32 rear spring hangers, what’s up here? Booger welds

[my4dv8]

These are the rear spring hangers on our 32 pickup , it looks like old stick welding and average at best. Surely this is not factory. The rest of the pickup seems fairly original and still matching numbers , its a quite early production 32.
Someone has converted it to juice brakes.

[FlatheadTed]

I could be wrong but I have seen this before , I have one here from sth America that someone has welded the spring hanger it looks the same ,it looks like they have tacked the HD backing plate at the same time .I would think its been over loaded and the spring action has cracked the forging this part is weak on a 32 to 34 spring compared to the 35 and on, if you plan on taking a heavy load a gusset could be welded in and redo the weld. Better still find some replacement axle housings .others may think differently. Ted .

[jimTN]

Looks to me like someone took a later rear end with hyd brakes and welded the 32 hangers on.

[woodiewagon46]

Well, the weld has held for some time now but I wouldn't trust it. It's one of those things that can last forever or break the next time you drive the car. If it breaks it won't be pretty.

[my4dv8]

Is it possible that the housings have been swapped side for side to make up for a worn bearing race?

[Brian]

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Is it possible that the housings have been swapped side for side to make up for a worn bearing race?

I think that if you pulled the hubs and examined the roller bearing surfaces on end of axle housings, you'd know the answer to that

[Mart]

I'm wondering if someone used model A housings turned 90 degrees to repair a 32 rear end.

Another possibility is that they were cut off so the axles could fit in a lathe to fit repair sleeves, and then welded back on after.

Probably both are unlikely but who knows what someone got up to 40, 50 or 60 years ago?

Mart.

Edit: Not Model A: The grease nipples are in the wrong position.

I don't think the 32 casings have been switched side to side either (and the housings welded back on the other sides), because the grease nipples would be on the top then.

I don't have a 32 axle to look at right now, are the nipples on the bottom?

(Yeah, I said nipples and bottom, yuk yuk).

Mart.

[Kahuna]

Looks scary to me. I wouldn't trust it at all

[my4dv8]

Yes thats why I asked for confirmation of my doubts of the booger looking welds not being factory.
No its not Model A tubes.
What is involved in changing the rear completely for a 35/36 rear that was in a 34 pickup with 3.54 gears and has a cured / ground spring, it will have 6 spline pinion and juice brakes . Of course the TT will be wrong in length and the 32 has the early round TT flange . The 32 is B4 powered (underpowered) but runs great for a banger.

[FlatheadTed]

I have never done what your asking, I think the cross member that locates the spring on 32/34 verses 35 will place your wheels in a different position but you may be able to cut the Torque tube to suit .There are Barners who may have done this who could better advice you.Ted

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Looks scary to me. I wouldn't trust it at all

At least it's in the rear so when it breaks you can maybe steer out of it. Certainly not ever factory.

Lot's of load on those particular welded parts. Some can not be so worrisome, but here more so because they look stick or mig welds on important points.

Maybe not. what do I know. Welds can be stronger then the metal they are from. Cast and spring metal excluded.

[Tinker]

Post more on your situation.

[my4dv8]

Thanks Tinker , what info do you need? The 32 is new to us last week so really have no history.

[Tim Ayers]

Seems like they are cut off and then replacements were re-welded back on to keep spring behind. Finding replacements should be easy enough to find.

[woodiewagon46]

You can weld a triangle shaped gusset from the perch to the housing to add some strength to it.

[rotorwrench]

Looking only at questionable axle end bells, I can't even tell if it is one of the 1932 type axles. Does this axle have the round pinion flange where the TT bolts on or is it the star shaped flange. I can't see the radius rod attachments either.

Any of the later banjo axles can be adapted but some are a lot easier than others. If you just want an original type replacement, I'm sure there are parts out there that can be had. The 1932 through 34 axle would be a bolt in more than likely unless you have the old round flange type that's similar to the Model A. The 35/36 axle has different bones but the TT could be shortened to make one fit. You would have to deal with the rear spring cross member though. The spring doesn't fit in there the same as the 35/36 rear cross member.

[my4dv8]

This is an early 32 apparently.
Will a 34 rear axle swap in , I dont know the ratio in this one . That’s why I asked about the 35/36 axle we have thats 3.54. Must get out to storage and check differences in the various rear axles and springs.

[Flatout]

I'd just shop for another rear end.

[revkev6]

not a fan of butt welds in suspensions like that... if it was me at the very least I would put a fish plate on it. at that point I wouldn't worry about it holding. unless the appearance bothers you. who knows why it was done. probably wore through the spring spring shackle bushing and egged out the holes bad enough they replaced the hangers. in order to do that they had to pull the brakes apart anyway... so they were 25% to doing a hydraulic swap anyway.

[19Fordy]

Looks like a horizontal crack is also there below the welded area.