In a message dated 5/5/2005 2:22:33 PM Central Standard Time,
dalebonn@netnitco.net writes:
> I finally drove my 73 TR6 to work today. It's an 8 mile drive. When I
> got to the office, a banging noise was coming from the left rear wheel.
> About an hour later I drove it around in the parking lot and could not
> duplicate the sound. So at lunch, I drove it home.
>
> I only have an hour for lunch. I quickly put it on a jack and checked
> the wheel. Even though the wheel is tight, there is about 1/4 to 3/8 of
> an inch of "end play". I drove my other car back to the office.
>
First make sure the hub is tight to the trailing arm. The studs in the
trailing arm (which is aluminum) have a nasty habit of pulling out. If this is
the
case you may have to repair the threads on the trailing arm and reattach the
hub. If you're lucky, this is your problem.
If the hub is tight to the trailing arm it is time to check the hub itself.
The hub has two bearings that position the axle which holds the flange, brake
drum and, finally, the wheel, and the axle will be loose if the bearings are
loose or deteriorating. There is a large nut (which is hidden by the trailing
arm until the hub is removed) that is used to adjust the end play. If this
nut is loose you will have end play. Also, if it is loose, it is an indication
that someone has been messing with the hub and didn't set it right or forgot to
bend over the lock tabs. If you don't feel comfortable working on bearings
upon which rests your life and safety, I suggest you remove the hub and send
it off for professional service.
Or you could source a good, used hub and swap it in.
Another possibility is the wheel bearings are starting to fail in which case
see the last line of the previous paragraph.
A long shot is the pivot bushings for the trailing arms are shot but I would
think that you would see a lot more than just end play on the wheel if that
was the case.
Dave Massey
71 TR6
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