1951 Buick Rear Axle Specifications

1951 Buick Rear Axle Tightening Specifications

General Specifications

1951 Buick Rear Axle General Specifications

1951 Buick Rear Axle Ratios

NOTE: The rear axle ratio is indicated by a number stamped on bottom center of axle housing.

1951 Buick Rear Axle Ratios

Limits for Fitting and Adjustment of Parts

1951 Buick Limits for Fitting and Adjustment of Rear Axle Parts

NOTE: Limits on fit of parts are for new parts only. “T” means tight and “L” means loose.

5-2 DESCRIPTION OF 1951 BUICK REAR AXLE

The 1951 Buick rear axle assembly is the semi-floating type in which the load is carried on the axle shafts through bearings enclosed in the axle housing. See figure 5-1. It has a torque tube drive and a Hypoid type spiral bevel ring gear and pinion set in which the centerline of the pinion is below the centerline of the ring gear. See figure 5-19.

The torque tube is joined to the differential carrier to form a unit assembly called the third member housing; the torque tube and carrier are not serviced separately. This is because a straightening operation is necessary to line up the pinion bearing holes with front flange pilot on torque tube. The third member housing is bolted to the banjo type rear axle housing. Two rear axle strut rods form braces between the front end of the third member housing and the outer ends of the axle housing to hold third member square with axle housing. The torque tube encloses the propeller shaft which is rigidly connected to the pinion through a splined joint and a pin. See figure 5-1.

1951 Buick Rear Axle Assembly

The pinion is supported in the differential carrier by two Hyatt roller bearings (rear) and a New Departure double-row radial-thrust ball bearing (front) which is secured to the shaft by a large lock nut staked in place.

The pinion and bearing assembly is held in position by a pinion bearing lock sleeve and three cone-pointed lock screws which clamp the double-row ball bearing against a shoulder in the carrier. Shims placed between the bearing and the shoulder provide correct relation of the pinion with ring gear. See figure 5-1.

The ring gear is riveted to the differential case which is supported in the differential carrier with two differential side bearings. Threaded adjusters bearing against the outer races of the side bearings provide means of adjusting ring gear lash. The differential case also houses two differential bevel side gears in mesh with two differential bevel side pinions mounted on a shaft which is anchored in the case by a lock screw. See figure 5-1.

The splined inner ends of the axle shafts are supported by the differential side gears. “Horseshoe” washers retain the axle shafts in the side gears; washers are held in recesses in side gears when differential pinion spacer is installed. The pinion spacer is located between the inner ends of the shafts and controls end play of axle shafts. The outer ends of the axle shafts are supported in the axle housing by Hyatt roller bearings. Seals are provided on both sides of each roller bearing to exclude dirt and to prevent leakage of oil upon the brakes.

1951 Buick rear axle is equipped with either standard or optional gear ratios. See paragraph 5-1. The 1951 Buick rear axle ratio is indicated by numbers stamped on underside of axle housing.