Replacing rear axle on my 1914 Cadillac...

[OldCarGuy]

The two axles on the left are spares for my 1910 Buick..



The axles are floating and locked in place with brass hub caps...




Underside showing massive two speed rear axle. Low range 3:66 to 1 and high range of 2.50:1..Shift on the fly




Cutting stock on my vertical band saw. Pre-hard 4140 at 32 RC hardness



Turning to size OD on my lathe.. Between six-jaw chuck and live center


Getting out and brushing up using a divider head on my Bridgeport. Rather than making up a plate with a center. I supported the far end with a V-Block. Plus a strap across the top... Getting the correct height with two sets of parallels and two pieces of paper. Then trued up all directions within a few thousands over entire length...





Roughed in spline using 1/4" carbide cutter


My attention was called to find what my 2006 Avalanche 2500 needed for brakes.. Thank goodness that I have a second two-post lift in another garage.. Neither my Milwaukee nor my Ingersoll Rand air impact wrench would remover the stuck driver's side lug nuts. Time for bigger guns. My Ingersoll 3/4" impact did the trick..

[PJ]

Nice project for an awesome shop/garage.  I had a similar issue removing the wheels off my '03 2500 Suburban.  The lug nuts backed off fine but the wheels were "frozen" on the hubs.  May have been corrosion between the steel hubs and aluminum wheels plus the fact they hadn't been removed in a few years.   Took some creative tapping with a chunk of wood and a 10# persuader.  Cleaned the hubs of corrosion and used a very light coat of anti-seize on the mating surfaces (but not the studs) and haven't had issues since. 

[chips and more]

In all your toys you must have a torque wrench multiplier? Granted the impact does different than just a wrench with brute force to do the job.

[OldCarGuy]

In all my years of travels I never had the opportunity to purchase a torque wrench multiplier. However I do have a backup in case the 3/4" Ingersoll fails me. My two trusty IR 1" impact one with a 12" anvil..

[chips and more]

You mean I have something you don't? I can't believe that! In pic, Snap On torque multiplier. Flea Market find, don't remember how much? Have used it a couple of times and can recall it was an aha moment. But If I had to buy new, it would not have paid for itself in my hobby shop. Not enough of that kinda work.

[OldCarGuy]

With another round of 4140 I started to make the end piece of the axle. It will be doweled and welded to the shaft..



Drilling and boring hole to fit shaft..





Cut-off tool


Then set up on my vertical band saw


Ready to machine driver lugs on OD


A 1/2" piece felt in the recessed area acts as an oil seal between the shaft and axle housing... Hundred year Old technology that works yet today...

[OldCarGuy]

New parts showed up yesterday. Just finished up installing four new calipers, pads, disks, plus front hub bearing on my Avalanche 2500. Now It's back to finish making the new rear axle shaft on the 1914 Cadillac...

[OldCarGuy]

The next step on the end piece of the axle was to machine the notches that drive the wheel hub. I mounted the end piece on a plate and clamped it in the 8" machine vise.



Roughing with 3/8" carbide end mill

Sharpened the inside corners with a smaller carbide mill

Machined a dome shape on the outside end to miss the hubcap. The dome was added for more cantact area from the axle to the end piece. That will be welded in place after dowels are put in..


End piece fit into axle hub.. The brass hubcap will hold the axle in place.






The axle has two ring and pinon gears. Ratios are high 3.66:1 and low 1.5:1


The spline ends of the axle shaft fit into the side gears. If you look close you can make out the spider gears.


Cadillac only used this two-speed rear axle in 1914 making the car quieter and to achieve higher speeds. In order compete with other makes with six cylinders engines. A design way ahead of the competition. However in 1915 Cadillac introduced their first V8 and dropped the two-speed rear axle...   

[OldCarGuy]

Added two 5/16" dowel pins at the split of the end flange and axle shaft to lock it into place. Then TIG welding the outside end only the flange to the axle. Installed the axle into rear housing. Then took the old gal for a test drive around town, No issues...

[34_40]

Nice car.    and a great repair.