De Dion Tube Innards - Advice Required Please

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I have just taken the DeDion tube off the car and withdrawn the inner tube. The surface of the inner tube is shiny at both ends but in the centre of the tube the metal is dull brown. Can anybody tell me if this is normal please? Also - what faults/wear should I be looking to rectify for before re-assembly, and what pitfalls are there in re-assembling and re-fitting the tube? Thanks.
 
The inner part of the tube is smaller in diameter than the ends, and makes no contact with the seals. It is the polished ends which seal the oil in and which move with the suspension. Replacing the rubber parts is an easy job. Clean the outside thoroughly before you disassemble the unit to keep foreign matter from getting inside.

Dick West
 
Thanks for the replies. As regards seals, apart from the big rubber boot I have two circular plastic rings that came out of a groove in one tube flange and a circular metal ring made of springy stuff. One end of one tube has a covering already (a bit like stiff paper) so I was proposing to leave that alone. For reassembly I have two paper gaskets in addition to the above. I wasn't proposing to obtain replacement "plastic rings" as they look to be in good condition. Can't see any seals with "four corners" or "grooves" - where should I be looking? Thanks.
 
In order to have a complete selection of DeDion parts you need to locate:

A) Up to final drives numbered suffix "C"
1. Packing washer for RH oil seal 538843
2. Retainer for RH oil seal 538742
3. Oil seal for RH 538743 (quad seal)
4. Packing washer for LH oil seal 538844
5. Retainer ring for LH oil seal 538743

From final drives numbered suffix "D"
1. Retainer for RH oil seal 557257
2. Retainer for LH oil seal 557258
3. Oil seal for RH 538742 (quad seal)

Scott has a diagram on his website which numbers parts he can supply and shows the other parts.

http://www.scottsoldautorubber.com.au/p6rear1.gif

Do you need more pictures? Trouble finding the parts?

Eric
<erussellrv@yahoo.com>
 
Hi

Here is where I am at...

I have attached a new rubber boot to one end of the outer tube and at the other end I have a new paper gasket plus a new rubber seal and the flat metal seal. Any thoughts on whether or not a gasket sealant would be better than a paper gasket to attach the metal cup?

As regards the inner tube, I have the "springy ring" to secure the boot over a lip at the end of the tube and another paper gasket. I have not disturbed the outer sealed end of this tube and was planning to just bolt it back to the elbow - or am I missing a metal cup (the same as I have for the outer tube) for this side as well?

The diagram you attached has the labels "oil filled" and "grease filled". I am aware of the I need to put oil in the tube when assembled but what do these references mean?

Sorry to be so dense but I am not sure the tube was complete before I started so am a bit unsure of my ground at present.
 
The earlier cars have a filler plug half way along the tube through which you can fill the tube up with oil.

The later cars, mine is a 74, have a greased tube with which you paste grease on the moving parts on assembly

Other than the filler plug they look similar - so when you took it apart was it filled with oil or grease ?

John
 
keanej said:
The earlier cars have a filler plug half way along the tube through which you can fill the tube up with oil.

John
Click to expand...
Just to clarify, the tube with the plug is not "filled" with oil, it just needs a few shots from an oil can on the services.
 
When rebuilt, cleaned and reassembled, the tube will take 1/3 pt (Imp) of oil. I guessed that to be about 1/2 pt US, but I can't tell you how much I actually got in the tube as it is in a terrible place once reinstalled, and takes oil slowly as it is added,causing many overflows. I guess it is not critical.

Dick West
 
Hi folks

Thanks for clarifying this. The tube didn't actually have anything much in as the boot was ripped when I bought the car and I have just taken the tube apart to replace the boot and see what else needed doing. There is a brass filler plug so I must have the earlier type (my car is a 1970 2000 TC).

This just leaves my other question about the inner tube - should the left-hand end have a metal cap similar to that on the outer tube or does it just bolt direct to the elbow with a paper gasket between the two?
 
On my tube, at least, that end was a completely sealed blank end. I saw no need for a gasket on that end. I used "form a gasket" silicone for the end-cup side.

Dick West
 
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