• Willys '45 Maintenance Manual
• Willys '53 Mechanics Manual
• Kaiser '65 Service Manual
• Automotive Torque Specifications (online)

They are in tabular form, so you can see how they differed between the various manuals.

They are broken down by Willys Group number, corresponding to the sections of the parts lists that you'll find the fasteners in.

They are for information only. I make no representation as to which of the differing specs is correct. That's up to you.

***** PLEASE READ THE NOTES for clarification ! *****

1) There is a MAJOR discrepancy between earlier and later manuals here, and I don't know what to make of it. There's 3 possibilities:

• the '65 manual covers much newer vehicles, which use heavier axle components, and they only list the most current specs, or ...
• the earlier specs may be wrong. The 38-42 ft-lb spec was used throughout WW-II on MB & GPW too, but this figure seems far too low for a differential bearing cap, or ...
• the earlier specs may be right. While the bolt may be strong enough, the threads in the cast iron housing may not be. Torque has to account for the weakest link.

These bolts are 1/2"-13, and are almost certainly capable of far more than 38-42 lbs. For instance, the crankshaft bearing cap bolts are also 1/2"- 13, but get 65-75 lbs. torque.

Then consider modern SAE bolt torque specs:

I used 75, simply because I only had the '65 manual when I rebuilt the axles. Nothing broke.

2) This spec is taken from the later manual, by which time the original style, cast pot-metal & cork, steering knuckle seal had been superceded by the modern rubber ring + stamped steel retainer.

This is TOO MUCH torque for the original style seals. The cast pot metal begins to distort @ 9-10 ft-lbs.

3) This spec is not found in Willys manuals. It was found on the G503 web site for MB/GPW.

4) Another anomalous spec.

The later manuals ('53 & '65) say to use this spec for rubber-bushed spring pivots. For bronze bushed pivots, the say to "tighten the retaining nut, after which back it off 2 cotter pin slots", then "be sure the nut is drawn up tight, however, it must be sufficiently loose to allow the spring to pivot freely".

Yet this spec is also found in the '45 manual, long before rubber bushings were used, w/no mention of "backing off 2 cotter pin slots".

5) These specs were found online at Automotive Torque Specifications, an independent site whose author has gone to great lengths to compile torque specs. The source of these additional specs is not given, so I cannot vouch for their accuracy, but they seem reasonable.

I've only included those specs which were not found in a Willys manual, or which differed significantly from Willys specs. In most cases, the posted specs corresponded to Willys specs, but in some cases they differ significantly.

Compare them and make your own decision as to which to use.

6) The 20-30 lb. spec from the '65 manual is found only in the torque table at the end of the book. The 38-42 spec from earlier manuals is within the assembly description itself. These are 3/8"-24 studs & nuts. Depending on steel grade, either may be correct.