Adrian :
I'm not so 'puny', but I've changed the rear axle on a 3A by myself.
It's a lot of work, but doable. The part I remember as being toughest
was getting the wheel bearing housings unbolted from the axle housing,
which has to be done with the axle in the car.
Basically, the procedure is :
Put car on (tall) jackstands. Remove road wheels.
Drain brake fluid, disconnect hydraulic and e-brake lines at the rear
wheels.
Drain gear oil from axle.
Bend back tabs, remove 6 bolts behind brake backing plates, remove half
shafts and brakes. I seem to recall having to use an open-end wrench,
and only being able to go 1/12 turn at a time (then turn over wrench).
Disconnect drive shaft, hand brake cable and flexible brake line from
axle.
Remove axle check straps, and U bolts (another chore, as the nuts are
Nyloc, and there's a lot of threads). The nose of the axle will want to
swing down, so watch your fingers and head !
Now, move the axle to one side, until the other side can drop down
between the frame rails, then move the other way until it comes out.
This is the part that requires the most strength. I laid under the
axle, so I could "bench press" it nearly straight up. I used a piece of
plywood as a skid while pulling the axle out from under the car. After
the first end is on the plywood, it becomes easier since you no longer
have to lift the entire axle weight.
As the books like to say "Installation is the reverse of the removal"
<g>
Good Luck
Randall
Adrian Jones wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
> OK, you've convinced me that it (the back end) needs replacing.
> This looks like a job for grown-ups. I mean, it looks heavy for one thing.
> And this is a job you don't want to mess up, if you know what I mean.
> Hmm, do you thing I could do this on my own? I'm really tempted to pick up
> the phone and get it towed to the LBC shop. I've been working on this car
> since Christmas and I think I'm getting burnt out - this latest episode
> really took the wind out my sails.
> Then again, if one puny guy could do it on his own, maybe I"ll give it a
> try.
> Last year I replaced the differential (the inside stuff, not the whole axle
> deal) on my Midget - that wasn't so bad a job, kind of like a heavy duty,
> grimy wrestling match under the car for 50 minutes.
> Anybody got a rough idea of what a good used back end for a TR3A goes for
> these days. Please let me know before I go calling around. (In fact, if
> you have one and live near Raleigh, NC let me know)
> Thanks, Adrian
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