[Healeys] rear hub and axel

[Alan Seigrist]

Paul -

The fact that your paper gasket is damaged is indicative of other
problems - likely your rear spline hub was not on tight enough and the
brake drums / hubs / splines were wobbling around for quite some time
- probably where your noise was coming from - this is a common problem
from poor maintenance.

DO NOT, I repeat , DO NOT use silicone sealer in lieu of the paper
gasket.  If you have your paper gasket (get the proper one from a
healey supplier, don't make your own - they are made to a precise
thickness) and the O ring replaced (also replace the Hub oil seals), I
can promise you you will not have any leakage at all provided your lug
bolts on the spline hub are kept tight.  My BJ8 hasn't leaked oil out
of the diff in 15 years since I  fixed it.

Basically what I am saying is fix the job right, like it was from the
factory, and you won't have any problems here.  Trying to outsmart the
factory design for the rear hubs is pointless, and more than likely
will work against you.  The thing is bullet proof, you just have to
maintain your car properly.

Alan



On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 1:05 PM, Paul Choiniere <Paulch at charter.net> wrote:
> I just came back from our first 2 hr ride and it was on the back of a flat
> bed other then that it was great. I stopped the car when I heard a thumping
> coming from my rear axel. I looked at the driver s side rear tire and it
> seamed loose then I reached around and came out with a hand full of gear
> oil. I have disassembled the driver s side and found the thin paper gasket
> that was holding the oil in was bad in about a 2  space the rest of it was
> still intact .This car has been sitting a long time could the gasket have
> gone bad in this one spot from just sitting?? Also one of the screws holding
> the break drum in was broken and the screw that was holding the axel in was
> striped or at least aperies to be striped on the very end but the last < or
> this screw still had sufficient threads to hold. Sorry for the long
> beginning I have a couple of? Instead of using that paper gasket could I use
> a silicone sealer of some sort? And how much further should I check the rear
> end out .This was the same axel that was installed when I bought it brakes
> and the entire previous owner said it had been rebuilt so all I did was
> check the fluid and adjust the brakes. The other side still seems fine?? All
> help and suggestions would be appreciated as always this list has been a
> huge help.
>
>
>
> Paul Choiniere