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Think I need a new rear end

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Earl

Earl

Senior Member
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Folks, Last weekend my ebay purchase of wire wheels and tires showed up. Excited my son and I quickly removed the disk wheels, installed the hub extenders and the new wheels. Look great, except now we have a new problem. Years ago the rear end of my TR3A was replaced with one from a TR4. With the new wheels and tires they stick out beyond the fenders. What's more the passenger side tire sticks out about 3/4" while the drivers side is just about flush. Any ideas, and if I need a new rear end, anyone got one?
Thanks
Earl
 
Well, quite possible. A TR4 rear axel is 4 inches wider than a TR3 axel. I have seen the strut bars in the bottom of the fenders behind the wheels, leingthened to spread the fenders to better acccomidate the wider axel. But it still looked funny and had a clearance issue.
It can be driven the way it is, as long as it's not going to crumple the fenders.
The only real "fix" would be a TR3 axel
I can't help as I'm looking for one to upgrade my early TR2 axel with also.
Good luck in your search.
 
HI Banjo, I think Earl has more problems than just the wrong axel. Just changing wheels should not cause one wheel to protrude out side the fender line "by 3/4" more than the other.??---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Keoke, I wondered about the difference in the amount that sticks out the one side as well. My next trip home, only get there every 8 days, I'm going to get under her and see if anything is bent, or if the TR4 axel was just put in "funny". But even if the amount were even I'd still have the same clearance problem. So I'm on ebay trying hard to find a rear end. I've got one guy telling me he has one and wants me to make an offer. I don't want to overpay, and I dont want to run him off, any ideas?
Thanks for your help guys
Earl
 
Earl,

My buddy Mark (British Auto) has used TR-3, 3A and 3B rear axles that he can rebuild. He lives 7 miles from me so if the deal falls thru, let me know. He does excellent work and is reasonable. Good luck.
 
I do not know about TRs but in many cases on the big Healy cars the body has been installed in a skewed postion. This causes a similar problem to the one you described. Regarding the purchase of one, I would say check around and see what the going price is because in many instances the shipping charges can kill an otherwise good deal.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
Keoke, you're right. They should not be uneven. But it may not be the axel or a crooked body, the first thing I would check would be the fenders themselves. They have a suprising amount of flex.Those lower rods I mentioned give quite a bit of adjustment if modified (or bent).
Remove the rear wheels and measure from the inner wheelwell to the lip on the fender. You may find your 3/4" difference right there.
If not then check the measurement from the frame rail to the backing plate of the rear brakes. A descrepency there means the axel itsself is out of align.
Andrew, as you are about 3 to 4 hrs. from me I might well be in touch with you soon. I definatly won't be ready for anything till springtime but then it'll be time to search in ernest.
 
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