SECTION 5-C 1950 BUICK REAR AXLE REMOVAL AND DISASSEMBLY PROCEDURES

5-7 1950 BUICK REAR AXLE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

When to Remove Rear Axle Assembly

The 1950 Buick rear axle assembly should be removed from the car before overhaul if there is external indication of damage to rear axle or third member housings or strut rods, or if oil is leaking at torque ball or third member flanged joints. These conditions cannot be corrected with the rear axle assembly under the car.

On cars equipped with the 3.6 or 3.9 rear axle gear ratio it is necessary to remove the rear a le assembly whenever the propeller shaft must be removed because pinion pullers available for service will not fit over the pinions of these gear sets. Furthermore, on cars with Dynaflow Drive the propeller shaft spline oil seal (fig. 5-3) cannot be properly installed with third member housing connected to the torque ball.

On Series 40 cars equipped with Synchromesh transmissions and the 4.1 rear axle gear ratio, it is not necessary to remove the rear axle assembly in order to remove the propeller shaft since a puller is available for the pinion of this gear set.

1950 Buick Rear Axle Removal

  1. Place car stands solidly under frame so that rear end of car is high enough to permit working underneath.
  2. Disconnect parking brake cable at rear brake cable sheave and at bracket on front end of torque tube. Disconnect brake hose from pipe at frame X member and remove retainer. Plug hose and brake pipe openings to prevent entrance of dirt.
  3. Disconnect torque tube from torque ball by removing bolts at flange.
  4. Disconnect links from shock absorber arms and disconnect radius rod at right end.
  5. Disconnect lower ends of rear springs (left hand threaded bolts) and hoist rear end of car high enough to roll rear axle assembly out from under car.

Installation of Rear Axle Assembly

  1. Check universal joint torque ball for evidence of oil leakage and for wear of universal joint bushing. Note whether torque ball has end play or is excessively tight. Make any corrections indicated, following procedure given in paragraph 4-12.
  2. Cement a new gasket in recess in front end of torque tube.
  3. Roll rear axle assembly under car, then rest car solidly on stands placed under frame, with rear end of car high enough to permit working underneath.
  4. On Dynaflow Drive cars, place propeller shaft spline oil seal parts on front end of propeller shaft in the following order: spring retainer, spring, seal cap, oil seal. See figure 5-3.
    1950 Buick Propeller Shaft Spline Oil Seal

    1950 Buick Propeller Shaft Spline Oil Seal

NOTE: Install these parts just before connecting torque tube to torque ball. Do not install parts before rolling axle assembly under car.

  1. Connect torque tube to universal joint torque ball with bolts and lock washers.
  2. Connect rear springs to rear axle assembly (left hand threaded bolts) and connect links to shock absorber arms.
  3. Connect brake hose to brake pipe at frame X member and lock in place with retainer. Connect parking brake cable to bracket on front end of torque tube and to brake cable sheave. Bleed rear wheel cylinders and adjust parking brake as described in paragraphs 8-9 and 8-13.
  4. Connect radius rod to rear axle. NOTE: Normal weight of car must be on rear springs when tightening radius rod pin nuts so that rubber bushings in rod will be clamped in neutral position.

 

5-8 REPLACEMENT OF REAR AXLE STRUT ROD

Three bolts attach the rear end of each strut rod to a spring seat welded to outer end of axle housing. The front end of each strut rod is riveted to a bracket welded to front end of torque tube.

Strut rods supplied for service replacement are not drilled for the attaching rivet; therefore, the rivet hole must be drilled to coincide with the hole in bracket after installation and alignment of a strut rod. This cannot be done with rear axle assembly under the car.

  1. Remove rear axle assembly (par. 5-7).
  2. Drill through the head of strut rod rivet with a 7/16″ drill; the rivet head has a centering depression for this operation. Drive out rivet with a punch. CAUTION: If rivet head is cut off without drilling, the hole in strut rod and bracket will be distorted.
  3. Disconnect brake pipe and parking brake cable conduit from strut rod and disconnect strut rod from rear axle.
  4. Before installation of strut rod, scribe a line on bracket in line with the center of rivet hole. Using a pair of dividers set at 3 inches, locate a center-punch mark on the scribed line exactly 3 inches from center of rivet hole. See figure 5-4 view “A”.