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Re: AFTER THE REPAIR noises

To: HMENTZEN@aol.com
Subject: Re: AFTER THE REPAIR noises
From: Barry Schwartz <bschwart@pacbell.net>
Date: Fri, 18 Jun 1999 07:01:44 -0700
>A few weeks ago I had to replace the half shaft and u-joint on my Spit.
>I took the assembly to the local TR mechanic and had them replaced. As I
left 
>he said that it would be tight for 300 or 400 miles. Nothing was said about 
>it making noise. I get a clicking noise especially when cornering. Any
ideas? 
******************************************
I can almost guarantee that it's the u-joint slapping back and forth inside
the yoke.  The "correct" procedure for installing u-joints in the Spitfire
axle is to determine the installed clearance between the cups and the
retaining ring groove and fit the "correct" thickness circlip to retain it.
 Nobody I know of in the business does this, and just fits them right out
of the box.  Anymore, u-joints come with only one thickness clip and it's
invariably to thin, allowing the u-joint cups the slide inside the already
worn bores of a well used, highly stressed Spitfire axle causing the
"click" as they encounter the circlips.  In my case, shimming with a thin
shim cleared up the problem.  The material from an empty soda can was just
right, and was easy enough to cut -

Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net

72 FI, V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
70 Spitfire (long term project)


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