Things aren't always what they seem. I finally found a little time to
pull the wheels (see my earlier postings starting with flatbed
adventures and presumed broken half shaft rear axle.) First clue was a
bunch of dark greasy metal filings inside the hubcap. The main nut
holding the brake drum to the axle was intact with the cotter pin in
place, but I was able to unscrew it without even using a wrench. Wheel
and brake drum come off easily and the half shaft is as new. The
splines inside the drum are all worn off except for about an eight of an
inch at the extreme outside rim. No visible damage to the splines on
the half shaft. As mentioned before I have the upgraded half shafts, so
their reputation is still intact. I do plan to pull them both and have
them magnafluxed just to be sure, but the failure was clearly in the
brake drum. I know I had tightened that nut down before installing the
cotter pin, but maybe the pin wasn't big enough, or I should have turned
another tic to engage the next space in the castellated nut.
I have another drum on order from O'Connor Classics.
The damper on that side (the one that has been leaking) offers little
resistance and I'll have it rebuilt. The metal check strap that goes all
the way around the axle housing on that side has snapped, so there
apparently was a lot of action on that spring. The lesson to learn is
the old stitch in time routine . . . I should have addressed the damper
when I first noticed it leaking.
The oil seal is also shot and the brake pads are black with oil. These
are pretty recent pads with lots of material left. Can they be
salvaged? What would I use to clean them?
Andy Moyce
52 TD damaged goods
Back on the road ???
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