Hudson 1948 - 1952, Service Manual

Page: 259 / 333

REAR AXLE 11 - 17
REAR AXLE
(Removable Cover Type)
DESCRIPTION
This rear axle is of the semi-floating type and employs
a housing assembly made up of a cast malleable iron
central housing into the hubs of which are pressed and
welded, flanged steel tubes. The differential and drive
gear assembly and the drive pinion and its bearings are
mounted directly in the housing on tapered roller bear-
ings provided with shim adjustments . Access to the
mechanism is through a cover bolted to the housing at
the rear. A filler plug is fitted to the cover and a drain
plug at the bottom of the housing.
The differential is of the two pinion type using a solid
one-piece case with the drive gear attached by bolts held
in place by lock plates. The differential side gears operate
in the case bores and have treated steel thrust washers
Installed between gear an d case thrust faces. The differ-
ential pinions operate directly on the pinion shaft which
is secured in the differential case by a locking pin passing
through case and shaft. Treated steel thrust washers are
used between differential pinion s and case. Axle shaft
end thrust is taken by a cylindrical spacer through which
the pinion shaft passes. Shims placed on the differential
hubs between the differential bearing cones and the
shoulders control the side mesh of the drive gear teeth
with the pinion as well as the amount of "spread" or
pre-load on the differential side bearings.
The drive pinion roller bearing cups are pressed into the
housing with shims placed between the front face of the rear
bearing cup and the housing, to control the fore and aft position
of the pinion and its mesh with the drive gear. Another shim pack
placed between the rear face of the front bearing cone and the
shoulder of the pinion, controls the adjustment and pre-load of the
pinion shaft bearings. Lubrication of the differential and drive
pinion mechanism is accomplished by lubricant forced by the
drive gear through passages cast in the housing. An oil slinger, felt
wick
wick and hydraulic leather oil seal prevent oil loss at the front
of the pinion.
The axle shafts have fine splines machined at the inner
ends to engage the differential gears and are tapered at the
outer ends to receive the rear wheel hubs. They are supported
by tapered roller bearings having straight bore cones seating
against shoulders on the shafts, with the outer cups pressed
directly into the housing. Axle shaft end play and wheel
bearing adjustment are controlled by a shim pack placed
between the axle housing flange and the brake backing plate
on the right side only. Inner oil seals pressed into t he housing
prevent lubricant entry into the bearing compartment while
leather oil seals in the seal caps prevent leakage of wheel
bearing lubricant.
SPECIFICATIONS
Gear Ratio: 3.07 - 1
Drive Gear - 43 teeth, Pinion - 14 teeth Axle Shaft End Play:
.001" to .004"
Gear Tooth Back Lash: .003" to .008"
Housing Spread for Servicing: .020" (Maximum) Differential
Side Bearing Pre-Load:
.005" - .009" Drive Gear Run-out: .003" (Maximum)
Drive Pinion Turning Torque: 10 to 20 inch lbs.
SHIM THICKNESS
Front Pinion Bearing Shims:
.003", .005", .010" and .030"
Rear Pinion Bearing Shims:
.003", .005", and .010"
Differential Bearing Shims:
.003", .005", .010" and .030"
Wheel Bearing Shims:
.003", .005", .010" and .030"
LUBRICATION: S.A.E. 90 Hypoid or multipurpose gear
lubricant - 3 pounds.