Straightening diff housing

[Michael Green]

I have been told several methods for straightening housing but when I thought them thru they all were wrong, ie caused other problems.

Anyone got the good oil on how to do this properly?

[Neville Bertwistle]

Michael,

Not sure of the right way, but what about a press? They do that to bend front struts to give negative camber. I've also heard they straighten cranks the same way.

I don't know the diff you're running, but is it not easier to get another housing?

[Michael Green]

Nev,

Its just an English housing.

The original was bent like an S (exaggerated) and a professional "straightened" it by grinding the bearing flange faces, of course all that did was make the backing plates perpendicular and nothing else. That was trashed.

The 2nd one was bought from another specialist already "straight". One side is actually straight, so this company gets a score of 50%

A press is the tool to fix it, but what is the method, meaurements, etc ???

I thought a straight edge parallel to the tubes and mounted to the banjo flange. For 0 ToeIn the distance from straightedge to the centre of the tubes at the ends should equal the distance from banjo flange to centre of crown wheel ??? Tell me more ???

[jsa]

Heating the axle tube on one side causes it to relocate at the outer end. After cooling a certain amount of relocation remains.

For straightness measuring a long bar setup through the diff centre, is one way I know of.

[Roger Miller]

[jsa]

Roger,

I'm talking about having the diff centre in the housing and the bar through the diff centre.

Bar should be concentric with housing outer ends, or offset evenly if a particular alignment angle is required.

[Michael Green]

[fLATCHAT]

I have an article some where that states that diffs are made to allow for up to 3 degrees misalighnment between axles to spider gears due to production tolerances. if thats correct, wheel alighnment should be the main concern not axle straightness. Dont you think?