1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

I acquired a NOS 1940 Ford I-beam axle. Before I install into the wishbone, is there a front or back to the axle?
The kingpin lock bolts fit front or back exactly the same.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

My understanding is that there is no back or front side.

Mart.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

No front or back to the axle.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Even though there are a few hold-outs that refuse to believe this (because they find difficulty installing the king pin LOCKING PINS), as Mart and rich b said above...there is NO front or rear side. The axles are symmetrical! DD

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

I suggest there is a front and rear .any stamping information or embossed lettering that is found on the boss of the axle close to the one end ,the axle should be placed with the embossed lettering to the right front.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

That may be true if one is attempting to duplicate original factor installation, but functionally it doesn't matter.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Actually, there is a front and back. Once you get the axle installed, get down low, directly in front of the car and look at the axle. The side you can see from that angle is the front.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

The definitive answer. :)

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

That’s a sense of humor I can relate too!!!!!.... Mark

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

johnny.......Could you possibly post a picture of said stamping or embossing on a '37-'41 Ford axle? I'm specifically NOT referring to a "heavy" 1932 axle. DD

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

I agree.all that there is no difference with a new axle ,however from factory I suggest that the axle was installed with the Ford stamp and part #,facing the front [right side] Where one should be careful is when restoring a car,taking the front end apart: one could install the axle reversed as it is quite likely that some time in the cars life an attempt was made to bend the axle ends to correct an alignment problem putting it in reversed would create a bad steering condition.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

The chances of that happening are slim to none.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Bit like the old story about how to tell the back of a tree from the front.
Look where someone's taken a dump.
That's the back.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Difficulty in fitting the kingpin cotter pins in is probably real. It happened to me. I rebuilt the front end on my 41 pickup and reversed the axle when putting it back together. One cotter pin went in slightly tight, but hammered home nicely. the other did not want to go in. I ran a 9/16" drill through the hole to remove any burrs or corrosion etc. and the pin went in fine. I should have done that first on the first hole.

So saying the cotters don't want to go in if it is the "wrong" way round is probably true, but it is only because the pins were previously in the other way around and have raised a burr or some other slight imperfection.

Mart.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Thank you everyone for the quick responses and the information.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

That is the first time I have ever heard the spindle bolt locking pin referred to as a cotter pin. Is that the English term Mart?

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Guess it must be. When I was a kid the similar setup holding the pedal cranks on our bikes was called a cotter pin.

Mart.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Thanks Mart, it is interesting the different terms that are used in different areas for automotive parts and tools. This is what I have always referred to as a cotter pin.

Re: 1940 Ford front I-beam axle
 

Yep, looks like a common British term.