Torque Tube Lubrication

[mgm60]

Reassembling my torque tube as part of a Columbia 2 Speed upgrade on my 1936 Roadster. When I disassembled, at the front of the torque tube where the speedo gear and roller bearing sit, as you can see in the picture, the lubrication appears to be a grease, but there is no grease fitting for this area. Advise from my local expert is the gear and bearing need 90W gear oil, same as the Columbia and transmission. So do I just coat the gear and bearing with 90W and fill up this cavity before putting the speedo cover back on? Doesn't appear to be anyway for lubrication to get this area any other way as there is a seal behind the bearing and another of the back of the clamshell.

[19Fordy]

Could you just remove the speedo gear cover and inject some grease? One fill up will probably last a lifetime. I also drilled holes for another zerk fitting on the top of the clam shell.

[mgm60]

19Fordy,
So it looks like you used Corn Head grease in this space and not gear oil.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Could you just remove the speedo gear cover and inject some grease? One fill up will probably last a lifetime. I also drilled holes for another zerk fitting on the top of the clam shell.

[highbeams]

Some years torque tube, some not. I understand that the torque tube was installed at Ford for better stability regarding the rear axle being one piece with the bolted connection to the transmission. Am I correct?

My father's '50 sedan obviously did not have a torque tube because the driveline dropped on the street in town while at a stoplight!

Thank you for reading -

[fordv8j]

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Our 38 dlx coupe has a grease fitting for front bearing; our 38 conv. don't

[19Fordy]

HIGHBEAMS: This video explains the operating principle of a torque tube.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...56F0&FORM=VIRE

[highbeams]

Do you think any owner ever thought of this!

Possibly an owner that relied on the local dealer for continual updating on the car; = few and far between.

Typical mechanics wouldn't have a thought about it, as well as do-it-yourselfers.

[highbeams]

Thank you. As I posted, for stability. Out of every owner's thoughts; to wit, why waste a thought on it if Ford swaps them on and off one year here, a few years in a row there . . . . It can't be too important.

Has any one of us ever heard of anyone mention. by gol; I gotta get that lubed . . .

******

[19Fordy]

highbeams: You are confusing me.

[FlatheadTed]

It was there from the days of the Model T development . I think Henry thought it was a GM idea to have two springs he wanted to be a ineravater not a follower .Yes you could fill it through the speedo it takes a pint ,CV joint grease is a opsion ,

[highbeams]

Okay. The torque tube was used until '49. It helped stabilize the rear end to the rest of the car up to the transmission, and stabilized the driveline with a bearing and bearing sleeve. Upon purchase of my '36 half-ton, the driveline bearing began screeching like a banchee. My neighbor and I couldn't imagin where that screeching was located. Obviously not the trans, not the rear end. RIGHT BEHIND THE SEAT!

Unbolted the tube at the trans and pulled the entire rear-end back, into the sunlight.
We 'discovered the bearing, and bearing sleeve in the tube, securing the driveline, and the grease seal, just as in the video.

The bearing was dry as a bone. To the hardware store. It's a standard bearing . . . much to our pleasant surprise!

Another one of Ford's better ideas . . . . no grease fitting in the tube to at least drop a plug of grease on the bearing. So a grease fitting was drilled, tapped and threaded in.

I posted this once here because I hadn't ever read anything about it, and wanted to inform readers, this could happen to you! Never received a reply 'from any direction'. It should be back in the previous posts.

Thank you. I apologize 'bout the wrong comment regarding Ford installation of torque tubes '32-'48 last year. (My father's '50 driveline dropped on the street; gave me the idea that torque tubes were Ford-installed on and off through the years.)

Thank you!

[Terry,OH]

Columbia takes 140 gear lube. I use several ounces of 0-0 grease in the U-joint cavity.

[mgm60]

Thanks for the clarification Highbeams and to others for your replies. Sounds like grease is what most folks put on the bearing and speedo gear. I found an online article on Model A rearend rebuild and it called for grease as well.
Happy April Fools Day.

[David J]

I use 4oz of SAE 140 in my 33-34 cars.