Rear Axle Questions

I am trying to get my car's rear suspension back together soon, but I am in the process of cleaning and detailing the rear chassis area. I decided I am going to pull the rear axle to clean and detail it as it is too had to do under the car. I am probably going the housing blasted and powdercoated. The sandblaster told me he can ensure that he won't get sand in the housing. Does anyone think this might be an issue?

What colour red is the third member on the 9" diff originally? I know it's an orange-red type colour.

My original brake lines are rust free. The right wheel line is attached to the rear of the housing with a little clip. Is there a way of disconnecting this? Here's a pic (this is not my diff).



Also, I am probably going to replace the axle bearings too. I am thinking this might be best to farm out to a machine shop?

Center housing is Red Oxide and yes, that clip is perfectly reuseable if you are careful.

The only issue I have heard on blasting with any kind of media is the painstaking process of making sure you get every grain of foreign substance out of it before reassembly. Bearings and seals HATE debris.

Hi Vince. I missed your email somehow.

Well, I got the axle degreased today and dropped it off for Sandblasting. They won't get to it until the end of next week. When they blast it, I will pull the assembly apart and leave the housing for powdercoat.

Anyone have any recommendations for brands for bearings and seals? I want something made in USA or Canada, NO offshore parts.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking too. Anyone know the part numbers off hand? Rock Auto only lists Centric bearings, and doesn't even list a axle seal.

Kinda off topic, but how hard was it to get that out?  I have new bushings and brake lines ready to go and I want to pull the axle and do the same thing - clean it up, paint, seals...

Dan the ranchero man wrote: Centric is made is the US.

Thanks Dan, but I still want the part numbers for Timkens if someone has that info. I will probably get the parts locally, but I find I often have to have my own part numbers to get the right parts. Dealing with 40+ year old cars is not common in the parts shops around here.

Edited by 72FordGTS - 10-May-2013 at 2:53PM

I ended up ordering Timken bearings, part number RW207CCRA if anyone needs it (for 1972). I had the axle sandblasted and it cleaned up nicely. I disassembled the axle afterwards and should have the housing powder coated next week. The original bearings still seem decent now that I have it apart, but I figure I should change them to be on the safe side since they have nearly 150K on them.

I also re-painted the differential red-oxide and cleaned up the other hardware today. The original axles were painted pink in the centre. Anyone know what paint to use to replicate this?

See the pic below:



Edited by 72FordGTS - 19-May-2013 at 3:07PM

No, just 28 spline unfortunately. The three holes is deceiving though.

Looking good, too bad most folks won't even see how nice it looks once it's installed.