Neil7W

If I'm not too late, I'm interested, how much? where do I send the money?

I’ve never had a problem with my hood, but this does remind me of a story I heard from a customer with a seven. He was caught out in the rain, quickly stopped and pulled on the hood and off he went again. A few minutes later as he got up to speed the hood was ripped off and through his mirror, he watched it splat against the grill of the lorry behind. He then had to deal with the indignity of watching the lorry carry on going, hood plastered to the grill, as he stopped! Fortunately, I believe the hood dislodged itself further down the road and he was able to retrieve it. A great story but I think it gave him a bit of a shock at the time.

Grey with two black bonnet stripes heading south on A68 towards Castleside.

If you have one, thanks, just been looking online.

When brut force is required call in the teenagers! Off in two minutes. However, the bearing is obviously knackered, by the looks this requires the hub to be removed, so wheel bearings will have to be ordered and the job finished next weekend.

Know what you mean. To some degree I have that by inverting the outer hub, resiting on the wheel studs and loosely putting the wheel nuts on acting as a stopper and pulling the outer hub forwards, stopping on the wheel nuts giving the shock. I'll be more forceful.

Yes, no problem there. The difficulty is directing the force from behind to extract the axle out. I have tried to reattach the outer brake hub backwards which gives a good hand hold but very little opportunity to get a good wack to try and break it free. Really need a hub puller type tool to be able to wind on the pressure gradually. I work away in the week and away this weekend but home tonight, so I'll have another go tonight. Thanks for the help.

Force it is then. Thanks

Again I apologise for having to have this spelt out. I have followed CaterBram's step by step guide up to and including point 6. However, the axle doesn't want to budge. Is it just splines on the end of the axle that slot tight into the diff? i.e. I'm just trying to break a tight fit and it should pop out? Just want to check I'm not missing something obvious before I ratchet up the force and break something! Any advise on how best to apply the force?

You're right, I hadn't thought on about refilling the diff, great advise, can't see a workshop manual getting close. I'll get the parts ordered today and have a go at the weekend. All in half an hour, I think I'll put a day aside! Thanks again.

Sorry, posted my last post before reading your last comment. I think I have it. I'll order up the parts as you describe and have a go. Thanks again, much appreciated.

Arh, would I be right in assuming I have to pull the whole half shaft out through the old seal, replace the seal and slide the half shaft back through reconnecting to the diff?

Thanks again for this and the step by step guide, no I haven't done it before. Quick question, I presume the seal needing replacing is on the hub end of the half shaft rather than diff end. In which case I take it that the half shaft doesn't have to be removed? Do I take it that the gasket sealant is for the outside of the seal? Sounds like a job I should be able to do, as long as I can identify the various parts. Is there a reason for changing the brake shoes, other than as I have it apart I may as well? Thanks again for your help.

Great, thanks for that. No, doesn't appear to be any bearing play.

Sorry in advance if this is a simple question. I have a 1999 7 with an Ital live axle. Towards the end of a long run yesterday there was a noise coming from the rear passenger wheel which I put down to the hand brake not releasing properly causing the brake to bind, as has happened before. However, this morning I noticed a small pool of oil on the garage floor. Taking the wheel off, the inside of the rear wheel is covered in oil as is the rear wheel arch which is where the oil had been dripping from. Obviously the oil has been flung around as the wheel has been spinning. I say oil, I'm fairly certain it isn't brake fluid as it's very black, the brake fluid reservoir is full and I didn't notice a lack of pressure in the peddle. Taking the hub off reveals more fluid. Is this a half shaft problem?