Editing Straightening a rear end housing

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Here's how to make a fixture and rack for straightening a rear end housing.



==Making the inserts==
Then, make some inserts. These are about 2" long, as to provide some load bearing area to lessen wear caused by repeated use. For this application (10-bolt Chevrolet), the ID is 1.504", and the OD is 2.894". These same size inserts will work in an 8" and 9" ford center sections as well.
[[Image:Making_inserts_in_lathe.jpg|frame|none|Making the inserts in a lathe.]]

Another insert was made with the same 1.504" ID and dimensioned to slip-fit into the housing end. This same set of inserts and matching bar can be used as an alignment aid when narrowing rear end housings.

The inserts are then clamped in the bearing saddles and the bar slides through them. The fit should be nice -- the bar should slide through easily, but with no noticeable play.
[[Image:Straight_bar_in_inserts.jpg|frame|none|The straight bar, in the inserts.]]

Here is the inserts installed in a Ford 9" center section, the bar is slid through before the bearing caps are tightened, to make sure they are aligned in the bearing saddles.

[[Image:PICT0040.JPG|frame|none|9" Ford center section with inserts and bar.]]

Another way to determine if the housing is straight is to machine the inserts for the diff center with a small center hole, clamp these in and install centre in housing.Then usng a sheet of paper with a small hole held at the bearing end site through and line up with two holes that are in the center then run your finger around the tube end marking the paper. find the center of you mark and this will show you how far your diff is out by comparing the hole in the paper to the center.

==Measuring==
The housing end insert slides over the bar and indicates how much the end of the housing is bent out of alignment.
[[Image:Housing_end_insert_slid_over_bar.jpg|frame|none|The housing end insert is used to indicate the alignment of the housing.]]

Hold a ruler on the tube to see where it's bent. In this case, it's bent at the areas that were welded by the previous "builder".
[[Image:Finding_housing_bend.jpg|frame|none|A ruler is used to see where the tube is bent.]]