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TR2/3/3A Northern Cal Differential Repair?

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Talon

Talon

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I am just starting to really get into the glorious and frustrating business of personally maintaining the 1959 TR-3A I've had for 10 years. It has always run well and I've had precious little reason to work on it. No longer: the differential is apparently shot. I can do basic mechanical repairs, but rebuilding a differential is beyond me -- and a guy at Moss just told me that I need to find a shop that is specially set up to do differentials. He also said that it would be cheaper to rebuild it with new parts than try to replace the whole thing. I tend to favor that as well, as I have misgivings about replacing it with an old assembly that may just break on me pretty soon down the road.

QUESTION FOR ANYONE: Do you know of a reliable place, in or close to San Francisco, that could rebuild my differential? Any suggestions or comments are much appreciated.

Thanks. Talon
 
Vern's Auto Clinic on Blacow in Fremont is the only shop I've found in the East Bay that works on Triumphs. I don't now if he rebuilds differentials, but if someone does, I suspect he'd know about it.

Bill
 
These guys are specialists.
https://www.rearendspecialties.com/
I think they will do work on any differential, had the Mustang's differential rebuilt by them and they did a great job.
But before you chose any shop, make sure they know how and have the tools to take TR rear hubs apart.

M. :cheers:
 
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Or, if only the differential is the problem, consider not taking the hubs apart at all. The differential itself is very basic, any shop that can do other types should be able to handle the TR3A unit easily, once it's out of the car. Getting it out is kind of strange due to the TRs construction, but clearly described in the workshop manual.

Just curious, how do you know it is "shot" ? If the gear set is OK and it just needs new bearings & thrust washers, that might be something you could tackle yourself. A few special tools are required, but they can be bought or fabricated. If you are not replacing the gears, then chances are that you can measure and match the existing shim packs to get close enough (as long as you use name brand bearings like Timken or NTN, not the "no name" stuff from India).
 
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