Hello all...I need some help/advise.
I had two sets of axles inspected. I lucked out as only one axel from each set was good. So i have a good set of axles now to use. The question I have, as I am restoring the rear end for show purposes the rear end shop told me that the face of the axles are not completely flat. they would remove the studs and I guess , just lathe face of it. The shop said it was probably factory that way , but noted it to me as they said the rim could not perfectly sit flat on it. That is important information to me.However, I do not know if they lay the face of it.If that's going to ruin the axle's appearance for The purpose of show? I am concerned that if they do this , they will ruin the face and appearance of it. I will be sending them to Shelby parts and restoration to be restored after that which i'm assuming is just replating the face and maybe new studs or replating the studs. I know this is a tiny tidbit, that most people won't care about.It's just the details that matter. Any advice and help would be appreciated
Not looking at the issue in hand, means one is using a certain sum of conjecture, but "the face of the axles are not completely flat" would need greater detailed explanation of the what & why before one could recommend how or whether the axles should be "fixed"? And I'd question the "that's how they was made" perspective! :-\
As for mimicking the "appearance", that really shouldn't be so difficult if one understands tooling and how it functions; not to mention the actual as executed by Ford Motor Co. result varies substantially so creating something "acceptable" isn't really that challenging. ;)
Scott.
Unless there is excessive runout I wouldn't do anything. Any material removed will change the placement,(offset) at the wheel well.
Thanks for the feedback!! Decided to not let them touch the face. I see now looking at the axles they are machined with small grooves. It was really noted to me versus saying it needs to be done or that it was a bad issue. Now the are off to shelby parts n restoration to get restored. Thanks again
Quote from: Jbarela on March 27, 2026, 03:53:48 PMI see now looking at the axles they are machined with small grooves.
If you are referring to the axle flange face (where the drum and then the wheel mount) these "grooves" are just the byproduct of expedient machining, not really with any potential purpose, and as stated previously the pattern varies greatly. ;)
The real issue is "if" there is a problem with them dimensionally, what is it that has been identified and why is such so? And again, although we won't say that the O.E.M. is perfect, there's probably nothing that we can blame on them from the viewpoint of "as machined", rather what has happened post the original manufactures' workmanship to bring us to this point. :-\
Example: Excessive run-out of the flange face is most commonly caused by a side impact (eg. walloped a curb); or the axle is bent in its' length (overloading) or twisted which generally places a bow in the axle.
Waffling of the flange face is most often caused by the improper R & R process of changing the wheel studs (ie. someone with a big hammer and no brains)! :o
In most of these instances for safety reasons the axles "should" be discarded. But if the vehicle is going to be a "Trailer Queen", well I suppose, even if the axle should fail "down the road", one won't be traveling at any great velocity traversing the show field! ::)
Scott.