1946 -1948 ford mercury rear suspension

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Does anyone know what the correct measurement between the two spring perch holes should be on these rear axles? My car is a 48 Mercury. In other words, the distance between the two mounting holes for the rear spring shackles. My car measures 47 1/2 inches, center to center. The arm on the passenger side looks as if it might be bent a little. Does anyone have a rear axle where they could check this measurement?

Thanks!

Bill in Conn.

[woodiewagon46]

It's hard to accurately get a true measurement but the measurement I get on my '46 looks like 48 and 3/8"/ 48 and 1/2", an inch difference is a lot. You should be able to eyeball it from side to side to see the bent part. Can you take a centerline from the housing to each shackle mount to verify the bent dimension?

[blucar]

I have a '46-'48 differential under the rear of my '36, it is a Columbia, however I don't think that makes that much difference.

You mentioned that a "bar on the right side appears to be bent". The bar you are talking about is the sway bar that the '47-48's had. The slight off-set is very correct.. I have attached a pix of the differential under my car which clearly shows the slight bend in the sway bar. I believe the purpose is to clear the tail pipe.

[woodiewagon46]

Pat, are you saying that the spring shackle mount on the rear ps is bent.

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My track bar is O.K. My concern is the perch that is part of the rear end housing that hols the rear spring. Thanks for the good input!

Bill

[Mart]

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Well, in the absence of anything else to go by, it ought to be a direct mirror image of the one on the other side. The spring shackle bush bores should be exactly at 90 degrees to the axle centre line.

Mart.

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Thanks everyone for your help. Heated up arm and straightened right rear spring perch. We're in good shape now!

Bill

[V8COOPMAN]

Dimensions from the old Street Rodder article.....hangars are 46-3/4" wide from '41-'48. DD

[woodiewagon46]

I can plainly see what the article states but I rechecked the spare '46 rear I have and it measures 48 and 1/2". Strange, it came out of a stock low milage car.

[rotorwrench]

That figure in the article looks to be about an inch off from reality. It shows the 1941 as being the same and I know for sure they are not. The 1941 was still a narrow rear axle and the later 42 thru 48 were not.

[edhd58]

According to the article my 42 has a 41 rear end, grease fitting and all.

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Thanks again. Really good input. Ford Barn folks are the best!

Bill in Conn.

[fortyonerag]

Originally Posted by edhd58

According to the article my 42 has a 41 rear end, grease fitting and all.

According to the article, my 41 has a 42 rear end! Wait a minute.......