Rotten 44 useable?

[joshua]

While back I posted some picks of this. Drove 4 hrs and was dark when I bought it. Next morning posted some pictures because it looked a lot rougher in the light. Folks said it was probably usable.

Well I tore it down to take and get blasted. Before I pay someone to blast it, I just wanted some opinions on it now that I have some better pictures. I was able to extract every bolt and broken bolt, so I’m good there. My main concern is where the “c” bushings mate to the axle for the radius arms.

Do the “c” bushings squish enough to over come the metal that has rusted away? And if not has anyone ever built it up with a welder and ground it back into shape? Or would that most likely put to much heat into it? Or just be impossible to get the shape correct?

Also inner seals are in there and there was gear oil still in it. So I’m thinking the center section is still good, sealable, and rebuildable.

I’m not aposed to cutting those “c” bushings mounts off and doing some sort of custom link set up. But that’s just a lot more time and money. And maybe someone might see something that renders this just scrap before I keep moving forward. I have a great 79 bronco axle here for use of the knuckles.

Here are some pictures of the pile of rust that came out of this little axle. And my areas of concern.

 

[joshua]

More pics

 

[Yeller]

I’ve salvaged some pretty crusty axles, that one looks right up there, they are quite robust and the metal is thick so they never look great but have worked, many of them are still out there running around. The rotted brake parts really aren’t a concern, you’ll replace them anyway, hopefully with disc brakes.

 

[SteveL]

I would blast it and see how it cleans up. If you don't trust the c-bushing mounts after blasting em new ones are available from the vendors. If those round pics were the spring cups I'd just order new ones.

 

[joshua]

I would blast it and see how it cleans up. If you don't trust the c-bushing mounts after blasting em new ones are available from the vendors. If those round pics were the spring cups I'd just order new ones.

These round ones are the end of the axle tubes. If that’s what your talking about. And I don’t know you could order the radius arm mounts

 

[Qumanchew]

I'd have no problem using that. As was mentioned before , the metal is thick. One thing you might have to do on the wedges is use a needle scaler. Sometimes blasting doesn't get the thick scale off.

 

[joshua]

Ok. I was just worried about it possibly causing death wobble if those bushings don’t bite hard enough. I’ll get it cleaned up and see how closely they fit.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Looks like the ball joint adjuster will still move. I think this will be a usable axle. Not show quality, not restoration worthy. But functional.

 

[SteveL]

These round ones are the end of the axle tubes. If that’s what your talking about. And I don’t know you could order the radius arm mounts

I think duffs has or had new axle wedges for sale

 

[joshua]

Looks like the ball joint adjuster will still move. I think this will be a usable axle. Not show quality, not restoration worthy. But functional.

Ball joint adjusters both move. It was an absolute nightmare getting these ball joints to separate from the housing. Also is there any reason I should hold on to the drum knuckles? Pretty much no one would want or use these correct?

 

[Yeller]

Ball joint adjusters both move. It was an absolute nightmare getting these ball joints to separate from the housing. Also is there any reason I should hold on to the drum knuckles? Pretty much no one would want or use these correct?

You can use the drum brake knuckles for disc brakes, lots of conversion kits available

 

[joshua]

You can use the drum brake knuckles for disc brakes, lots of conversion kits available

I just have a whole 79 bronco axle that i will be pulling the knuckles from. Just not trying to hoard junk that no one will ever use or want. But also at the same time I don’t want to toss them if someone would need it. Just don’t know enough about it to make that call I guess I was going to go with that conversion you mentioned. But found the 79 bronco axles

 

[Yeller]

That works too. I get it, I have a set of GM knuckles sitting around and have wondered why, along with a semi load of other stuff lol