The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1954 3100 torque tube? How to reinstall shaft into torque tube?

Having a problem getting the lock in spacer into position, it tends not to go far enough in to install the set bolts. Any ideas on how to get it in further.

thank you in advanced

If you are talking about the pinion bearing retainer, then the only way that works for me is to drop the front end of the torque tube as low as you can get it. Then a tap on the gussets on the housing usually will walk it into place. First make sure there are no burrs on the retainer.

we tried the way that you told us and there was no success. do you have any other suggestions. the pinion retainer does not slid up far enough to put the retaining bolts in.

thank you for the advice

Not sure if it would help but when I did mine on a 1953 I loosened the rear engine/motor mounts some and used a jack under the oil pan(with a block of wood) to get a little more free play.

Joe

that would not help because we have the tube out of the truck but thank you for the help.

back by the pinion gear the is a small hole that appears to be there to push the retainer forward but it does not go up far enough to push it forward.

we even applied a thin layer of grease and still does not slide far enough.

Wrench Fetcher
Not sure if this will help but I just installed the Patrick's 3.55 gear and pinion in my 48 truck last weekend. Followed the stovebolt tech tip which called for placing the Torque tube in a vertical position ( I strapped it to a 6' ladder with 5 gallon bucket and with board across it ) and insert the shaft with the pinion gear assembly into the tube from above.
Following the detailed instructions I was able to line up the three bolts that hold the bearing retainer in place.

where was the tech tip and detailed instructions under because that might help us install the retainer and set bolts.

thank you

Menu at the top of this page: select Tech Tips

Select: Axles

There are two 3.55 Tech Tips - both are quite helpful

we looked at the tech tip and the 1/2-Ton Truck 3:55 Ring and Pinion Installation will show what we are having problems with we can get the assembly into the tube. under assembly the picture shows the more inner bearing and under that the retainer to keep to lock in assembly but we can not get it to drop far enough to install set bolts both of the bearings are in the proper location there are no edges or imperfections to stop it from sliding we even like stated before applied a thin layer of grease and still no success. any thoughts?

thank you

Wrench fetcher,
Does your assembly set up allow for the spline on the front of the drive shaft to come through past the end of the torque tube?

it does go out past the end of the tube.

Looking at this picture do you have the pinion parts correctly assembled.
1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual
Might have something to do with shims. number 16

we tried to install it with out the shims to see if it would go far enough and still does not go in far enough to put the retainer bolts in for the retainer on the pinion shaft. both bearings are in but the retainer will not slide far enough forward to put the bolts in to hold it.

thank you

What is width of the front bearing?

not sure will check tomorrow.

If the lock bolts were over tightened at one time the retainer may be distorted so it will not slide freely into the housing.

We will measure the bearing today and we are pretty sure it is the factory bearing and it may be possible that it was over tightened at one point. We will come back with the measurement when we get it.

Thank you

we measured both the inner and outer bearing the inner measures 1 1/4 in inches and the outer measures 3/4 in inches. we are going to try to remove the thin layer of grease that we applied and try sliding it in far enough to put the bolts in. we will keep you guys posted and any word of advice is appreciated for it might help us get the retainer back in.

thank you

we solved the retainer problem. we replaced the thin layer of grease with a thin layer of 90w oil. we then drilled a hole big enough to fit the shaft into a 2x4. we then stood the whole assembly on the 2x4 and with a few light taps with a punch the retainer slid into place. thank you guys for your word of advice.