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rear end problem

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

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I did about 600 miles this week end and everything was fine. (San Juan Bautista for the fall classic).There was a post about rear noise a short while ago. It got me thinking about a klunk noise I've noticed for years. I hear it when I engage the gears or break. I've checked things in the suspension, breaks and universals are new. Today I jacked her up and rotated the wheels by hand and watched the drive shaft. There was about 1/4 inch of free rotation and the klunk sound. Should there be any free play at all? I'm not liking the prospect of removing the axle. Can it be fixed it situ. Who does this kind of stuff or it it a DIY project?
 
Hi TH, There should be a small amount of Pinion to Ring gear backlash in the differential. It sounds like yours may have a bit too much. It can be set up at home provided you have accurate gauges and a lot of patience. Sending the thing out and having it done is in your best interest I think. BCS Can do it.-Fwiw--Keoke
 
TH,
You don't need to remove the entire axle. just remove the half shafts, the drive shaft, & unbolt the center section. As Keoke says, best to send it out.

It could be that one of the pinion bearing shims has come out.

OTOH, a good time to replace the ring & pinion with one of Mike Lempert's 3.55 ratio units.

If the gears have that much backlash, it should be making some noise, (whine) while driving?
D
 
tahoe healey said:
Nope, no noise, no whine. Are you saying just send out the "pumpkin"?---------------> /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif I've been wanting to put new seals in anyway.
Thanks
Click to expand...

----------------------------Keoke------------------------ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
Hi TH, If you were thinking about changing the rear end ratio, As Dave Russel just indicated. You might yet be able to get in on Mike Lemperts current order right now. I sent Mike the money for new gears last year, he just told me recently that he has gotten enough orders for the batch to go to the manufacturers now.
 
Two quick questions:
How will a different rear end be compensated at the speedo?
How can I tell if the PO has not already done this?
TH
 
Hi TH,
The speedometer will need to be recalibrated or an inline ratio changing box inserted in the cable.

The 3.54 axle ratio will have 39 teeth on the ring gear & 11 teeth on the pinion gear.
D
 
Is the movement I feel between the pinion and the crown gear? Is it adjustable with shims washers? Is there any problem if I don't do anyghing? Knowing where the klunk comes from has eased my mind about suspension, hub and the breaks (all of which have been checked).
 
tahoe healey said:
Is the movement I feel between the pinion and the crown gear?---YEP


Is it adjustable with shims washers?---Oh my goodness yes it is adjustable and there be shims inside there for days to get it done! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

- Is there any problem if I don't do anyghing?----I don't think you will experience any catastrophic failure TH, but I would keep a check on it from time to time to see that it is not worsening,

Knowing where the klunk comes from has eased my mind about suspension, hub and the breaks (all of which have been checked).
Click to expand...

Now that you have eased you mind: sleep tight an don't let the bed bugs bite.Keoke--AZ- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cowboy.gif
 
Living in Tahoe, I wouldn't put in a 3:54 unless you always travel down hill. I find stock BJ8 gearing is perfect for the foothills.
If your diff doesn't whine now, taking it apart for shim adjustment would seem like a guarantee to get the whine started to me.
 
th, i believe a mike lemperts set was recently sold on eBay for about $350.00 by an individual that said he was selling some of the six sets he had sitting in his shop. just to give you an idea of pricing, im getting about 65-68 m.p.h. at around 3500-3800 r.p.m. i feel my car should do better, its just another project i havnt had the time to address, heck i havnt had the time to even check the numbers on the rear to be able to determine its ratio. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
why check the numbers?


What if they aren't there?

What happened to the old fashioned way of marking the driveshaft(coupler at diff) and tire, jacking it up and revolving the wheels and counting the actual ratio?
 
Ron, yes you are correct it can be done that way, im trying to determine if the p.o. had changed the gear set, my heritage certificate says the rear # is 2164 do you know what ratio that should interpret to? this is the only healey that Ive driven that seems to scream at higher speeds but its a great stop light racer. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
------ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif

7777's, $ 350.00. Change the 3 -to- an 8----U-Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

-------I still shoulds bought it!-- :cr------------- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif
 
Keoke said:
------ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif

7777's, $ 350.00. Change the 3 -to- an 8----U-Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Click to expand...
was dat u what had dem gear sets layen on a bench? or was i usin dah same book u us ta give prices on trany parts? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
No Anthony, there were two auctions going the one I am /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif over was for a complete pumpkin with the 3:54 gears installed by a noted restoration facility.---Keoke
 
keoke, was that the "raley" set?, can you identify what ratio my # 2164 would be? its in very good shape, ill be changing mine out whatever it is, if its the one you want you can have it, i want to be able to drive on the highway more comfortably. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif
 
Well Anthony, I can only guess. It prolly is a 3:91 Dana but I do not have a clue where it came from or how it got into your car. But it sure would increase the rev's---Keoke--??????
 
Getting back to the clunk, I don't know anything about how the big Healy's suspension is set up, but the clunk in my BE was 45 yr old bushing gone bad(imagine that). My simular noise was a stabalizing link with bad bushings. Are there any suspension points that need a rebuild?
 
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