8N rear axle trumpets

[MI-Bill]

I have been procrastinating about changing the rear axle on my 48 8n for a 52 8n rear axle with the better 2 seal trumpets. I have the complete rear axle differential from the 52. I have been contemplating changing the entire rear end or just the trumpets and axles. it appears the left trumpet has the bearing retainer for the differential. is there a concern about getting this together right? The 52 has good brakes, but i still need to pull at least one axle to get the shims right if I just change the trumpets? I rebuilt the 48 in 1975 and the brakes worked well for 20 years. any advice or concerns?
 

[Bill Rowles]

It will be interesting to see what the experts say.....but,if it were mine, I would leave the '52 rear assembly together and swap it with the '48 rear assembly. That may require a little work to swap hydraulics if you want/need to, but the benefit it seems is the critical bearing and gear adjustments are not required and the oil seals will not be disturbed so may not need replaced if they are not leaking on the '52 assembly. Maybe another factor is whether the '52 center differential housing is pretty clean or does it need to be disassembled for cleaning out sludge/dirt/gear-chips.....you should be able to inspect through pto shaft penetration and hand holes on side before deciding.
 

[Dave in Wyoming]

I would tend to agree with Bill. Change out the whole rear housing so you don't mess with the seals and adjustment of the shims etc. If you have the rear half off, you can see if it needs cleaned. Usually there is some sludge in there, and I would want that cleaned out, if it was mine. Good luck.
Dave
 

[souNdguy]

i think you'd be time ahead to swap it in as an assembly if it is intact and in working order.