Sandy

My Girlfriends bringing her 2 girls cos Gareth said he will run a creche on the day? Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

See you on Sunday then. Am in Green group Green with yellow stripe on a Q I'd weld your tillet in, Gareth is in the same group, also with 1 tillet 😬 Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Ok then, I had an oil leak from one hub, so the oil seals were replaced. Oil leak returned so I was assured the shaft must be bent. Had both sides replaced with the newer shafts. Asked the garage to remember to overfill the diff. when all the work had been carried it transpired there was no breather on the diff *mad* Oh, I also brought a Haynes manual when the leak returned and later my mechanic admitted he had fitted 2 plates the wrong way round 1st time round so either that or the fact there was no breather was the likely cause of the leak. Its all sorted now, with a breather but I wont be taking it back there He's an ok mechanic on my tin top but rubbish on the 7 cos he doesnt want to think or do anything that isnt routine (to him anyway) Anyway, dont take the p*ss or i'll chuck my teddy, no CAR at you - The engine had to come out last year, and then my fan switch broke this year which threw the HG so I've had my fair share of mis-fortune Sandy Looking for a mechanic that knows what he is doing

Its a long story which I'm happy to explain to anyone thats interested.... I've just replaced both of my Ital half shafts and it transpires that there is nothing wrong with the old ones So, I have the old pair available 4yrs old, 5k miles use (Just 1, yes 1 track day!!) They are of the 'bearing tack welded' type although the weld has broken on one £120 +carriage for the pair incl bearings and hub nuts Attend Hathern and Lichfield meets and am at Croft on Sunday Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Ferrino, Thanks for your help and cheers for the link. Andy from McMillan has been quite helpful but he simply cant fit me in at the moment. I had a long chat with James Whiting (Top Man ) and off the back of that I've measured the shims and will retro fit at a later date. I've got Croft on sunday and had been struggling to get the shims made in time. One interesting point is that the shims need to spin free when in place - I didnt know that until I read your link and then JW confirmed. Good job I was delayed or it could have all been re-assembled with incorrectly fitted shims! Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Can anyone please tell me if it matters which way the bearings are located on the half shaft? One side the bearings are exposed and the other not? Does it matter? Also could anyone who has had shimming done tell me what ID OD and thicknesses they were? Just by way of comparison as I'm about to measure mine but would like the comfort of knowing I'm about right before I order my shims. I'm struggling to get shims made and this lot back together before Croft so if anyone can tell me this tonight then it would be most helpful Please, pretty please Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Pierre, i'll take it then please. Payment will be tomorrow via paypal (I need to get verified to release my sending limit!) Can you PM me your the email address you would like payment to go to Many thanks Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

First dibs please! Can you let me know how much postage would be to nottingham UK? Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Ferrino YHM Would be interested in the spec of the seals your using on the half shaft on exit from diff. assume you slide over the shaft before offering back in place? Where did you source the seals from and how far down the shaft did you place them? Take it they are just a friction fit? Will speak to Andy Mc tomorrow re: shims and my replacement half shaft is on the way from CC Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Cheers Mark and Ferrino, I've ordered a new half shaft from CC. No idea how mine become bent but a local engineering firm checked it and advised as such? Once the new half shaft has arrived I shall get myself road going again and then see Andy at Mcmillan for shimming I've read alot of previous threads about conversion to English axle but theres no indication to what the costs are? Can anyone advise? I dont have the ability to carry out the work myself so it would be a case of sourcing an axle and diff from SPC? and getting Mcmillan to fit? Caterham suggested yesterday that an English axle wont fit my long cockpit chassis. Is this the case? (Mind you, CC REALLY were very negative and unhelpful) Finally, if I were going to all this expense, would my money be better spent on shimming and baffling my live and fitting an LSD. Could this then make it robust enough or would it remain a weaker set up to English axle? Im not adverse to selling and changing to a higher spec car but in its current form wouldnt alot of potential buyers be put off? Appreciate all the advice so many thanks Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Ok, have had my half shaft checked and apparently its bent (Just not sure how it has occured - unless it was prior to my purchase) I will be ordering a new one from Caterham but should I NOT have the bearing tack welded to the half shaft (as the existing one is) Not sure I entirely understand the 'shimming' but is this something I ought to have done to the half shaft before fitting? Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Mike, Based on advice given in previous threads, when mine gave up I replaced it with VW part No 823959481F which I understand is 92-82 switching Has operated fine on my Zetec anyway so should be equally good for yours? Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Well I went into Caterham this morning and they looked at me as if I had two heads?! I explained about my leak and they asked what tyres I was running on. When I replied '32s they diagnosed that as my problem and said the axle wasnt designed for 'those stresses'. I came away with a bearing kit so can only have it put it back together and hope for the best? The seals were replaced in April though so I'm not confident this will cure? Caterham did advise that the half shaft comes supplied by them with the bearing tack welded in place so should I assume that its liklely to be in the correct place? If the new seals dont fix the leak then could it be the half shaft has become bent and could an engine builder or engineer check the half shaft for trueness before its offered back in? I'll give SPC a call tomorrow anyway but just thought I would have a good rant. Ultimately I need to make this axle robust enough for my 165bhp and 32's or go English axle route. Either way its more of the green stuff (Only just got car back after HG failure 🙆🏻) Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

