Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: Air Grabbler]
#3140545
04/25/23 02:45 AM
04/25/23 02:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,174 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,174
Bend,OR USA
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Last edited by Cab_Burge; 04/25/23 02:49 AM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#3140555
04/25/23 07:01 AM
04/25/23 07:01 AM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 14 WA
Air Grabbler
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OP
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WA
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Topside: 10-4, I figured the housing had to be straight as possible.
Cab, are you saying apply heat 1-3" away from the center casting? I was applying heat in the center of the tube (half way between the center casting and the bearing end. I have a Mark Williams narrowing fixture I'm using to check straightness. It is a 2.5" precision ground bar with three steel bushings. Two bushings locate in the carrier bearing saddles and the other slides into the axle bearing housing.
Last edited by Air Grabbler; 04/25/23 07:40 AM.
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: dvw]
#3140611
04/25/23 12:10 PM
04/25/23 12:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,796 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
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Posts: 25,796
Rio Linda, CA
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I However the Dana tube is much thicker. I'll bet it would take a ton of heat. Yep, that's the trick...more heat on a larger area close to the center before quenching. You want the housing as close to dead straight as possible or you can have premature axle bearing and spline wear.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: Air Grabbler]
#3140681
04/25/23 05:07 PM
04/25/23 05:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,714 North Dakota
6PakBee
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I Live Here
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North Dakota
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Two rules when straightening with a torch.
1) Heat where the bend is. 2) Heat on the long side of the bend. The bend should get worse with heat and when quenched will move to get better.
Our mechanics straightened 10" vertical pump shafts with a torch and a rag in a water bucket.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: 6PakBee]
#3140699
04/25/23 06:18 PM
04/25/23 06:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 14 WA
Air Grabbler
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6pakbee, I did it exactly like that. I clearly wasn't able to get enough heat in the tube with my large rosebud to move the tube. It didn't budge during heating or quenching. I made six attempts with zero results. I could only get a 2-3" area of the tube to a very dull red color.
Last edited by Air Grabbler; 04/25/23 08:47 PM.
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: Air Grabbler]
#3140728
04/25/23 08:11 PM
04/25/23 08:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,714 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 10,714
North Dakota
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6pakbee, I did it exactly like that. I clearly wasn't able to get enough heat in the tube with my large rosebud to move the tube. It didn't budge during heating or quenching. I made six attempts with zero results. I could only get a 2-3" area of the tube to a very dull red color. Then you have done all you can do with what you have using that technique.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: MO_PA]
#3141800
05/01/23 04:55 PM
05/01/23 04:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 39 Minnesota
VcodeR/T
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Posts: 39
Minnesota
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We straighten axle housings in-house. A large press, line bar and holding fixture is what we use. They are all done cold. Here's a couple pic's of before and after. Good luck on your project!
Last edited by VcodeR/T; 05/01/23 06:08 PM.
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: VcodeR/T]
#3142010
05/02/23 01:50 PM
05/02/23 01:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405
north of coder
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We straighten axle housings in-house. A large press, line bar and holding fixture is what we use. They are all done cold. Here's a couple pic's of before and after. Good luck on your project! that's how i have done it. also use that method when narrowing the rear housing. i use two support slugs for the bar at the differential bearing locations as well, so everything is in the proper location. doing it this way insures axles will slide in without effort. one would be surprised just how off a factory axle housing can be at the ends, and still function just fine.......
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: justinp61]
#3143644
05/10/23 01:20 PM
05/10/23 01:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,490 Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,490
Minnesota
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I was able to make progress with an I beam, bottle jack, and a chain.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: Straightening a bent axle housing
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#3143664
05/10/23 02:08 PM
05/10/23 02:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
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"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,405
north of coder
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i have done that before as well, when a shop press wasn't available. still used the solid bar and alignment pucks for the ends, with bearing bucks bolted to the differential where the bar passes through. it still amazes me just how far off an original, unmolested housing can be as far as outer bearing ends are in alignment, and still have very long bearing life.
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