Chopper

[mikiec]

Is it fixed yet??

Mike

[chopper]

Alas, no; the saga continues; but I'm getting closer.

After replacing three of the four bearings in the differential output spindles, replacing the outer oil seals and setting the preload on the thrust bearings, I found that the fourth bearing was also bad, so had to tear the right side spindle apart again. Plus, I decided that some minor corrosion around the shank of the spindle, right around where the oil seal hits, wasn't so minor after all and took the spindle to a machine shop to get it sleeved. Should have the parts back by Tuesday PM and can get started on the reassembly process later this week. Most of the rest of it is just bolting things back together and bleeding the brakes. It sure has been a learning experience.

One of the things I found was that Jaguar uses what's called "crush sleeves" between the two thrust bearing inner races on the differential input and output shafts. I'm still not sure what the function of these sleeves is, unless it's to stabilize the inner races and prevent them from moving once the bearings start to wear. Since the half shafts on the Jag rear suspension also serve as the upper arms, the spindle has to take significant axial loads as well as the torsional load, so stabilization of the bearings is important. I've just never seen it done in this manner but then, I'm not a full time mechanic so I don't really have that big a data base to compare.

On the plus side, in true gearhead fashion, I've managed to use this project to justify getting a couple of new tools. If anyone is interested, Harbor Freight is having a sale through Feb 24th on their 20-ton shop press, marked down from $240 to $160. Sure made the third disassembly of the spindle a lot easier. Of course, right after I got the Harbor Freight unit, I went to the Homier tool sale down at the Fairgrounds on Saturday and they had a similar unit for $99, but what the heck, it's only money. The wife, bless her soul, warned me not to go because she accurately predicted that I would find the shop press for less. She's spooky like that.

[427 S/O]

Those crush sleeves on the stub axle assy. set a predetermined load on the bearing, I rebuilt mine also. Did a little research and CWI recommends the
89-95 high efficiency power lock rear
end for big torque and HP , it has the aluminum cover, necessary to do some machining on my stub axle housing, to mate the after market rear mount disc brakes to the H.E.. It takes a beating from me.

[chopper]

427 S/O:

I would agree that the crush sleeve was used to set bearing preload IF the adjustment was set solely via some amount of torque on the spindle nut during the preload process. However, the adjustment procedure (at least the one used in Haynes and verified by a local Britcar mechanic) just requires the nut to be tightened (which necessarily crushes the sleeve) until there are 4.5 to 5.5 in-lb of rotational resistance between the spindle and the mounting plate, just like the preload you'd put on the front wheel bearings. Logically, I could set that preload up with or without the crush sleeve in place, and still have the axial movement controlled by the thrust bearings. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that reason doesn't make sense to me since I can set the proper amount of preload with or without the sleeve. From that, I sort of concluded that the function of the sleeve more logically is to prevent migration of the inner bearing races once the bearings start to wear. I've spent some time puttering around the websites but haven't uncovered any engineering-type explanation for the inclusion of the crush sleeve in this application.

[427 S/O]

Your right about the heavy load on the spindle, when I disassembled mine, it took a lot of torque to break loose, used my torque wrench on the other side, slowly increasing until I found the magic #. wrote it down somewhere?, I believe it was about 80lbs.. obviously, they installed them for the constant lateral load. Like a buddy once told me.........that's what engineers get paid for.

[chopper]

.....On the road again....
.....oh yes it's great to be on the road again....

All in all, a real learning experience. The main thing I learned is that it's much easier to take it to someone else to fix it when something's leaking. I think that, were I to add up all the expenses plus time spent making multiple trips to the parts store plus the money spent to buy new tools, it may even turn out to be cheaper in the long run.

But...I did manage to find the Arizona Cobras windshield decal amidst the trash in the trunk and got that pasted onto the glass, so it wasn't a complete loss.

[mikiec]

Glad to hear it's finally back on the road.

See you soon

Mike