The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1946 2 Ton Rear Axle Flange/Lock Plates & Aluminum Gaskets

Doing brakes on the truck.

I removed the 8 bolts on left rear axle flange and a ring that was held in place on the end of the came off once all of the 8 bolts were off. Then I pulled the axle out.

On the inside of the axle flange there was an aluminum gasket. This gasket was cracked straight across on one side.

The parts man/grandson of the original owner in a store that is open since 1948 and specializes in getting old hard to find parts, said that I will not be able to get new aluminum gaskets for the axle ends and to use gasket paper.

He gave me the paper for free to make my own gaskets.

Will paper gaskets work?

Does anyone still sell those aluminum gaskets?

Now today I started to do the brakes on the right rear. Again I undid the 8 axle flange bolts and a metal ring/lock plate came off.

So I removed the right rear axle and I am cleaning off the axle when I noticed a second ring/lock plate was still stuck onto the outside of the right rear axle flange.

So why did the right side axle have 2 ring/lock plates on the outside of the axle flange and the left side only had 1?

Also the right side aluminum gasket has a partial crack starting on the outside edge. So I will have to make a paper gasket for that side as well.

Sum up will paper gaskets replace the aluminum gasket on the axles, and why does the right axle have 2 ring/lock plates and the left axle only had 1 ring/lock plate?

Manila file folders make great paper gaskets. Just found some thick gasket matl with white film(plastic) on one side, great gasket matl at NAPA.

Thanks for the reply. I have my dad's old set of tools to cut bolt holes in the gasket paper.

I was 16 and in the summer we went upstate NY with my godfather and I bought my first car. A 1935 Buick 40 Series Coupe. I remember my dad teaching me how to make gaskets. I made few that summer and since then.

Thing is I can't understand why the right rear wheel axle flange has 2 lock plates back to back and the left side has one.

What would happen if I did not use the second one when I put things back together again?

I was able to hand my old gaskets to my parts guy at Carquest and the brought my 4 new ones within an hour... 2 to use and 2 to loose!

I would imagine that a locking plate was accidentally left on and someone at some point didn't notice it and they added another one. Maybe things were removed and very greasy and the locking plate wasn't noticed. Also make sure the bolts are not to long. Maybe someone added a locking plate to accommodate a longer bolt(s) for one that was lost.

I'll see if I can locate those two new lost gaskets and get a number for you. They should always be replaced when you pull the axle.

When I am in the garage tomorrow I will check the bolt lengths from the right side to the left side. Though I think they are the same. Though the locking plate is only about 1/16" thick.

Do you think it will be ok to only use one lock plate on each side?

I would use only one locking plate on each side. That is how the factory designed it. I haven't found my spare gaskets yet, but will keep looking so I can't you the number.

The seals are terne plated (that's basically a lead alloy). Not sure why they decided to use lead instead of paper but they are quite easy to find. My guess is that they were concerned with rust??? Not sure why, I have bigger trucks and none of them used a metal seal on the axle shaft/hub.. silly GM and their crazy ideas.

I made new gaskets from gasket paper.

Also I made new gaskets for the front wheel bearing caps.

Well I replaced the wheel cylinders and master cylinder and new brake shoes on the rear.

So the rear axles are back on the truck with the two lock plates on the one side because that is the way I got the truck and with axle flange gaskets that I made.