bent front axle?

[art ebeling]

When looking straight at the front axle should it be straight or bowed towards the front. I noticed while sandbalsting that mine has a bow toward the front. I knew the draglink was bent forward but the tie rod is straight so I thought the axle was OK until looking at it from straight above today. Thanks, Art

[Lawson Cox]

Sounds like someone towed it using the axle. A definite NO NO.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by art ebeling

When looking straight at the front axle should it be straight or bowed towards the front. I noticed while sandbalsting that mine has a bow toward the front. I knew the draglink was bent forward but the tie rod is straight so I thought the axle was OK until looking at it from straight above today. Thanks, Art

The I-beam axles should all be straight-arrow when viewed from the top. Many get bent like that when someone ties a chain or rope to the MIDDLE of the axle to tow the vehicle. They were not designed to handle that load from that direction. They bend easily!

Click on the link BELOW for a recent thread on a bent axle. They can be straightened, as pics indicate.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=bent+axle

Coop

[Tim Ayers]

Art,

Here is a quick test you can do. Flip the axle over so the "smile" is now a "frown". Try to rest it on a flat surface on it's king pin bosses. If the axle is straight and not twisted, it will not fall over.

If either condition is present, the axle will fall over.

That's a quick and dirty test I use when looking at parts in the field.

Good news is, like Coop showed, axles can be straightened fairly easily with the right press.

[tubman]

If you don't believe Ford axles are ductile, check this out :

[Tinker]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Well it's not like it's crucial to the front end.

The twisted axles are a ford advertisement.

I'll throw this name out there. Probably has a couple stock axles around too. Worth a try.

https://droppedaxles.com/

[danliveshere]

I had a bent axle in my convertible sedan , but was bent backwards. Looks like someone hit a tree stump or something like that. It can be straightened no worries and be a good axle to get professionally dropped.

[Krylon32]

I was always told Ford axles were forged steel not ductile as tubman suggests. I don't believe a ductile iron axle would twist like the picture?

[Mart]

Ductile (or rather ductility) is a property and can be applied to describe a forged axle as suggested. There is a type of iron known as ductile iron but we know ford axles were not made of ductile iron.

Other aftermarket parts may be ductile iron, I don't know, but not ford axles.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Mart

Ductile (or rather ductility) is a property and can be applied to describe a forged axle as suggested. There is a type of iron known as ductile iron but we know ford axles were not made of ductile iron.

Other aftermarket parts may be ductile iron, I don't know, but not ford axles.

I've read more than once over the years that MANGANESE was used in there somewhere...................................JUST WHAT I READ, guys. EONS AGO!!!!!

Coop

.

[cmbrucew]

Touch one with a grinder the color of the sparks will indicate what's in it.


Bruce

[Fordors]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

I've read more than once over the years that MANGANESE was used in there somewhere...................................JUST WHAT I READ, guys. EONS AGO!!!!!

Coop

.

Yes, manganese was used but an engineer by the name of Childe Harold Wills introduced Henry Ford to chrome vanadium back in the Model T era. Vanadium
enhanced the physical properties of steel and made for a superior product.