[Fot] Southwick Conversion axle float

[vfracing at aol.com]

Henry;
Before you tear your axles out, check to make sure that the bearing housing has been bored too deep.  Mine were.  Some guys have reported that their axle housing bores are the proper depth and that the bearing sits flush with the brake-side surface of the backing plate, yielding no end float.
Also, I found out that the “C” shape retainers from Southwick are a universal fit for “Large” and “ Small” Ford rear ends.  That is why the holes are elongated. Southwick uses the “Small” Ford bolt pattern, and the Small retainer that fits it overlaps with the bearing a lot. I ordered some Small retainers from the Bronco Graveyard in SE Michigan. Easier than making my own.
Regard,
Phil


-----Original Message-----
From: Henry A. Morrison <dos_gusanos at msn.com>
To: Philip Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>; Philip Gott <vfracing at aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Feb 18, 2023 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [Fot] Southwick Conversion axle float

#yiv4238488203 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Great, another project!  Thanks for the info.............
Henry MorrisonFrom: Fot <fot-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Philip Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2023 2:27 PM
To: Philip Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Fot] Southwick Conversion axle float Thank you for the advice.
I made a shim out of a bronze thrust washer purchased from McMaster Car (part number 5906K528). It fits over the 2” OD  bearing retainer shrunk on the shaft, although i opened it up about .040 to give some clearance. The OD of the thrust washer needs to be turned down a bit to fit inside the axle housing. It is just about the same thickness or .002” thicker than the backing plate, so the bearing will be captive and have no end play.  As some of you advised, this will go inside the bearing housing rather than inside the backing plate.
See you at Road America!!!
Phil


from my iPhone

> On Feb 12, 2023, at 8:01 PM, Philip Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> Starting to reassemble my rear axle after a successful install of a new ring and pinion (thanks the help and advice on that one, FOT). When putting in the axle shafts I noticed an indentation on the axle bearing retainer from the bearing slamming sideways into it. Southwick machined the bearing housing ends the full width of the bearing. Because the backing plate fits over the bearing, there is nothing to keep the bearing all the way in the bearing housing, and it shifts side to side in the void left between the retainer and the backing plate. 
> One solution would be to find some steel wire the same thickness as the backing plate and form it into ring inside the hole in the backing plate.
> Does anyone have any other solutions or recommendations?
> Phil Gott
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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