The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk difference between axles

what is the difference between a 1941 thru 1950 front axle and a 1951 thru 1959 front axle?

thanks!

for the record there is a 5 lug disc brake kit for sale but it is for a 49-50 1/2 ton. The axle in my 52 3/4 ton is a 52 1/2 axle. Would the bearings be the only difference between the kits for 52-59? If so anyone have the specs. I could easily get the correct bearings at a local bearings & drives shop.

It looks like 41-55 1/2 ton front axles are the same. Does that seem right?

Here are the meanings of the model codes used in the Master Parts Book.

I believe the 46 thru 54 front axles for Chevrolet 1/2 ton pickups all have the same casting number/part number on them. The 41 and 42 may also. Prior to that, the front axles were lighter weight and used the smaller king pins. The 46 thru 54 is the axle that will accept the five lug 54 car hub, backing plates and bearings for conversion to a 5 lug front axle. The 49 to 53 car fronts might work to, but there may be a little more to convert. The 54 car front has Bendix brakes.
Joe

I wish I knew why there is two seperate kits. Jim Carter has two 5 lug kits, 41-50 and 51-59. I wonder what the difference between the kits would be if the axles are the same.

In '51 brakes for 1/2 ton changed from Huck to Bendix. The top two backing plate bolt holes on the spindle increased in size from 7/16" to 1/2". Other than that, I believe the spindles are the same.

ok thanks for the info



I also posted this topic on classic parts talk (Classic Parts of America forum) and got some more info

Front wheel bearings fit 41-59 the ND part numbers #909052 inner and #909067 outer.
The front inner cup 2 7/8 OD - 2 21/64 ID # 909602
cone 1 7/8 OD - 1 9/32 ID # 909552
outer cup 2 3/16 OD - 1 5/8 ID # 909601
cone 1 1/32 OD - 3/4 ID # 909501

Front axle fits 41-55 1st ser cast # 3656872 33 1/4 offset.

I have been researching the option on putting disc brakes on my 1948 GMC 1/2 ton. I have been told that GMC and chevy have the same axels. The axel may have stayed the same between 1950 and 1951 but the spindles (knuckles) and brake drum hubs changed. On my older style (Huck brand) the drums are mounted on the inside of the hub flange rather than on the outside as on the later, Bendix brakes. The mounting location for the disc brake rotor is probably different.

Chevy and GMC are the same in any given year.

The part numbers for the spindles do change between '50 and '51. The difference probably impacts the disk conversion more in the design of the caliper bracket than the rotor location. The size of two of the four holes increases from 7/16th to 1/2 inch and though I've not measured, I suspect the offset of the mounts might be a little different.

I live on Bainbridge Island and often drive through Belfair headed for points south. I'll wave next time I go through!