Hi, I have a 1951 GMC 1/2 ton pickup with a stock GM rear with torque tube. I have a few leaks I'd like to fix. One is at the back cover, easy enough. But the other is at the joint between one half (axles) and the other half. My question is this, if I remove the cover and axles, will I be able to separate the one half from the ohter half to slip in a gasket and fix the leak?
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
That is a pretty tricky repair to make with the axle assembly in the vehicle.
You are correct that you need to remove the rear cover so you can pull the axle shafts out of the carrier. I strongly recommend that you plan to replace the axle shaft seals when you do that.
The "trick' is that you need to slide the axle housing to the rear far enough so that the whole differential carrier assembly is out of and ahead of the axle housing. You will need to support the carrier assembly and torque tube as you move the axle housing to the rear. You do not want that assembly with the torque tube to drop beyond normal travel.
Take a look at the distance between the top of the leaf springs behind the axle and the bottom of the frame rail. That distance decreases as you look to the rear. If that measurement gets as small as the outside diameter of the axle housing tube, that becomes the rearward travel limit. I do not expect that will be a problem. Just check it first.
Remember that there some locating pins to hold the axle in position on the springs. You will need to lift the housing a little bit to clear them in order to slide the it to the rear. And watch the brake hose!! I expect it is not long enough to let you slide things to the rear as far as you need. Obviously you will also need to disconnect the parking brake cables.
If I'm not mistaken I don't think his axle is in the vehicle anymore. Going by an earlier post
Yep, The picture posted above shows the axle out of the truck. No frame in the pic and u-joint cover dangling back by the diff.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Awesome all. thank you for the help. Yep, the whole assembly is out of the vehicle. I will plan on replacing the axle bearings and seals while i have it apart. Looks like parts should be available.
With unit out of vehicle the job is simple. Seals as stated. There is a thin gasket on the drive shaft side and a thicker gasket on the cover side. Make sure you have those on hand too.
1947.2 GMC 1/2T SWB panel 1947.2 GMC 1/2T long bed 1948 GMC 1/2T short bed
