IRS question

[Whaler]

I have an IRS setup using an 8.8 pot and some decent 36 spline axles.
(8.8" Ford Thunderbird/Cougar IRS )

The car was on stands with the wheels on.

I have a problem where when I turned the passenger side wheel I I got a horrible squeel as thought the e-brake was slightly grabbling. It felt that way to turn too. I popped off the knockoff and looked at the rotor disc. E brake was right off and there was actually visible air between the pads on either side of the disc.

Next I turned the wheel again trying to listen and feel for a more exact location.....Hard to nail down. Its not coming from the rearend. Sounded like some binding or interference between the outer most tulip on the axleand the wheelbearing spindle. This possible?

On the axle gland nut I torqued it previously to 200 ft lbs as the builder told me 180-220 is ballpark. I have it apart now wondering if anyone else had a similar problem.



lastly the drivers side spins freely with little effort.

One more question, If I roll or spin one wheel shouldn't the other one turn as well if i have a posi unit??

Thanks

Tim

[Excaliber]

Sometimes with posi when you turn one wheel the other wheel won't turn at all. BUT if you have an "open" rear end, the other wheel will turn and usually in the opposite direction.

Assuming your brakes aren't dragging:

It takes a certain "break away" force to get a wheel to turn at all with posi. In other words, you have to kinda of put a little effort to turn a wheel with posi. With an open unit the "break away" force is virtually not there, VERY easy to turn the wheel.

Ernie

[Whaler]

Hi
thanks for the reply

WRT to my rearend. i e-mailed my builder and asked directly whether I had a posi. he rpelied he thought not as he say most of his units aren't ( as was shelbies ) He claimed it makes the car more controllable.

Yet I swear he told me to make sure to add limited slip additive when topping off the rearend last year??

I have to dig in to my records for this. I know I could pop the cover, but at this point I have bigger worries...

Tim

[Mr.Fixit]

If the tranny is in gear, than an open diff will potate the tires in opposite directions. If it has a posi, one tire might turn with some effort, but that means the clutches in the posi are worn. Put tranny in neutral, both tires should rotate same direction.

[Whaler]

Hi guys

Good news and bad about the noise and growly feel to that wheel
I pulled the wheel spindle off the axle...eliminating the axle and the rearend.
Found the wheel bearing to be NFG. It would not turn nicely, had rough spots and was growly feeling
Hell imagine all this feeling amplified thru the rotor and wheel when it was attached. Found no evidence of rubbing or interference as I had originally suspected.

Guys as for whether I have a posi or not. apparently its another upgrade yet to get a posi when I had the car partially built for me. Upgrading from live axle to IRS...I thought I had that covered too....nope
I am told that I have "limited slip".

So gang will my burnouts be a one wheel deal or both smoking??

Fixit...thanks for the reply. I enjoy your posts and vast knowledge.

You and Putnam are assets we are lucky to have.

Tim

[Cobra20646]

Tim,

"Limited Slip", "positraction", "traction lock" are all the same, different manufactures call their "posi" rears by other names.

Do what fixit said, put the tranny in nutral and turn one of the rear wheels. If they turn in the same direction, you have a posi. If they turn in oppisite directions, the rear is "open", and you'll spin just one wheel doing your burn outs

- Jim -

[Whaler]

Hi Jim
I get mixed messages form my guy.......to me they are one and the same.

I am about the slam the wheel and bearing back together today and will be doing just that

Thanks

Tim