Ideas Anyone?
 

This axle is out of a post-war civvie jeep - essentially the same axle as an M-38. It had been hard used and Bubba'd into a plough. Rear diff posi-tracked with brass, front axle gutted of internals (but the drive shaft still in place...)

Why would someone put the flange on the outside of the drum?

Attachment 63707 Attachment 63708

jeep axle
 

So are the wheel studs passing through the drum then into the flange??

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Yep.......

Backspacing issue with whatever rims he was using? Maybe instead of making spacers for the rims to go over the studs he put the flange in front of the drums to create the space required. I suppose a fair amount of strength would be sacrificed on the axles as the engagement into the differential would be less. Best BS I can think of at the moment. :p

I have noted that on CJs of the same model year as the M38, the drums are on the inside of the flange, and held fast by the pressed in studs.

To simply move an outer drum to an inner position would result in the drum binding on the back plate.

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Could be so Rob - likewise the drums would stay concentric with pins to help....I'll probably have to wreck them to get them off as the flanges just won't give up...

Absolutely correct, Rob.
 

[QUOTE=rob love;192274]I have noted that on CJs of the same model year as the M38, the drums are on the inside of the flange, and held fast by the pressed in studs.

[QUOTE=charlie fitton;192867]
A three word sentence my wife has never uttered ......