How To: Restoration of Ford M8 armoured car US Ordnance number 7373

[Big D]

More photos.

[David Herbert]

There is no reason that the torque rod end must be removed from the axle as long as the rubber is still servicable and the thread is clean and undamaged. You could assemble the rest of the torque rod onto that end before offering up the axle with torque rod to the vehicle. It might even make manipulating the axle a little easier as it will give you a bit of a handle. Do grease the threads before assembly or they will never come apart again !

Hope your hand mends quickly, you will be amazed at how much strength you loose by not using it and it is very easy to strain muscles and tendons when you do start to do propper work again so you need to go easy for the first month that you think it is fit again. I know from when I chopped the end off a finger a long time ago. They stuck it back on but I was a long time before I had all my strength back and I felt it in my whole upper body as I had not been able to do anything heavy at all. I was very lucky because although it is a slightly odd shape it is fully functional and even has most of its feeling.

David

[Andrew Rowe]

Hi Big D, the preload on the side carrier bearings is achieved by the thickness of the gaskets, It is easier to set this up without the pinion installed. We laser cut 2 or 3 thicknesses of gasket paper for this process when doing Bren Carrier diffs. The local engraving shop could achieve this for us. Cheers ANDREW.

[Big D]

Hi David

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I wasn't sure if the torque rod would fit in the space available without having the ends already screwed onto it. I guess I will find out.

I had Carpal Tunnel surgery on the hand and I didn't think it was a big deal but the surgeon said that it can take 12 weeks or more to come right and not to push it. Your experience with hand surgery confirms for me that I will need to take it easy.

[Big D]

Hi Andrew

Thanks for your reply. I figured the gasket thickness must have come into it and I wondered why it wasn't mentioned in the manual.

The laser cutting of the gaskets is a good idea, thanks. I will get a pattern drawn and get that off to someone who can cut a few out before I get it all off to the mechanic. That might save a few dollars.

[Lynn Eades]

It is probably not mentioned in the manual, because there will only be one thickness of gasket supplied. The Ford axles have a ).010" gasket.
If every thing is in order, then straight forward assembly of new side bearing cups into the two housings with new cones assembled to the carrier and the whole lot bolted together is "supposed" to give you the correct side bearing preload. If you follow through on the parts info. I think you will find a single gasket is supplied , one part number, no other options, and as with Ford, a little hard to find the info on how thick it is.
If you follow Andrews method it is a good double check.
You can "jerry rig" a set up to do your pinion preload. Give me a call if you want to, and I'll talk you through it.

[Big D]

Hi Lynn

Thanks for your reply. I can recall you and I talking about gaskets when you and I were looking at the axles when you were down here. I will check the manual out a bit further to see if it mentions gasket thickness. I think I read about your preload check method and I may yet give you a call!