Rear wheel UJ play MOT

[nks350i]

Hi all

Does anyone know how much play there can be when wobbling the rear wheel at top and bottom, it is not the bearing as no play when side to side, appears to be the outboard UJ - need to get an MOT and would like to be able to say 'thats normal' as no top wishbone! It's a 350i with 'A' frame.

Thanks Nigel

Edited by nks350i on Saturday 20th March 20:41

[jeff m]

Play in a UJ is usually measured by discernable movement when rotating the wheel to and fro and veiwing the yokes. In and out play on a UJ would be tragic.

Far more likely to be a bushing.

[Wedg1e]

I'm sure somebody had exactly the same symptoms a year or so back and it transpired the bearing carrier had an out-of-round hole for the bearing, so it was rocking in the carrier... I wouldn't rule out a duff UJ though. My preferred diagnostic method is to run two wheels up onto a kerb, then lie under back of car while someone holds the car on the brakes and 'bouces' the clutch around biting point (engine running of course) - you can soon spot what's moving relative to what. You do have to trust your assistant of course
Last time I tried this it was on a Lotus Elite and the 'clonk' proved to be the diff trying to snap-off what was left of the rear end of the chassis

[rev-erend]

Top to bottom movement should be minimal or at max a small amount if it seems a big amount then it's the UJ or bearing carrier althought that is rare.

[B@man]

Wedg1e said:

I'm sure somebody had exactly the same symptoms a year or so back and it transpired the bearing carrier had an out-of-round hole for the bearing, so it was rocking in the carrier...

That would be me then. I still can't believe that the (£100) replacement upright had exactly the same "rare" problem. Hopefully the big bottle of loctite 660 retainer sitting at the back of the bench will cure it once and for all

Good luck finding your wobble, I hope it's a bush rather than an oval hole where a round one should be.

[HOTTY]

B@man said:

Wedg1e said:

I'm sure somebody had exactly the same symptoms a year or so back and it transpired the bearing carrier had an out-of-round hole for the bearing, so it was rocking in the carrier...

That would be me then. I still can't believe that the (£100) replacement upright had exactly the same "rare" problem. Hopefully the big bottle of loctite 660 retainer sitting at the back of the bench will cure it once and for all

bearing carrier, uprights ? what are these as i am having a problem in identifying a noise from my rear(of the car)
going to try wedg1es idea as soon as i can find somebody to trust..........


Nigel hopefully you find you problem, post up the solution.

stephen

[nks350i]

Got my MOT now! tester took a good look at the rear and resulted in an advisory for play in the UJ, something to have a look at later (along with a few others).

[adam quantrill]

Good stuff - actually with the 'A' frame I've noticed that UJ play can look a bit like the bearing is loose. There are two further diagnostic tests - firstly the hub carrier will move slightly (but this can be diffcult to see) and secondly the hub nut will still be nice and tight if you try to torque it up. If the bearing is shot then the hub nut will do up a bit, quite easily.

You don't want to use the UJ like that for more than a few hundred miles, 'cos if it eats through the bearing caps it will damage the yoke, which will be much more £££.