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U-joint

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You know, it could be something as simple as whoever fitted it forgot to grease it real good!
 
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Its one of those jobs I don't waste my time & frustration on

Then that's all the more reason for me to do it Tony.

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You really ARE an MG owner!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I suspect some of the needle bearings fell into the end of the cap when it was installed. It would feel proper until you drove it for awhile and the remaining needles moved and allowed the extra play. Phil
 
Steve! That is the single best compliment anyone has ever given me. Well, okay, except for the time I was walking out of a restaurant with my sister this summer and some guy walked by, turned around and came back and said, "Seeing you walk down the street just made my day." ((musta been those black stillettos)

Then he and his seeing eye dog went on their way.
 
Well, Janel, what happened?
 
Don't know, never saw the guy again.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I put her back together, down off the jacks until after the car show Sunday. I have 2 cars to clean tar off of, wash, wax and detail - one has to be done by Saturday morning (and then redone by 6am Sunday morning) It's not thunking, I can make the 30 minute drive to the car show venue and home.

Then Monday, CHUCK is going to fix it. I'm not.
 
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It's not thunking, I can make the 30 minute drive to the car show venue and home.

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Famous last words...hehehehe
 
Ye of little faith.
 
No, I've just been driving MG's a long time & know that they'll let you know when they need something - & you'd better listen because if you don't, that's the time they lay down on you - in the most isolated spot!
 
Whew! Good thing I'm not going to an isolated spot.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
LOL!!!!!!

At least put a spare in the boot. That way if it does give up on life, you can tow the car to the nearest service station and have the part ready for them.
 
I'd install 6 windshields before I'd do one U-joint. I've done 'em in all kinds of cars over the years, but after two evenings of non-stop cussing in my garage trying to do the one in the B I finally just took my propshaft to Tom B and paid him to do it. Maybe I was just unlucky that time....but I won't try it again. Sometimes you just have to admit that you can't be good at everything....
 
Wherever it braks will be an isolated spot as you stand on the side of the road trying to get somebody to stop & help!
 
Only 2 times I've broken down (once in Emma, once in the Solara) was on the side of a 6-lane interstate.

I'm not the least bit worried. If she fails me, I'll call Hagerty or our roadside for a flatbed. You gotta have faith in these cars.

I'll be there and back. Tonight, tomorrow and to the show Sunday. Then Chuck can spend hours cursing the U-joint.
 
Must have a big vice or a press for U joints IMO.
 
I was young, and poor, and did it without a press. As noted, it's doable - it's just a complete pain. Anyone who has the time and energy and patience can do it. However, "BTDT". Next time somebody else does it for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

R.
 
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You gotta have faith in these cars.

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You are only reinforcing my earlier statement. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Remimds me of my Clicking differential on my B many years ago. Starting clicking, could here it faintly while driving slowly. Took to a garage and checked oil and obvious things. Made the famous last words,'may as well drive it until something happens.' Less than 1/2 hour of city driving later was reving at a light with no power to the back wheels and the pinion gears in pieces at the bottom of the housing.
 
Ok; lets not scare our resident heel-wearing, manicured hottie. This isn't that bad:

30 mins to get the driveshaft out (don't forget to scribe the flanges). Spray both yokes down from the outside in with Kroil/PBBlaster and let it soak overnight. Press the old cups out with a pair of sockets in a vice. One smaller socket on the cup inside the yoke, one larger on the backside outside of the yoke. Gentle vice pressure, go slow. The first one is the hardest to get out. Use lots of penetrating oil. Repeat X 3.

Some assembly tips:

Use emery cloth to clean up the yoke bores; no burrs/nicks/scratches.

Replace BOTH U-joints, regardless of their age. You're asking for trouble if you replace one.

Clean the new parts in solvent before assembly; DO NOT loose any of the needle bearings. You want really clean.

Make absolutely certain that the needle rollers are parallel to each other within the bearing cup. I use a light smear of moly camlube to stick them in place.

Make sure the grease fittings are not too long.

If you pull the front yoke out of the shaft, replace the seal, regrease the splines and make sure the flange yokes are lined up properly (in the same plane) before reassembly.

Double check the scribe lines when reinstalling.
 
I hope she got it sorted as she will be at the All British Car Show in St. Louis all weekend. Question is, did she take Emma or Binabox?
 
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