Rear Wheel Bearing

[John042]

Thought my recommissioning was going well after 18 years of inactivity. Just developed a noise at the O/S rear hub area. Wheel off and on rotation "Clicking" noise from hub area. First thoughts were rear wheel bearing? Or U/J's Maybe both! Anyway have started the strip. By taking out both lower hub bolts, chassis tie rod and hub nut can I just slide the bearing carrier off the drive shaft? Then check the U/J's. If it is the bearing it should be obvious once removed? MOT came back with no advisories.

[John042]

Further to the above, a few questions please:

1. If the U/J's are the problem, are they a standard part or a matter of measuring considering it's a TVR?
2. Are the bottom two bolts of the hub housing special to type or just standard bolts?
3. Are the bottom rubber bushes still available without going down the poly fit route, if so, a supplier please?

Thanks for any answers, I'm just hoping it's a wheel bearing and that I can remove the hub as stated in my first post. Cheers J C.

[batman400]

Hi John,

UJ's are standard parts the reference numbers and sizes are in the parts number listing.

The bottom bolts are odd ball (or mine are) one looks like M12 or at least the heads and thread is metric the other is UNC I believe as the heads are 13/16" I just replaced the nuts with new ones after my local fasteners supplier matched the threads

Bushes for the A frames are also an odd size which as far as I know is no longer available in rubber I did read someone finding something close and machining them down link Superflex seem ok as thats what I have on my car

[John042]

Thanks Simon. The noise is definitely the outer U/J. So will replace both. Size I think is the larger ones listed in the Wedge forum. GKN number listed should enable me to source through a local parts firm. The bottom bolts appear to be special to type being stepped. Bushes look intact so hopefully with new U/J I'll be back on the road. I've taken the drive shaft off with the hub so will check the bearing in situ. Many thanks for your reply. J C.

[adam quantrill]

You need the correct grade high tensile steel for the bolts though.

[John042]

Thanks Adam. What I thought; the bolts being "Stepped" turned out to be the crush sleeves of the bushes. Fortunately the bolts are in reasonable condition. Now the drive shaft is out I will tackle the U/J's. I think they are the uprated joints GKN18200. Cheers J C.