I brought a set of four from DT in Feb but they only had a few left then so I would be surprised if anyone has any in stock now. At the time I tried George Pooley as well as a load of local tyre suppliers all of whom couldnt source any so I was lucky. Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Thanks for all the responses so far! The hub is stripped down and I have been to have a look. The transmission oil has compromised both inner and outer oil seals. In any event, the shaft of road wheel flange (inner hub) that the outer seal sits against is definitely worn so I will buy a new one. The wheel bearing has been tack welded to the half shaft and so for the inner seal to be compromised it has been suggested it could be due to the following; The tack weld is compromising the seal The half shaft could be bent The bearing could be welded too far out on the half shaft There is excessive play in the bearing (perhaps due to the tack weld?) The seals could be rotational and therefore fitted incorrectly (doubt it but worth clarifying?) I also have the following queries; Is the tack weld likely to have been an earlier solution to ‘shimming’ Are the bearings designed to run in grease (if so then the oil leak has washed it all out as previously suggested!) Is there an easy way of having someone check the half shaft, bearing and associated tack weld? I currently have the offending items in the boot of my car and as luck would have it am in Thurrock tomorrow on business. Therefore I intent visiting Caterham first thing in the morning for an opinion. However, ahead of this, if anyone can offer anymore advice or recommendations it would be most useful Thanks again Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

I have spoken with Mcmillan but they cant fit me in for another week or so. Have got a few track days coming up soon so my plan is to get the leak fixed then return to Mcmillan for shimming at a later date. The mechanic I use thought there was slight scoring on the rear hub when he replaced the seal a few months ago. The plan is he will strip it down again and let me know what parts may need replacing? The transmission oil is leaking down the back of the hub onto the inner surface of the wheel. Only seems to leak when being driven and its difficult to tell how bad the leak is? Im sure that its not as a result of over filling either as I havent! Would I be better recommended to hang fire for Mcmillan then so they can look at the bigger picture? Thanks again Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0)) Edited by - Sandy on 13 Jul 2005 12:46:07

Can anyone advise on the best source? I know caterham can source but wondered if there are any better/ cheaper/ quicker suppliers I have a leaky hub and have replaced the oil seals so am going to try replacing the rear hub bearing? Any suggestions would be welcomed! Have done an archive search and know that its not a result of my diff being overfilled Many thanks, Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

The venting is sorted, had the HG replaced (old one was only 8months old ) which cured the venting. Car is running well although I have a leaky hub so its back in the Garage as of this morning Nearly totalled it in the Yorks Dales on Sat morn when I lost it on a bend (going too fast 😳) Span out and ended up on opposite side of road facing the way I had come. Heaven knows how I missed the dry stone wall or lamp post when fighting the car out of the grass verge?? Only damage was a broken rear No plate - Oh and to my pride Unfortunately I was gaining on a Ford Focus at the time who didnt want me to, so it no doubt has given him a good story to tell down his local *thumbdown* Still, could have been alot worse and I have certainly learnt a lesson ❗ Cant make next Lichfield meet but will see you at the next one (Hopefully wiv Aero in place!) Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Anyone got a spare set of brackets with captive fixings for the interchangeable aeroscreen/ windscreen? Sandy (sandy.sanders@ntlworld.com) Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Am after a cover to fit my Live Axle long cockpit Seven with FIA bar and Tillets Would be interested if anyone has one they may be willing to part with? I do have one with a boot cover that I could modify but thought I would try the path of least resistance first !! Sandy (sandy.sanders@ntlworld.com) Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Nick, If its any consolation, I managed to get a second hand interchangeable aeroscreen AND pair of half doors Good luck wiv your Tillet search 😬 Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

They come from Caterham with the strap but not sure how much? as I too have lost mine! Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Try ebay, theres one pair up for £30 with a day to go but seems a fair amount of interest; http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14788&item=4557231572&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW Good luck Sandy Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

Wingnut, YHM Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))

....If so, YES PLEASE *cool* Its not the days in your life ..........But the LIFE in your days!! ;0))