david c Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 I have three "spare" drive shaft / hub units for my TR4a. They look to be in good condition, is there any way of testing them, please keep in mind I am no engineer nor do I have any clever kit, just normal hand tools. The UJ's feel good and tight but the rubber caps don't look to wonderful, should I replace them as a matter of course? If so is it a job I could undertake myself or just take them up to the garage and have them do a "proper" job I plan to replace the existing units on my car in an attempt to cure the "take up" clonk. I know it may not be the cure but it can do no harm? Kind regards David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Sorry David but a brief search (using the search box) on here will show member after member asking why they "have a clicking noise" or a "rear wheel wobbling" or "why has my wheel overtaken my car into a field from where I had to fetch it" and other hair raising tales. RogerH whose in a previous incarnation did Aircraft NDT (non destructive testing) and repair even to the level of Concorde says "these IRS car rear hub units are dying." Not from bad design or manufacturer malfeasance and money grabbing in component design but because they are now 50 years old, and if you asked modern car designers if their products will stand 50 years of use, and unknown to subsequent owners being launched over kerbs when chasing that MG, or used for race series at the weekends, will laugh in your face and say "you cannot be serious". Unless you definitely can pin down the provenance of the drive shafts and hubs to being owned by a nun who had an aversion to driving faster than 30mph I would strongly consider new hubs and driveshafts, or you risk this happening or this Now these are pictures from the Stag owners club forum who share the design of the Innsbruk rear arms and hubs with our IRS cars, so if you remember that they treat their cars with such regard that they think ALL TR owners are hooligans and ruffians it gives you an idea what may be lurking within TR brake drums, fit new ones. Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david c Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Hmm Point taken, Sister Mary assured me she had the shafts taken off only weeks after buying the car new so she could fit limited slip diffs. for her rallying In truth I know these units have been stored in a barn for over 20 years............but then again so was my car up to 4 years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvark Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Sorry David but a brief search (using the search box) on here will show member after member asking why they "have a clicking noise" or a "rear wheel wobbling" or "why has my wheel overtaken my car into a field from where I had to fetch it" and other hair raising tales. RogerH whose in a previous incarnation did Aircraft NDT (non destructive testing) and repair even to the level of Concorde says "these IRS car rear hub units are dying." Not from bad design or manufacturer malfeasance and money grabbing in component design but because they are now 50 years old, and if you asked modern car designers if their products will stand 50 years of use, and unknown to subsequent owners being launched over kerbs when chasing that MG, or used for race series at the weekends, will laugh in your face and say "you cannot be serious". Unless you definitely can pin down the provenance of the drive shafts and hubs to being owned by a nun who had an aversion to driving faster than 30mph I would strongly consider new hubs and driveshafts, or you risk this happening Stag Hub failure.jpg or this Stag Hub failure 2.jpg Now these are pictures from the Stag owners club forum who share the design of the Innsbruk rear arms and hubs with our IRS cars, so if you remember that they treat their cars with such regard that they think ALL TR owners are hooligans and ruffians it gives you an idea what may be lurking within TR brake drums, fit new ones. Mick Richards +1. I replaced my hubs and drive shafts this year. What price is peace of mind? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Hi David, firstly the clonk. As you have found there are many places where the clonk could lurk. UJ's - 6 off Drive shaft splies - 2 off Propshaft spline - 1 off Diff support pins = 4 off Damper drop arm Damper attachment - lever arm Damper attachment - strut. top/bottom Dampers and struts could produce an internal knocking but not common. Chassis members Diff input pinion Diff front support cracking Diff output pinion keyway - 2 off and more generally UJ's and the splines show as wear. If there is any that you can feel then there is more that the engine can extract - so change them The diff mounts are easy to feel and see The diff itself always has some play in it. This could be the problem but leave till last option. The hubs do not generally produce a knocking sound. Bearings grumble and can be easily felt. As for the hub. As mentioned by Mickey the hubs are 40/50 years old and their history could be very chequered. If they have been laid up in a barn for 30 of the 50 years then you could be on a good bet. If there is any doubt then I would have them changed. They do fail and it is suddenly whilst on the move. A number of people have changed over to CV shafts but this simply swaps one issue for another. Good NEW hubs will work safely for many years I also have a 'take-up clonk' and am doing all the same things as yourself. I'm beginning to think it may be the newly serviced diff Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PYU940F Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 I had a clonk on take up that mystified me for a while. I suspected the drive shaft splines but putting the rear of the car on axle stands there was no movement in the splines. Changed all the U/J's but the clonk still there. I was about to have the diff overhauled when I decided to replace the drive shafts anyway. New shafts = no clonk. I think when the car was on stands the wheels dropped and the spline mating surfaces moved to a relatively unworn area, hence no symptoms. That really was a curved ball scenario for me. Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david c Posted July 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Thank you all for the advise, having read some of the horror stories on the forum it puts things in a new light. I will work through Rogers list and take it from there. just to clarify this noise / clonk is not present all the time only on the drive take up, and it has only started within the last few dozen miles. I'm really not trying to be difficult ....but I am a little puzzled the sliding splines on my "spare" shafts look to me to be extremely good with no rounded edges and they even have the little for want of the proper word little grooves on the outside face of the splines. How can I be sure that if I send these back / exchange them I will get back better units or just different units with a nice coat of black paint? I do like the Idea of the new / reconditioned hub units from the TR Shop though, from what I have read replacing the inner and outer bearings is a specialist job, not something even the local would be "properly" able to do. Thanks again David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Hi David, if you are going for new drive shafts then contact Proptech Services Kidderminster https://gb.kompass.com/c/proptech-ltd/gb82467406/ They do the best ones. I believe that Moss also stock these ( but not 100% certain As for hubs if you go for refurb's then make sure that they have a NEW stub axle. Bearings do not matter !!!! it is the shaft. The Moss hub is good. The Bastuck hub should be good but have not used one . Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Do you have wire wheels? A clonk on drive takeup can be cause by a slack spinner on either rear wheel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david c Posted July 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Hello Pete My spinners are not the prettiest so I apply the big hammer, good and tight. ( I'll buy shiny spinners when I have finished mucking about) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR NIALL Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Check the 4 Bolts that hold on the Front Diff Mounting Plate these do come loose and can give play when taking up Drive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david c Posted July 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Thanks Niall This is getting to be quite a check list. David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 ....I'm sure there is more..... Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR NIALL Posted July 8, 2018 Report Share Posted July 8, 2018 Thanks Niall This is getting to be quite a check list. David It’s an easy check Dave and won’t cost you Money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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