Rear Axle: Most Likely Vendor to Have Axle Shaft

[wdills]

Dad's 50 Champion needs a new axle shaft. I called Barry Hackney and he didn't think he had any. Just trying to avoid spending a day on the phone blindly calling various vendors. If anyone knows a vendor that typically has axle shafts, it might save me a bunch of time.

[r1lark]

Wayne, a long shot, but you may want to check with David Hauser in Clemmons NC. He probably would not have a new one, but may have a used rear end removed from a car sometime in the past.

For what it's worth, the part number is 521594 and is listed for 1947 thru 1950 Champions.

[oilnsteel]

Vern Ediger in Kansas may have one. He frequents the Studebaker Truck Talk forum.

[RadioRoy]

Studebakers West usually has them. They are the second largest parts dealer.

[mbstude]

Stephen Allen's is having reproductions made, but it'll be a few more months before they're in stock.

[wdills]

Looks like I am going to be waiting for Stephen Allen's to get their re-pops done. None of the sources suggested have one of these axles.

It seems that Champions of this vintage all need axle shafts and the idler arm assembly in the steering. Finally found the idler arm and bought the last one they had. Looks like the axle shaft is going to be just as much of a search.

[Mark Klinger]

Have you tried Tom Karkiewicz in South Bend? He might have a used axle, got a couple good rear hubs for the GH from him. Nice to deal with but doesn't do the internet, pay up front. 574 287-5834

[r1lark]

For those who have had axles fail on these early postwar Champions - what is the predominant failure mode?

[StudeRich]

It would be extremely rare for a Six Cylinder to have enough Power to actually Hurt anything inside the "Pumpkin".

The "Usual" failure would be the Axle Keyway from greasing it or the Hub, wrong installation of the Key, loose or not enough Torque on the Axle Nut, leaking Seal and no Lube etc. Not really failures, just dumb mistakes.

That is of course, assuming someone did not install a Torquey Studebaker V8!

[hadleyrille]

There is a very good chance I have one or 2 or 4. I don't have parts id for everything but a photo of your old one and length.

rillerich@gmail.com

[wdills]

hadleyrille, e-mail sent. Part Number is 521594, if that is helpful.

As for failure mode, the threaded end collapsed under the pressure of the hub puller. Yes we had the nut installed when pulling. The hole for the Cotter pin is closed up and the last 3/8" of thread is all screwed up, as well as the threads of the nut. The strange thing was it had only been about a year since the last time we had the hub off.

I am liking the flanged axles I installed on my Hawk more and more.

[r1lark]

hadleyrille, e-mail sent. Part Number is 521594, if that is helpful.

As for failure mode, the threaded end collapsed under the pressure of the hub puller. Yes we had the nut installed when pulling. The hole for the Cotter pin is closed up and the last 3/8" of thread is all screwed up, as well as the threads of the nut. The strange thing was it had only been about a year since the last time we had the hub off.

I am liking the flanged axles I installed on my Hawk more and more.

Interesting failure mode. Thanks for relating it Wayne. And I hope hadleyrille has an axle for y'all.

[(S)]

I have cleaned up damage to the threads and had good luck just grinding them off, clean it up with a die and its fine as long as it takes torque and is not in the area that does the 'holding' .

[TWChamp]

Wayne, I've seen axle threads messed up like that before, but am surprised to see it so stuck in just a year.
From now on I will insert a short steel rod in the hole to keep it open during a tight removal.

[wdills]

Tom Karkiewicz had one left so I bought it as soon as he confirmed he had it. Now if it just gets here without the post office destroying it.