Earl,
great idea, I will try it.
Ken
-----Original Message-----
From: Earl Kagna [mailto:kags@shaw.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 4:14 PM
To: Freese, Ken; Healey List
Subject: Re: rear end growl next step
Ken:
If you have a bent axle shaft, I believe it would be hard to tell by
watching the wheel. With the drum, hub and wheel aIl properly seated, it
would be the diff end of the shaft that would want to whip around regardless
of where the bend would be. I assume that you've tried another wheel to
confirm that the wobble is not the wheel itself, and that the drum / splined
hub is correctly seated - (no grit or a slightly protruding screw heads,
etc. between the drum and the axle flange.)
There is another possibility (I know - not what you want to hear!) - that
the axle housing itself is bent in a way that the left hub is running
slightly out of alignment - this would mimic a bent axle shaft as far as
excessive hub and / or left shaft diff bearing wear is concerned. This is
also a potentially dangerous, or at least very inconvenient situation - you
don't want to break a shaft at the wrong moment.
A suggestion for diagnosis: When you have the diff pod (pumpkin) removed
from the car, re-install the axle shafts on their original sides. Make sure
that the shaft flanges are firmly seated on the hub flanges, as they would
be for driving. Observe through the open axle housing while an assitant
rotates the assembly at the hub end by hand - check the right side as well.
If you see the splined end of the left shaft wobbling any more than a tiny
bit but the right seems to be okay, interchange the axle shafts (they are
not 'handed' - same part # for both sides) to confirm - you get the idea.
The diff ends of the shafts should be 'looking' right at each other -
noteable misalignment with both shafts good would indicate a fault in the
axle housing.
If you think that you have a bent shaft, I would have a machinist confirm
it - the above test simply points you in the right direction.
If it turns out that you do have a bent shaft, it is likely that it has
caused wear in the diff (and/or the hub bearing) that is the source of your
noise.
Earl Kagna
Victoria, B.C.
BT7 tri-carb
BJ8
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