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By Dobie Gillis - 11 Years Ago
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In the words of Emily Littela, "If it's not one thing, it's another". I think the rear axle in my 55 Merc has breathed it's last. Yesterday it suddenly developed a lot of play and a loud bang on releasing the clutch. I got the car up on jack stands and can now rotate the driveshaft about 3/4" back and forth before feeling any resistance. I have never abused it, but who knows what's in its past.  So my questions: Are internal parts still available for these Spicer/Dana 44 axles? Anybody here swapped a later axle into a 55/56 Merc? I'm thinking a 9" or an 8.8" would do the trick, but which donor vehicles have an axle of similar width? I'd like to keep the original lug bolt pattern if possible. Any help appreciated. |
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By stuey - 11 Years Ago
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hi
might find this interesting http://www.yukongear.com/PartCats.aspx?SearchMode=Diff&TypeID=3&Type=Dana&DiffID=135&DiffName=Dana+44+Rear
Mid Fifties used to have a few parts (bearings gaskets cover)but not to much.
i'm torn between using the above link to rebuild my Dana 44 or swap in a ford 9"
stuey
UK
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By Rono - 11 Years Ago
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The early Ford 9" from a 57-58 Ford full size passenger car would be a good swap for your 55 I think. The 57 Ford 9" has an overall width of approximately 57" from axle flange to axle flange and approximately 51" to the inside of the backing plates. Take measurements from your rear and see what they are. They have the correct lug spacing (5x4.5") and use the big drum brakes (11"x2&1/4"). You may need to relocate the spring perches. These early Ford 9" rears are getting hard to find, but I just found one that was under a home made utility trailer complete with the pumpkin and 3.56 gears.
Rono
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By pegleg - 11 Years Ago
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You'll find the 65 t0 66 Mustangs had an 8" that may work. they were pretty narrow vehicles. The Later Rangers used the 8.8's and the Explorers did also, some of the Explorers came with disc brakes. 67 up Mustangs an Fairlanes came with a narrow 9'' but I think they all would need spring perch relocation. That's not a big deal. summit and jegs both sell the perches.
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By RB - 11 Years Ago
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I parted out a 55 and a 56 that had good rear ends I disassembled one of them before i decided to do a 9 inch.. They are pretty beefy. Slightly more so than a Dana 44 They have 30 spline axles, and I think mine had a 3:18 gear.. If you want i can probably track one down for you
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 11 Years Ago
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Guys, Dobie said he would like to retain the original bolt pattern for the wheels. If I remember correctly, the '55-'56 Merc had a different bolt pattern than Ford. Most of the 8" and 9" suggestions will have the Ford pattern. Pickups probably have the larger pattern. My suggestion, Dobie, is to pull the back cover and see what the problem is. Then check with RB for any parts needed. I have seen the spider gear pin come out partway and contact the pinion gear with a bang.
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By Y block Billy - 11 Years Ago
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I have also had a pin come out part way and heard a big bang when it hit the ring gear, the keeper pins were known to shear off and then the spider pin slide out. I just pushed it back in and welded each end of the pin so it wouldnt slide out again, no more problems after that.
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By Vic Correnti - 11 Years Ago
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I have a complete one out of a 1955 bird that has 4:30 gears in it right now but I have a set of 2:95 gears for one too and some extra parts if you know what you need. I am in northern Illinois.
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By pintoplumber - 11 Years Ago
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I also have 2 dana 44 rears out of 53-55 f100's same bolt pattern as the merc. 3.92 ratio drum to drum.
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By pegleg - 11 Years Ago
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Hoosier Hurricane (6/4/2013)
Guys, Dobie said he would like to retain the original bolt pattern for the wheels. If I remember correctly, the '55-'56 Merc had a different bolt pattern than Ford. Most of the 8" and 9" suggestions will have the Ford pattern. Pickups probably have the larger pattern. My suggestion, Dobie, is to pull the back cover and see what the problem is. Then check with RB for any parts needed. I have seen the spider gear pin come out partway and contact the pinion gear with a bang.
So the Mercs used a 5 on 5' bolt pattern? That would make repairing the 44 a better bet eh?
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By STX - 11 Years Ago
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All 55 and 56 Mercury used a Dana/Spicer 45 and 5x5" bolt pattern.
1952 to 54 Mercs used the Ford pattern 5x4,5".
Later Mercs used 5" for big cars, but also used 4,5", and later even other bolt patterns.
Useful link: http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/merc50.html
Edsel used both 4,5" and 5".
The Dana 45 was developed to be stronger than the Dana 44 (which was used on 1954 Mercs and earlier, and later on low performance cars like the Dodge Viper  .
Would be very interesting to see what went wrong with your rear end.
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By Dobie Gillis - 11 Years Ago
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STX (6/9/2013)
All 55 and 56 Mercury used a Dana/Spicer 45 and 5x5" bolt pattern. 1952 to 54 Mercs used the Ford pattern 5x4,5". Later Mercs used 5" for big cars, but also used 4,5", and later even other bolt patterns. Useful link: http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/merc50.htmlEdsel used both 4,5" and 5". The Dana 45 was developed to be stronger than the Dana 44 (which was used on 1954 Mercs and earlier, and later on low performance cars like the Dodge Viper .
Would be very interesting to see what went wrong with your rear end.
Reply and a bit of an update:
The axle is definitely a Dana 44. Don't know if it's original, but it fits properly and the ring and pinion wedding day was 1/6/55. My car appears to be a bit of a chimera; the trans is a B-W T-85 w/R11 OD. Supposedly Merc didn't start using those until the '56 model year. My car was built very late in the '55 MY, so maybe the line started using the T-85 a bit early?
As to the axle problem, it appears the fault lies with the lowering blocks that were on the car when I bought it. They didn't fit properly and were completely worn out, allowing the rear end to squirm around and occasionally cause a binding situation where the driveshaft goes into the trans. After a lot of online shopping I was not able to find replacement blocks that would bolt directly in. I finally got a set of adjustable blocks from Speedway and a machinist where I work is making the necessary modifications to make them fit. Film at 11...
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By STX - 11 Years Ago
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Rear end:
Are you really sure that it is a Dana 44? It is very difficult to see the difference between a Dana 44 and Dana 45.
All 1955 and 1956 Mercury passenger cars used the Dana 45.
The best way to identify them is to look at the casting at the right lower web close to the cover.
If the number is 45 its is a Dana 45, and if the number is 44 it is a Dana 44.
At the left lower corner of the cover a tag should be bolted which identifies the axle ratio, two numbers, ring and pinion count.
Transmission:
1955 Mercury used the stronger BW T85 with R11 overdrive. 1955 Ford used the weaker transmission.
Problem solved, that is the important thing .
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