The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Rear Axle Taper

Synchro909 · 10-02-2020, 04:22 PM

I was taught that the drive is provided by the taper and that the key is only to hold thigs while they are tightened or to ensure alignment if orientation was important, which it is not with the axle.
I have just replaced an axle and hub on a car that the previous owner didn't keep the nuts tight. Both axle and hub were badly galled. I am absolutely certain that if I reassembled the old hub and axle, even with a good key, it would fail very quickly. I've also seen axles where he drive side of the keyway is broken out. That only happened because the drive was not being done by the key, not the taper.
I generally respect Bob's posts but on this, I'm afraid I have to respectfully differ.

10-02-2020, 04:22 PM	#12
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Rear Axle Taper - What It Does I was taught that the drive is provided by the taper and that the key is only to hold thigs while they are tightened or to ensure alignment if orientation was important, which it is not with the axle. I have just replaced an axle and hub on a car that the previous owner didn't keep the nuts tight. Both axle and hub were badly galled. I am absolutely certain that if I reassembled the old hub and axle, even with a good key, it would fail very quickly. I've also seen axles where he drive side of the keyway is broken out. That only happened because the drive was not being done by the key, not the taper. I generally respect Bob's posts but on this, I'm afraid I have to respectfully differ. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.