>I disconnect the joints from the diff. they are very loose. I ordered a
>pair from SpitBits yesterday. Don't know what type I'm getting. Can't
>believe its also doing the work of a suspension member. Manual says not to
>leave the grease nipples in place as they can foul.
>Should I just remove the whole hub-shaft-brake unit as a whole or try to
>remove the joint from the splines of the shaft?
>Peter S
>
I've found that removing the whole assembly is easier than just the shaft -
its also easier to put them in this way. Make sure that you don't hammer on
the caps with the spider out of the bearings - the rollers will fall out
(esp the Japanese ones) Press them on in a large vice using sockets or
spacers.
WRT the shaft being a suspension member...
The top of the upright is held in place by the transverse spring.
The bottom is held vertical by the radius arm.
The inward and outward movement of the wheel assembly is checked ONLY by the
halfshaft.
The rear trunnion is only there to allow twisting of the hub assy on the
upright.
Since all horizontal loading is taken by the shaft, and therefore the
universals, they are in fact the single part
of the entire rear suspension which is constantly under load. When you
turn left, the left wheel/shaft assy tries to pull out from under the car,
putting extreme stress on the inner UJ bearing surfaces. The right wheel
then tries to force itself underneath the car further, putting extreme
stress on the Outer UJ bearing surfaces.
When you are driving straight ahead, since the radius rod controls the rear
toe-in, the universals both try to get under the car further, but not nearly
as much.
As for the grease nipples, depending on the type, if you can turn the UJ to
almost complete lock in all directions, they will not foul. OEM style ones
did not allow for this in the design, which is why I recommended the Hardy
Spicer ones. And use the long grease nipples, not the short ones - or you
won't be able to grease them anyway.
Good luck,
and happy (quiet) Triumph motoring!
Wayne
1954 Austin A40 Somerset
1963 Triumph Spitfire4
1966 Triumph 2000 Sedan
|