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rear end problem

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kcbugeye, honestly i wouldnt know, i thought the original question was asked concerning a big healeys rear end problems? well anyway you might receive a better answer if you asked on the b.e. forum im sure one of them would get back to you with the specific info you require. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
keoke, this is the set i was looking at/talking about ebay item # 330170230728 went for $406.99 mike lempert 3.54 rear end gear set, thats what im /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif about. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cryin.gif
 
Playing with the wheel while elevated shows a bit of free play at the universal, isolating the noise from the suspension noises. Thanks, kcbugeye.
 
I have a question. Do the Healeys use the standard MOWOG rearend? I never looked under one of them. I changed my midget rear diff gears out to a 3.55 from a 3.90 with gears I bought from Vicky Brit for about $250 about 5 years ago. I hope to have it on the road this spring. I also a datun 5 speed conversion in it, so it will be geared high. What size tires do Healeys run?
 
Hi Regularman, The big Healey car owners run a pretty wide variety of tire sizes. However, the two most popular sizes are: 165 X 80 X 15 and 185 X 70 X 15 .--Fwiw--Keoke
 
Just doing the math in my head. My midget runs 13s and was around 3500 rpms at 60mph (before and diff change or the 5speed overdrive installed). With 15s you should have much faster speeds with the same rpm and 3.90 diff. Anyways, there should be some play between the drive shaft and the wheels, that is just normal on all rearends. One quick check would be that the yoke nut is tight. I have seen this come loose on lots of makes and models of rwd cars and cause play and wired noises, etc. Usually takes a big socket to fit it and maybe a pipe wrench to hold the yoke to get the torque right. A set of diff gears in good oil should last almost forever without wearing out and whining or getting play or whatever. I'm sure you guys don't drag race these cars or drive them rough. I sure wouldn't if I had one.
 
Oh, and having set up a few diff gears. The main thing is getting the pinion depth right. Setting the backlash on the ring gear is easy compared to that. Even going by the numbers on the gears, you need to run some Prussian blue through the gears and check the run out. Tedious work if done right IMHO.
 
It's uncommon for the Big Healey rear axles to have problems. Probably one of the most common problems is for the outer (front) pinion gear bearing pre-load shim or shims to break up & change the intended setting. These shims are quite thin & fragile. See item 37 in this catalog picture:
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=36378

This pre-load shim can be reached by removing the propeller shaft flange nut, the flange, dust seal, oil seal, & front bearing. If you find the shim is broken, there should still be enough of it to measure the thickness & replace with the same.

This doesn't directly affect the pinion depth which is set by the shims item #34, but indirectly affects it & can cause noise. Might be worth a check before more serious action is taken.
D
 
Anthony, Are you saying you don't have overdrive. Your engine speed seems alittle high to me but I must admitt that I'm usually in O/D when I'm at that speed. Ya know, I thought big Healeys had 410 rear gears stock.
 
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