Setting up gears in a split axle?

Captain Ledd · May 5, 2011

It's more of a curiosity question more than anything. Acquaintance of mine has an old truck with these things in them, and I've wondered just how the heck do you set up the gear set for them? I know it's probably something simple but for whatever reason despite hours of Googling, the answer eludes me. I think I might not be searching for the right terms.

Anybody know of a link that shows you how to set these up?

Explorin94 · May 6, 2011

That is basically the same setup as a newer chevy truck with the case splitting like that. The setup is no different than what it would for a normal rearend. The thing that sucks with that one is the pinion is in a different side of the axle as opposed to the ring gear. I would look to see if there is a gasket or just RTV sealing the axle and go from there. The gasket will act as a shim so to speak and that could be compensated with shims under the carrier bearings. Looks like alot of taking apart and putting back together to me. What is that under? Looks like an old duece and a half. Guess I should have asked that first.

Explorin94 · May 6, 2011

Scroll down a bit and look for the 1934 Dodge 1 1/2 military truck. The axle looks to be the same. But I can't find out what it is. Randy's ring and pinion doesn't even have it on their site.

http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/history_of_4x4.htm

Captain Ledd · May 6, 2011

Explorin94 said:
Scroll down a bit and look for the 1934 Dodge 1 1/2 military truck. The axle looks to be the same. But I can't find out what it is. Randy's ring and pinion doesn't even have it on their site.

http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/history_of_4x4.htm

The ford picture for Marmon-Herrington conversion also shows that type of axle.

I guess it would be a lot of taking part and putting back together. But I just can't fathom how you would know when you go the carrier shims correct? I mean when you bolt it back together whose to say the carrier bearings are tight, maybe a thousandth or two preload. Or you accidentally put in .010 or more extra shims and burn up the bearings. There's got to be a more scientific way than just guess work.

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot on these kind of axles at all, anywhere.

Explorin94 · May 6, 2011

The old dodges have the same front axles and with passenger side drops. The question I have is were the 4 wheel drives actually built? At the factory? Or were they sent out to another supplier and built there? That is definately a neat axle and I would like to hear the story and hisorty behind it. I don't think it would be that awful hard to set up...the case splits to where the pinion would stay and then you could set up the gear lash and then yoou would have the shim for the geared side already set. It can be done but like you said that would be alot of taking aprt and reassembly.

Captain Ledd · May 6, 2011

This isn't my axle. I don't have a picture of the one I saw, just Googled and found similar ones as an example. I don't even know the guy I saw it at, was with a friend of a friend sort of thing, only saw it in passing.

I almost would think there's a clocking ring like on a 9" 3rd member, only with really long adjuster fork thingy's.

Maybe there's a way to gage the distance between the carrier bearing surfaces before you do anything? clamp the case together without the carrier in it. Measure it and set up that little bit of preload and actually get it right. I can't see clay doing a good job. What could you use? Lead? (they are older axles)

It'd be impossible to get the 2 sides, in a mass production environment, let alone a 1930's/1940's environment to get the 2 sides less than .001" for every case that leaves the factory.

4x4junkie · May 6, 2011

Just a couple random guesses...

Maybe how they check the carrier preload is by the rotational torque being within a certain range with it assembled?

Or maybe a certain amount of gap clearance around the housing before the bolts are tightened (clamping it down to establish a preload)?

It is correct that '88up Chevy/GMC trucks use a similar housing design on the IFS front axle... Looking at setup procedures on those could possibly yield some answers (I wanna say the newer Tacomas and that FJ-thing went to a clamshell design too, but I can't recall for sure it was them).

Explorin94 · May 6, 2011

After further investigation and some more surfing that axle was in fact made by Marmon-Herrington. They are the ones who do make the front axle for the 88 and up chevy's.

4x4junkie · May 7, 2011

I thought it was American Axle Manufacturing (or is that the same Co., different name now? Probably goes back through a few name changes if so... MH was a lonnng time ago)

Edit, they do not seem to be related at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Axle_&_Manufacturing_Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmon-Herrington

AAM makes the Chevy axle.

Setting up gears in a split axle?

Captain Ledd

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Explorin94

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Explorin94

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Captain Ledd

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Explorin94

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Captain Ledd

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4x4junkie

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Explorin94

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4x4junkie

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