Rear Hub problem / bad splines - opinions? source?
Discussion
I have run in to a fairly serious problem with my TVR 350i. I had a shop replace one of my rear wheel bearings in late April of this year. Everything seemed fine, however yesterday I suddenly start getting a noise from the rear end of the car that sounded sort of like a u-joint failing (not unfamiliar when you drive a wedge as much as I do). Being my daily driver this is a real bind.
When I pulled off the road the wheel was warm. I put the car away for the evening, and the next morning I could feel play when I pulled at the top of the wheel, but no strange noise when I pulled away. However, as I drove the noise came back; in fact it was much louder by the minute.
I brought it back to the shop, and they found that the spline for the half shaft to the hub was very badly worn. (although it clearly wasn't worn like this a few weeks and a lot of miles ago when they replaced the bearing in April)
I was told that it isn't their fault, it must be a bad bearing. My feeling is that the bearing was likely just fine, and it simply must never have been tight enough when torqued down, and therefore allowed for some play that eventually become serious enough to become noisy - and ultimately undriveable. I doubt the bearing is to blame at all.
So, the point of my message,
Any opinions on what would be the likely cause of the splines failing?
Most importantly, and source of a replacement hub (I have found a source for the shaft, but can't find the hub).
Look forward to your responses...
Cheers,
Rob in Canada.
.
When I pulled off the road the wheel was warm. I put the car away for the evening, and the next morning I could feel play when I pulled at the top of the wheel, but no strange noise when I pulled away. However, as I drove the noise came back; in fact it was much louder by the minute.
I brought it back to the shop, and they found that the spline for the half shaft to the hub was very badly worn. (although it clearly wasn't worn like this a few weeks and a lot of miles ago when they replaced the bearing in April)
I was told that it isn't their fault, it must be a bad bearing. My feeling is that the bearing was likely just fine, and it simply must never have been tight enough when torqued down, and therefore allowed for some play that eventually become serious enough to become noisy - and ultimately undriveable. I doubt the bearing is to blame at all.
So, the point of my message,
Any opinions on what would be the likely cause of the splines failing?
Most importantly, and source of a replacement hub (I have found a source for the shaft, but can't find the hub).
Look forward to your responses...
Cheers,
Rob in Canada.
.
We're an exclusive (elusive?) lot here....Hi Rob, it sounds like the hub nut was not properly tightened up, allowing play and wear around the shaft. Should be something like 230 lb ft. Are you sure that the correct bearings were fitted? Mk. 11 Granada. How is it that the hub has become damaged? - was the bearing not seated properly? I'm fairly sure the hub is a TVR special, can't help with a source though, other than thinking there must be one at a breaker in the UK, i.e. Douglas Valley.
7.
7.
This might not have been apparent before the splines had been removed and replaced during bearing replacement, but it's more likely the damage was already being done then because the hub would have been quite loose as the bearing ended its life. Also any accumulated dirt and grime - probably now cleaned off - would have locked the splines into place.
I expect you can now rotate the wheel back and forward a little because the splines are loose. If you tighten up the hub nut you might remove some play but I bet it would come back in a few weeks.
I would be tempted to take the hub off - keep the suspension jacked up while you do this to prevent the stub axle from pulling the bearing out. If the splines are substantially intact why not try putting some Loctite on them, reassemble, then allow it to harden for a few days?
It it works, you won't be able to remove the hub easily, but as the bearing has been done, no need for another 20k-60k miles. If it doesn't work, you'll have to get a new stub axle and hub.
I expect you can now rotate the wheel back and forward a little because the splines are loose. If you tighten up the hub nut you might remove some play but I bet it would come back in a few weeks.
I would be tempted to take the hub off - keep the suspension jacked up while you do this to prevent the stub axle from pulling the bearing out. If the splines are substantially intact why not try putting some Loctite on them, reassemble, then allow it to harden for a few days?
It it works, you won't be able to remove the hub easily, but as the bearing has been done, no need for another 20k-60k miles. If it doesn't work, you'll have to get a new stub axle and hub.
Three birds with one stone....
BRAP BRAP ->
About 100 km east of Toronto; little town on the shore of lake Ontario
NUMBER 7 ->
Thanks, bearing is the correct one. In fact the new "failed" bearing doesn't feel all that badly worn so I suspect more noise was coming from the loose fit of the hub spline to the shaft than any bearing noise. I will try to find the breakers you mentioned; thanks for the lead.
ADAM QUANTRILL ->
It's been just over a month since the bearing was done, and the car has gone nearly 300,000 km without a wear problem on the prior bearing (at least that you could feel). The last bearing was replaced as everything was apart to replace u-joints, and the bearing had some noticeable wear when apart). Now after a relativly short distance (although it has gone about 6,000 km in the last month and a bit), it has very significant wear. The wear is so bad you couldn't help but feel it when you put the parts together, no mechanic could have missed it if it was even half that bad.
I thought of looking for a lock tite like product to do that too, until I got to the shop and saw just how bad it is...
Thanks,
Rob.
BRAP BRAP ->
About 100 km east of Toronto; little town on the shore of lake Ontario
NUMBER 7 ->
Thanks, bearing is the correct one. In fact the new "failed" bearing doesn't feel all that badly worn so I suspect more noise was coming from the loose fit of the hub spline to the shaft than any bearing noise. I will try to find the breakers you mentioned; thanks for the lead.
ADAM QUANTRILL ->
It's been just over a month since the bearing was done, and the car has gone nearly 300,000 km without a wear problem on the prior bearing (at least that you could feel). The last bearing was replaced as everything was apart to replace u-joints, and the bearing had some noticeable wear when apart). Now after a relativly short distance (although it has gone about 6,000 km in the last month and a bit), it has very significant wear. The wear is so bad you couldn't help but feel it when you put the parts together, no mechanic could have missed it if it was even half that bad.
I thought of looking for a lock tite like product to do that too, until I got to the shop and saw just how bad it is...
Thanks,
Rob.
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