The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Torque Tube Bushing Tolerance

Hello All,
I have a question about the tolerance for movement of the driveshaft in the torque tube. I have read that ANY movement in not tolerable. Is this verified or just vendors trying to sell Okie bushing? Is there any other test, such as filling the rear end, then lowering the front of the torque tube to see if rear end oil leaks? If so, what is acceptable?
Thanks,
Nico

What year is your Truck?
1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual Inspection, Propeller Shaft Bushing
Clearance between propeller shaft and bushings should not exceed .010",
GM Film Strip Slide (Courtesy Brad Allen}
Torque Tube Bushings photo album

Thank you!!! My truck is a 54, and that is precisely what I was looking for.

Ok, well, um, it appears that the PO must have removed some of these internals. When I went to check the clearance, all I found was a thin metal sleeve loose inside the end of the tube- looks to be about 2" long and was just about a press fit with the end of the tube. After removing it, I measured about 6 inches from the end of the tube until I touch whatever remains inside. Is it a safe assumption that the front bearing has been removed and that I can simply press in an Okie and be good?
Thanks guys!

Sounds like the front press fit bushing was spinning inside the torque tube.
The rear yoke rides on the front bushing.
The propeller shaft rides on the rear bushing.Ilustration

Q. Is it a safe assumption that the front bearing has been removed and that I can simply press in an Okie and be good?
A.The front bearing is really called the front bushing.
You can simply press in an Okie bushing, but you might have to dowel pin it to keep it from spinning.
If it isn't sufficiently snug.
Because the front bushing was spinning, it might have enlarged the inside diameter of the front end of the torque tube.

Are you sure there hasn't been a Okie Bushing already installed at one time?
(In the picture the knurled end or right hand side of Okie Bushing goes into torque tube first)

http://www.vapinc.com/ sells Okie Bushings.
Driveshaft Bushing/Seal Assembly page

C h e v r o L E E 1921-54 1/2 Ton Truck individual bushing dimensions.

After reading your post again I think what happen is
that the inner brass bushing freed itself from the outer bushing housing.
Check out this Picture it is a 1954 Chevrolet truck original front bushing.
You can see the inner brass bushing inside the outer bushing housing.
In order to install the Okie bushing you have remove the outer bushing housing also. Everything that's in the picture has to come out.
To remove the outer bushing housing you can use a bushing puller.

When you grab the end of the propeller shaft and try to move it, up and down and side to side.
Is there any play or wiggling of the propeller shaft?
Is the transmission lube low?
When you remove the axle housing lube filler hole plug does lube come pouring out?
If the answer to the above questions is NO.
The rear oil seal might still be good and all you need to replace is the front bushing.

What kind of problems were you having to make you look at the torque tube bushings?

Thanks for the in-depth response. I'm simply going through my project truck to get it put back together. I went through the rear end and filled the diff with fluid, but while waiting to put in the engine and tranny, I noticed a little fluid dripping from the front of the torque tube so I'm investigating, and yes there is a slight bit of play in the driveshaft. When pulling the brass bushing I tried probing to see if the outer bearing housing was still installed, but couldn't feel any lip. I'll have to look at it further and check dimensions.

Alrighty then, anyone have a bushing puller they would be so kind as to rent?