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by StanHowe » Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:13 pm

Is there suddenly some huge shortage of rear end housings??
I guess I fail to see the problem with cutting off an inch of a housing in order to install safety hubs.
I've probably got 40 or 50 sets of housings and a dozen complete rear ends if there is a shortage.

But then I'm not the absolute expert authority like some people.

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Re: Any rear floating hubs being made that don't require shortening the axle housing?

Post by RustyFords » Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:44 pm

StanHowe wrote:
Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:13 pm
.....But then I'm not the absolute expert authority like some people.
;)
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