Torque Tube

Technical Information and Restoration Parts for the 928

Torque Tube Disassembly

A few quick pictures of disassembling a torque tube. I tried the hammer method with a plastic pipe. I read a complete section on Renn List of making special tools out of wood and threaded rod to disassemble the bearings. All this either did not work or was more work than I was willing to do.

Disassembly the Easy Way

A ten ton Porta Power may seem like over kill, but the job really cries out for a press. There are not many presses large enough to handle the torque tube length . But the inside diameter of a ten ton Porta Power extension pipe fits exactly over the end of the torque shaft and hits perfectly on the front bearing. Now most may not have a Porta Power in their tool box, but they can be purchased for under $100 at Harbor Freight. I am always looking for an excuse to buy a new tool. A Porta Power can be used for other things like fixing a smashed door jamb. It is also handy for freeing frozen seat tracks.

I am lucky to have a concrete house. However, any two solid points will do. By shuffling the wooden blocks and changing the pipes to get more depth, the shaft with bearing pressed out with no problems. Here is a picture of the disassembled tube components.

Tube Components

The tube in the picture is from a 4 speed automatic. The shaft is also broken. The result of an aggressively adjusted modulator valve. I started on a broken tube for practice just so I would not screw up a good one. The good tube came apart easier. This tube has the bearings on the shaft. Removing the shaft caused the bearing to clump together. Next will will use the same method with a longer pipe to press the bearings off the shaft.

Shown below the shaft is a damper. It was located at the back of the tube and came out easily. The tube with the good shaft did not have a damper.

More pictures to come of a rebuilt tube.