7 Sevens Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I've just got back from my MOT and have a couple of problems. The car is a 99 classic: 1.6l 8v VX, Ford five speed and a live axle. How can I tell if this is a Ford or Ital one? the garage suggests its a Ford but I can't see any markings on it. 1st problem is when jacking the front up on the near side front suspension. The bolt that holds the back end of the A shaped wishbone onto the chassis appears to be loose in the chassis rail/pickup. Is there a bush through the pick up point or can the bolt wear the hole it goes through. In effect its like the suspension hasn't be tightened up. 2nd problem I think is bearing related. The near side rear wheel when of the ground moves a couple of inches in and out along the diff line. It also appears to be leaking where the diff meets the rear drum. Thanks in advance. I have searched the archives but I'm not sure what the problem is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Just to clarify. I think it must be an Ital axle as its a 3.75" PCD. So the obvious thing is that the axle needs shimming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Sounds like the handling must have been 'orrible with the rear wheel wandering sideways ?? 7 related photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Oddly I haven't noticed anything different which is confusing me. This isn't some quirk of a live axle car is it? The wheel clearly pulls in and out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 The wheel clearly pulls in and out. check if the tyre is pumped up 😬 coat >>>>>>>> door>>>>>>>>> Taffia rear gunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextangent Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 My Ital axle moves in and out; but not by inches *confused*More like 2-3 mm max. iirc there's no bush on the chassis side, just a bolt through; the bushes are on the suspension. I'll check when I get back tonight. Alex McDonald A loud 1700 SS in bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 If the wheel is moving in and out, then you need the axle bearing either shimmed or spot welded, two different ways of sorting it out. Either way, you will need new bearings pressed onto the half shafts. SPC (advertises in Low Flying) will do you exchange half shafts. The wishbones, do have bushes in them, which you can change. You can get the bushes from Caterham, and then you need to remove the wishbone and press out the old bushes and press in the new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextangent Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 I think they're those Y9 or Y16 jobbies I did it recently, but the old brain is fading... Alex McDonald A loud 1700 SS in bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Alex and Casbar thanks for your advice. I'm going to order 4 front lower wishbone bushes and replace those. May as well replace the A frame bush on the back as well. In respect to the rear it sounds like I need new bearings and then fix them to the shaft. I'll check with my garage or as you say look up SPC. Any more advise or comments from anyone would be handy. Yes there is air in the tyre! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Give Steve at SPC a call, there are two ways to sort out the movement after fitting new bearings. Either spot weld them or shim them, each way has its fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregP Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Re the wishbone, apologies if this is stating the obvious but have you tried just tightening the bolt? I had the exact same problem at my MOT (with the exact same model of car) last year and that was all it took. The rear axle does sound like it needs shimming. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Re the wishbone, tightening the bolt up, will probably stop it moving, but all that will do is put extra pressure on the bolt and pinch the upright in the bracket. It won't stop it moving under driving forces, if the bushes are stuffed they are stuffed and most cars at some point will need them replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Greg, thanks for the suggestion. I haven't tried yet but for the price and the sake of general maintainence will change those anyway as Casbar suggests. The bolt also seems to flex which suggests there is movement in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revin Kevin Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 Sevens, As Casbar suggests it sounds like the bearings are moving on the shaft on your axle. If you fancy having a go yourself it's a realatively easy job aslong as you can get a local engineering firm to make you up the shim. Shimming is the favoured way to go now as (on the track) tack welding the bearings has caused shaft failures. Cheers Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 The bush at the chassis end IS supposed to be trapped between the mounting lugs - assuming the mounting hole in the chassis hasn't been worn overside, the central metal tube in the bush will jam against the mounting lugs (trapping any spacer washers if they are fitted) as it should when the bolt is tight. The bolt should never be loose - it'll move around and wear the holes in the chassis. With rubber bushes and some polyethylene bushes, the suspension movement is accomodated by flexing of the material. Some bushes work by rotating around the central spacer tube (some makes of Lancia integrale lower front wishbone bushes for example). If the mounting holes have been worn, there is the chance of pushing the central tube into the holes - that's bad and will indeed stress the bush too much. With the old style Triumph trunnion on the front, the same is true - the bolt needs to be tight to lock the central spacer/bearing tube in place to allow the nylon bushes to rotate on it. Loose bolts here will wear the wishbone holes. No loose bolts! Anywhere! Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alextangent Posted January 29, 2008 Share Posted January 29, 2008 7 sevens, sorry, didn't get to the garage as promised to check the layout & bushes used before I had to go away on business. Hope it's easily sorted for you (including the axle problem) Alex McDonald A loud 1700 SS in bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 Alex, Not a problem I've got an idea what now needs to be done. Bri, Thanks for the comments. It is a trunnion set up on the front so I'm going to disconnect the wishbone and replace the bushes. I suspect it may have worn the mounting holes but will look this weekend. Thanks. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Sevens Posted February 6, 2008 Author Share Posted February 6, 2008 Just to update everyone. - New front bushes solved the moving bolt problem. - A weld had broken on the half shaft causing the bearing to float up and down it. A new bearing loctited on with a new weld and its all fixed. Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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