280i Rear wheel binding UJ???

[benebob]

My pass side rear wheel has been making some clunking noise when backing up and starting out. Put it up in the air today and when turnning it definately binds somewhere. Thinking it is the outer UJ. Just ordered 2 or 4 from Marshall (depending on what he has in stock). Question is can I do both the outer and inner while the shaft is on the car or do I need to remove it? Thanks! Just what I needed to find out on the first day of spring right?

[shoggyraminator]

I've been looking at the UJs on my half shafts as they have never been greased for some time and as a result the grease has gone hard and now after some persuasion all four UJs will only let new grease out of one seal, so three roller cages on each UJ are jammed with old grease. Anyway this is not your question answered.

Looking at the best way forward for replacing the in & out bound UJs I would suggest this is possible. The out bound one can be removed from the hub side, as long as it's not stuck hard, as it's possible to get a socket with extension up through the the gap in the bottom of the hub, allowing you to knock the (now top cap) downwards towards the ground. You need to jack the socket and extension up slightly, taking the weight of the hub, stopping your hammering of the top cap transferring through the wheel bearing, if that makes sense. You will only need to remove the two caps attached to the lobes on the hub side.

I would think the inbound UJ would be very difficult to remove in situe so it would be better to undo the four nuts and remove from the disc. This would then allow you to remove the half shaft as the hub end will already be free. Hope the description is not too confusing.
Regards Andy.

[Wedg1e]

I have heard it said that you can extract the UJs using a large socket and a hefty G-clamp. Remove the cap circlips, choose a socket that's larger than the cap of the UJ and position it to catch a cap, whilst applying the G-clamp so that it secures the socket and bears against the opposite cap.
Tighten clamp till cap is pushed out, then reverse the setup.
Of course this presumes that your UJs aren't rusted in tighter than a Scotsman's wallet... and would of course need a G-clamp that doesn't say 'Made in China' on it.
But the principle's sound

[ROOODBOY]

I've also read that it can be done like that.

But a word (or rather a picture) of warning, this is what happened to my bench vice when I was trying to extract a rather tight driveshaft u.j. ...

[Dave Meredith]

Having just done this job I would remove the half shaft from the car with the
trailing arm attached (I assume you've got a trailing arm suspension) Took me about
1.5 hours to do. You'll need a coil spring compressor though.

I took it to a local engineering company who specialise in universal joints and they
replaced them with a their press. They even steam cleaned the assembly!

Good luck!

Dave Meredith

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..Got a feeling that mine are knackered as well, The whole passenger side is still shaking violently and have had it towed to the garage.Had the gearbox mountings checked and they are ok..The guy at the garage said it was the exhaust knocking untill he drove it..If it is the UJs where do i get them from and are they expensive..Cheers chaps.

[benebob]

Thanks guys, mine is cleaner than most under it as it was a california car all its life. Even the rotors aren't rusted. I may try it on the car against the advice of others probably smarter then I here Mr., UJ are pretty cheap. Paid $70 or so shipped for all 4 of 'em from Marshal here. Across the pond you should have no problems coming up with 'em.

[adam quantrill]

Outers are not too hard on the car. Plenty of advice if you search the forum... or look at the FAQ.

[benebob]

Thanks guys, got it off this morning in about and hour. Outerside is definately buggered but got a quick question about the hub arm. How much play should be in this? I removed the rear trailing arm (us spec so it isn't the A arm) to get the axle stub out of the housing and was suprised how much I could move this forward and away from the car. Should I be replacing the bearings in there as well? If so anybody got a good superflex location that I can get 'em shipped quickly as I need to get this car back on the road since the wifey's Jag needs a new cat and not even Jaguar has one. Found a place which will use mine to make a cad drawing so they can sell them for a very reasonable price but I'll be needing the TVR as wifey will need my Jag for work for a week or two.