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MG TD TF 1500 - axle U bolts

Hi

I am re-assembling the rear end on my TD and yesterday I put the axle and springs back on. The U bolts I have got seem very short, I have used the MGA U bolt plates, when I have tightened the nuts to what I beleieve to be tight there is not enough room for the locknuts. I was wondering if the MGA U bolts and the MG TD U bolts are different lengths and I have been sent the wrong ones. Should I just leave it and tighten again in a few days when all the new components have had time to settle?

thanks

Barry
B Bridgens

barry,
go to the Moss catalogue and you will see that the "U" bolts for a TD and an "A" are different numbers,,,, Sooo you porobably have the incorrect bolts,,,
Don't use the car if you can not put the lock nuts on!!

Steve
Steve Wincze

Hi Steve

Thanks for the reply, yes I noticed that but wondered if that was because of thread differences rather than length. No I won't be using the car until I can sort the problem.

thanks

Barry
B Bridgens

Good move using the MGA plates Barry. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

And remember to tighten them down TIGHTLY. You will end up with axle play if you don't, and that will mean that the car will dart to one side and the other on acceleration and de-deceleration. It's not only disconcerting, but potentially dangerous.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

MGA plates? What's the advantage??
W. A. Chasser Jr

They act as load spreaders Bill. When I bought my car there was wear in the form of a groove where the U bolts had eaten into the top of the axle housing. Must have been fairly common, due no doubt to driving the car with loose U bolts, as this mod was introduced on the MGA. I used JB weld to fill the groove & after sanding & painting I fitted the MGA plates. Very hard to see once installed but comforting to know they are there. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Here is a picture of the problem and the fix.
U Bolts do need to be really tight.

Rod


Rod Jones

Anyone have a torque spec for these nuts?

Graeme
G Evans

Oh! I have those on my Rear end. Didn't know they were an MGA item.. Thanks Peter and Rod for the pic to clarify things for me.

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

FWIW,,
The "U" bolts wearing into the axle housing is caused by years of movement from "loose" U bolts,,
.
Loose "U" Bolts also result in axle wrap in mostly first and reverse gear that will give the same symptoms that are improperly diagnosed as "clutch chatter".
Steve
Steve Wincze

To add to Steve's comments, the u-bolt/rubber pad/plate on the axle to spring are all that control the reaction torqueing of the rear end as the pinion climbs the ring gear. As there is rubber involved, there may always be some movement of the bolts to the axle tube. When the rubbers perish (which causes the bolts to "loosen"), then it is more like a sawing motion at acceleration/decelleration. George
George Butz

A pair of spring pedestals welded on will eliminate the problem. PJ



Paul S Jennings

Paul,
You mean like these that are already welded to the axle????

Steve

Steve Wincze

I worded the previous post wrong Steve, sorry.

Paul S Jennings

No problem at all Paul,,,,,,
SPW
Steve Wincze

I thought all axels had those pedestals fitted as STD?
The movement has to be in the rubber, as stated by George.
The U bolts on my axle were I thought tight and locked but over time the rubber allowed the axle to move just a tad, hence the sawing action on the axle. When I took the rubber pads off they really did not look bad at all? Obviously something was moving. It certainly does not have to be much.
A New axle and all new rubbers with the MGA protection pads should make the situation better. Will check the U bolts again next year once the car is back out on the road and got some miles on it.

Rod.


readlist

Yes the axles have pedestals, but the rubber's purpose is for damping which will always allow some movement. Most modern rear drive and all rear drive high performance cars have some other type of link to prevent wind-up and movement. George
George Butz

Rod,
When you do get to checking it, make sure that you back off the (outer) locking nut first, then tighten the inner nut,, Then go back and tighten the locking nut,,,,
SPW
Steve Wincze

This thread was discussed between 13/12/2014 and 14/12/2014

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