When Bill's car broke down in Texas a couple of weeks ago, we got a quick education in 56 Corvette axles. I headed up with a 62 axle in hand to help him out, but we found that somewhere along the line, someone had fitted his car with a 56 rear end. for those that were not aware, the 56 axle is different than all later years of Corvette axles. The bearings are different, the axles are different, and the retainers are completely different.

After putting a 62 axle alongside of the ruined 56 axle, it became apparent that the later axle could be modified to fit. It appeared that the only difference in the axles, was the shoulder behind the wheel flange. The later model axle measured about .850" from shoulder to flange, while the 56 axle measured about .600. The length of the axle was then same, as was the OD of the axle where the bearing presses on. We took the 62 axle to a machinist, and he turned the shoulder down to the .060 width, and the axle worked like a charm. Luckily, the retainer was not completely destroyed, as it is a unique part, so we could re-use it.

Below are some pics of the 56 axle, and another 62 axle out of my stash. It is easy to see the difference.







Hopefully, this will save some poor soul the aggravation of trying to find some 56 axles, as they are rare as hens teeth!


Regards, John McGraw

 

Note to self... don't buy a 56... it's like buying a 63 or 68... run Forest...lol

 

Note to Hitch... don't ever buy any C1 solid axle car without rear disc brakes; if the bearing disintergrates like mine did the whole axle/drum/wheel assembly will come out through the side of the car... try dealing with that at 85mph...

Note to John McGraw,, i am eternally grateful for all your help.

Bill

 

The axle looks like the one`s out of `56 pass cars.
I guess to use these early axles on later models, you
would have to use a .250 spacer to make the bearing
spaced correctly.

Later
Tony

 

Yep, they are exactly the same as a passenger car axle! The bearing housing on the rear end is completely different, as is the axle retaining flange. I can't imagine anybody every WANTING to put a 56 axle in a later model car, as later axles are very plentiful, but it would not be unreasonable to expect someone to want to put later axles in a 56 rear as they are very hard to find.


Regards, John McGraw

 

I tried to calculate the odds of breaking down in an old Corvette, with a one-year only axle conversion, in driving range of somebody with the knowledge of John McGraw, who has a DIFFERENT axle that can be modified, and, with a nearby machinist with the skill and time to make the modification to get Bill back on the road within a few hours of his near disaster.

Smoke came out of my calculator and it shut down.

 

better to come out of your 'calculator' than your 'rearend'...

Bill