I want to replace my frayed parking brake lines on my '51 3100. It seems I ordered the wrong parts. Can someone help me identify what year series this rear end is from? Also is there any way to know whether this is a taller ratio rear end for better highway driving? Thank you, Haasman
1. Rotate the pinion yoke to straight up and down. 2. Put a chalk mark on the top of one brake drum and the top of the pinion yoke. 3. Hold the other brake drum to keep it from moving. 4. Slowly turn the pinion yoke (direction doesn't matter), counting the number of turns it takes to turn the brake drum exactly one turn. For this example let's say it took just a smidge over two turns. 5. Multiply the number of turns from step 4 by two giving four and two smidges or 4.11:1 ratio. And your rear axle is definitely not stock. Stock rear end would have an enclosed drive shaft.
Great idea. Didn't get too far ... ... in the process of turning the yoke I could only turn about 6 times before the diff would lock. Why or what would cause this? I unblocked one of the axels and still locks after several turns.... Haasman
Or you can count how many times the pinion has to turn to turn the brake drum TWO times. A shade over four turns--4.11, a shade under--3.90. 55-59 half tons were 3.90.
Differential Identification info This site has some good info on differential identification, helped me identify the 56 rearend that came in the 48 Stylemaster that I'm working on. GM made the removable carrier type rearend between 55-64, after that they went to the integral carrier. http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Rearend_identification
