MTFCA Forum

So I'm in process of setting up my rear axle.
The original thrust bearing washers ate thru the pins and subsequently dropped enough to chew into the diff carrier collar. Assembling the new means setting the washers with some grease to hold in place and keep the plates dropping off the pins. The goal, both for rebuild, as well as operation, is for those thrust plates to be stationary sandwiching the floating brass plate.
Both of which got me thinking...
Has anyone ever considered, or actually done, gluing the pinned plates with JB Weld?

Positives:
* makes assembly much easier considering the multiple times the halves must be fitted (but requiring temporary full set up in order to ensure as best alignment as possible to set up in place)
* keeps the plates in place and eliminates risk of coming off the pins and destroying the diff carrier or worse
* reduces sheer movement of the plates from eating the pins in the first place

Negatives:
* difficulty in properly setting and potential of introducing misaligned thrust plates
* inability to introduce shim plates
* nobody would want to face the prospect of rebuilding a glued up axle in the future
* lazy way out of properly taking time to set up the axle

So, pretty much have answered my own question relative to not being a good idea, but was curious whether anyone has ever done so, and if so, your reasons. I did various word searches on glued thrust plates and got nothing, but I can't possibly be the only one with such a hair brained idea!

Fire away! I know lots of opinions exist here! LOL

Not had an issue with loosing the thrust washers during assembly.
I assemble the axle housings in a vertical position using a pipe vise mounted sideways on a stand.
Real easy for a no drag side thrust & gear mesh determination.
Your reasoning for not gluing the thrust washers is sound.

You need some stickier grease.

Yup, that's what I'm following, Glenn's write up.

Has anyone ever considered, or actually done, gluing the pinned plates with JB Weld?

Have used JB Weld, not on the plates but once on a pin that fit a tad loose in a worn out hole, just a smear to lock the pin.

You have to throw away the bad parts and use good ones.

JB Weld is a good product. However, it has no place in a Model T rear end.

Just to answer a couple of your points...

keeps the plates in place and eliminates risk of coming off the pins and destroying the diff carrier or worse

That's impossible as long as the thrust plates have not disintegrated, which will not happen with bronze.

nobody would want to face the prospect of rebuilding a glued up axle in the future

That would not be an issue, since the JB would have long ago broken loose and crumbled into the rear end.

Adam wrote: ↑

Sat May 31, 2025 3:57 pm

You have to throw away the bad parts and use good ones.

My axle, while still miraculously working, was toast. The only things being reused in the rebuild are the axle halves and torque tube. Most all else are new parts:
Axles
Drive shaft
Drive shaft tapered roller bearing cartridge
DS bushing
Ring & pinion
Axle roller sleeves
Inner & outer seals
Thrust bearing & plates
Thrust plate pins
Brake cam bushings
Brake cams & arms
lined brake shoes
All new bolts/nuts
All new keys/rings

"New" good condition used parts:
Diff carrier
Spider assembly
Axle gears
Hyatt axle rollers

Been a slow process getting every thing cleaned up, fitted, verifying tolerances. I pulled in the brake cam bushings and set the cams today and building a cradle to set the housing upright on my bench. Tomorrow I'll be ready to begin fitting the internals and checking/setting clearances.
My mind wanders while doing stuff, ergo the odd thought...

@ Jerry
Well, not quite impossible...
Between my axle bearings being shot, and the fact that my diff carrier studs all worked loose (cottered, not wired) introducing a ton of slop in the carrier, one diff pin was eaten where the loose plate had deeply cut thru the diff collar.

But to your point, yes, impossible if tolerances remain in spec. Where my thought was thinking of mitigating against the future day of opened clearances such as I encountered.
But....once I'm done, at least I know it'll be good the rest of my life....so...like A.P. Newman, what, me worry?