Topic: Axle End Play

[FXguy]

I have a 64.5/65 9 inch axle housing with new axle bearings.  Assembled brake backing plates to housing using paper gaskets from Virginia Classic Mustang.  Also installed an axle bearing gasket from VCM between axle bearing retainer plate and backing plate - each of these gaskets is about .03125" thick uncompressed.   With everything assembled, there was more than .030" end play and I could feel/hear the bearing bumping into the retainer plate when I pulled abruptly on the axle shaft.  I have since made my own gaskets from .015625" thick gasket material, put everything back together and still am getting .015"+ end play in the axle shaft - and it still feels like there is some movement in the bearing against the retainer plate.

My prior understanding was that there should be no play between the retainer plate and the axle bearing, otherwise the bearing would be able to spin (until the weight of the car is on the axle bearing), but at this point the only way to get to 'no end play' is to assemble everything without the gaskets, and just use a very thin bead of RTV instead.   BTW, I am told that in later years, these gaskets were eliminated completely from production.  So should there be some end play for the bearing to retainer plate or not?  If so, what is the spec, I have been unable to find an axle shaft end play spec in my vintage documentation.

Thanks,

-Scott

   

[FXguy]

In the event it helps someone else, the cause of the end play is wear from the axle shaft bearing spinning in it's pocket.  The original retainer plates show scoring where they contact the outer edge of the axle bearing.  The inner (towards the diff) end of the pocket is similarly worn, and that is where the play is coming from - evn though the original retainer plates were replaced, the wear on the inside was enough to leave some slop when the plates were torqued down.