MTFCA Forum

I generally don't recall my dreams, but this morning I woke up like I'd been poked with a cattle prod!
I had recently rebuilt my rear axle. Through all the various test fits setting thrust bearings and gear lash, while I had torqued down the pinion gear, I had left it unpinned intending to do it with final fitment. Generally, I'm always very anal with process (even as a kid building models, but I was also a network engineer with AT&T with plenty of time spent in Bell Labs development, writing process M&P's, teaching, etc, so, kind of ingrained). So there must be a reason why my mind kicked me upside the head this morning screaming "ya dummy!!!!"
Ugh....now I'm paranoid.... I can't imagine I failed to pin it, but neither can I now recall with certainty being suddenly clouded by doubt. I'm looking at it now not wanting to hoist it back up on the bench and completely undo/redo the whole thing.....but....neither do I want to live in fear of a broken/locked up axle, that would be the worst potential.
So....no choice but here we go again.....

If I find it is pinned, I'll be mad and will give my subconscious a serious piece of my mind!!!
Ugh....have I ever mentioned how much I hate my nightmares???

So, I'm not the only one wondering if I turned the fuel lever off on the sediment bowl, switched off the battery, set the parking brake, and locked the door to the garage. Saturday, on a different engine fresh rebuild, I put in a quart of oil, only to hear a familiar streaming-dripping noise.
In my humble opinion, your pinion has me beat.

Those thoughts usually come rushing into my head at 2:30AM. It's a magical time of night, when my subconscious mind decides to question everything I've ever done. Not going back to sleep after that.

the only thing I think about at 2:30 in the morning is: "did I lift the lid?"

I'm now realizing being anal with an evil minded paranoid subconscious does NOT make a good combination!
My ego of youth never allowed such doubt to ever disturb my beauty sleep.... this is new uncharted waters for me as I creep up in years....at the moment I'm discounting the side of me screaming "WARNING WILL ROBINSON!!"
...but....
I'll report on which side of my brain was being truthful when I crack the axle open....

I wonder if a bore scope could save you a lot of work.

When even your hairdresser doesn't know for sure....

Don’t worry about it!! I know a guy that has some 14 rear end parts. And he is not that far from you!!!!

Hey John, I actually thought of that, but neither am I aware of who/how/where I can access one. Thought of a plumber, but didn't think they'd be small enough....
Something to look into, or, maybe some of ya'll have suggestions....

Dan....
And who might that be???
I already bought one spare axle from you....
You wanting to sell me that Rux??

Hmmm...OK so I just looked.... $32-$80 either Wallyworld or China Harbor.....
Mama just shakes her head everytime I say I need a new tool!!!
I might just need that!!! Better than needlessly cracking the egg....

Kurt, you can get a Depstech bore scope for $70 online. I have one and it works great.

Mark Nunn wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:48 pm

Kurt, you can get a Depstech bore scope for $70 online. I have one and it works great.

I have the same one. Is a self contained unit.
There are cheaper versions that use your cell phone for the screen.
Paid for itself @ the first transmission fishing expedition.

Thanks ya'll!!!!!
Who doesn't love a new tool?

I might just end up loving my evil paranoid side!

Daisy ,
If you can find a scope that has a probe end small enough to fit through a piñon spool bolt or stud hole first try using the fill plug hole to get access to see piñon nut. If that doesn’t work you can try using the bolt hole it should place the scope head right above the piñon bolt nut for an easy look down to see yes or no on installation of split pin .

Great idea Kevin, here I've been thinking about having to bend/snake/contort thru the drain hole around the carrier, but that's a straight shot if it fits!!! Hadn't yet thought of that.
Now to get specs on camera head/snake diameter....

So...
The restriction would be the threaded portion of the housing for the spool stud, being the narrowest point.
The camera head diameter on the Depstech is 7.9mm....
I just mic'd several of the old spool stud nuts at ID 8.5mm tightest to 8.85 worn..... WOOT!!! We have a go for launch!!

I can't tell from your text if the assembly is back in the car. If not, just undo the front nuts on the radius rods and the 6 spool bolts and slide the driveshaft assembly forward.

Allan from down under.

I think we all have forgotten to put a piece or part in! When I put the engine together for my 21 Touring I was ready to put it in the car I got to thinking that I may or may not have installed the internal oil line that bolts on the mag coil ring mount to the front main. Sure enough I looked around the shop and there it was!! So another half tare down began dang it!! From then on I learned to double check when putting engines and etc together.
And I thought I did but not this time.

Allan wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 13, 2026 4:10 pm

I can't tell from your text if the assembly is back in the car. If not, just undo the front nuts on the radius rods and the 6 spool bolts and slide the driveshaft assembly forward.

Allan from down under.

Allan,
Still sitting in a cradle.
That would be my hope for easiest path if I have to check by pulling, or, to fix if need be.
But the housings once bolted down clamps the spool sleeve pretty tight. If I had to back off the housing bolts to release tension my fear would be it would be enough to break the gasket seal, where, if that was the path, my anal side would be screaming at me to pop & redo.....
Then again.... oil leak....on a T...Really?? so what.

One nightmare begets another unless you resolve the issue by inspecting the pin's presence. If find it was there you'll have a good laugh, If not you'll feel very relived that you did check. The longer you wait the more sleepless nights.

Scope is on order from Amazon....figure I can wait a few days before cracking the egg.

The halves should not clamp on the bearing spool, especially if you used a paper gasket beyween the halves. If it is tight relax the diff half bolts a turn or two. You cn use the back bolts on the radius rods to drive the housong forward.
Allan from down under.

When I get jolted awake @ night it might be from several reasons, in order of occurrence.
1) My 90lb dog has decided to use me as a pillow and I am being crushed under a heating blanket.
2) Time for a trip to the bathroom.
3) I got a cramp because I was sleeping in a weird position.
4) Something I forgot to do, need to do, something coming up I forgot about.
5) I figured out how to solve a problem, create a test to diagnose a problem, design something, generally something I was stuck on during the day.

There is a pad and pen near my pillow because remembering what I thought of doesn't always happen.
Remembering you had a great, or not great, thought but not remembering what it was is very frustrating.
Mike

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 13, 2026 12:08 pm

I wonder if a bore scope could save you a lot of work.

I was thinking the same thing. Go in through the fill plug down over the top of the carrier, should be able to see it.

Allan wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 14, 2026 6:37 pm

The halves should not clamp on the bearing spool, especially if you used a paper gasket beyween the halves. If it is tight relax the diff half bolts a turn or two. You cn use the back bolts on the radius rods to drive the housong forward.
Allan from down under.

Thanks Allan, I hadnt considered using the back bolts to draw forward.
This was my first T car axle I've rebuilt, my TT Worm being my only other T axle rebuild. When I tore down the axle, the torque tube would not release until I had taken all tension off the halves. I figured rust/corrosion etc. But with cleaned/new parts, and nothing apparent as to anything out of round, neither would the torque tube slip into the halves when bolted together (and yes, with paper gasket), I had to fit everything loose, and then torque down.
Being my first, I wasn't aware if that was normal or not, but, have known a lot of assemblies to be that way.