Joined: Oct 2017 Posts: 1,549 Threads: 56
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Fitting an axle in our saloons I sit on the floor with my feet facing forward and lift the axle onto onto my legs with the diff over my crutch and the torque tube front end supported by my feet I then shuffle it under the car using my feet to lift the torque tube into place followed by lifting the axle onto the springs when some 3/8" rods are used to hold it there. Wriggle out and have a brew.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 3,430 Threads: 107
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Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
04-01-2025, 05:37 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-01-2025, 10:58 AM by Chris KC.)
It's easier if you place something smooth under the back of the car so you can slide the axle around without taking all the paint off. I've used an old tarpaulin before to drag it into position.
Once the front end of the torque tube is hooked over the rear cross member, lift under the diff housing with a trolley jack to align the spring pin holes with the springs. Keep a couple of screwdrivers at hand to pop through the spring pin holes and keep it in position.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,129 Threads: 111
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Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi
I use a furniture mover (a small board mounted on four castors). Put the banjo of the axle on this and you can manoeuvre the torque tube bracket over crossmember. I then jack up one side of the axle until it is level with the spring and manhandle the other side until I can get the spring pin in.
Remember to get the car as high as you can before you start and you may need to jack under the spring eye to get the pin in.
Cheers
Howard
Joined: Feb 2021 Posts: 293 Threads: 31
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Location: New Zealand
Car type: Austin 7 Ruby 1938
I would love to see a video of Dave Mann installing a rear axle using his bum-shuffle method.
I like the carpet in Oliver's workshop. Very classy. It would make Dave Mann's shuffle a little more comfortable.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 941 Threads: 22
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Location: Near Cambridge, UK
Car type: 1928 tourer (mag type), short chassis Gould Ulster
The diff over his crutch worries me: he might drop it in the wrong place!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,206 Threads: 71
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My recent experience was that it pays to have another pair of hands! I was under the car, pulling on the pinion shaft and negotiating the cross member etc whilst a pal was to the rear, man handling the diff etc. I see no benefit in trying to do it on your own if you don't have to!
Joined: Oct 2017 Posts: 1,549 Threads: 56
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Works well putting the axle in single handed, and yes I have a nice piece of carpet to bum shuffle on.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 46 Threads: 19
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Now the axle is back in place. Not an easy job, as at least on my ulster there is almost no space between the chassis and the floor. So I had to remove the torque tube mounting plates and the break lever to finally bring the whole unit into a place where I could move it around the rear spings.
But very happy to have it done!
