Symptoms of Watts Linkage

beerdude · Jan 19, 2014

Morning Everyone
If the Watts linkage bushes wear I have read that there will be a knocking noise, mine doesn't do that but it has scrubbed a rear tyre on the inside edge, a friend suggested this could be the watts. I have had the tracking checked and its spot on. Any ideas?

thebiglad · Jan 19, 2014

Hi BD, are you sure that wear was done while the tyre was at the rear?

I have the same on mine, but the rear tyres were on the front until recently and it was the tracking out of wack that did the damage.

Dave

listerdiesel · Jan 19, 2014

The Watts linkage locates the axle side to side, the tracking is not adjustable at the rear and would need both wheels to be out as it is a beam axle, so you couldn't have one wearing on one edge without the other.

I'd have a look at the radius arm bushes etc., but that looks more like front wheel misalignment on the wheel prior to being fitted on the rear, as suggested by Dave above.

Peter

beerdude · Jan 19, 2014

Yes that tyre was always on the back, I have replaced it now but don't want to keep putting new ones on.

DIFFLOCK66 · Jan 19, 2014

Worn watts linkage bushes result in a knocking noise when you go over any little thing which causes the suspension to shift, front or back; the linkage clunks. I didn't notice any uneven tyre wear on mine before I replaced the 2 bushes above and below the centre pivot. Really dumb question time - is the hub bolted on correctly??

Not that I can imagine how it could be misaligned because the halfshaft etc. would have trouble locating.

listerdiesel · Jan 19, 2014

The only other option is a bent chassis.

Peter

Mr Noisy · Jan 19, 2014

Yep, very unlikely that you would have uneven tyre wear on a beam axle but nevertheless a 4 wheel alignment is advisable to be sure

Fishsponge IIRC had great trouble few years back in his d1 and had to pack a trailing arm With washers to align rear axle

Some aftermarket trailing arms are supplied with longer threads to allow for alignment spacing actually

Anyway get it checked and report back

beerdude · Jan 19, 2014

listerdiesel said:
The only other option is a bent chassis.

Peter

No sign of chassis damage, I have a 200 mile drive tomorrow so I will see if there's any uneven wear when I get back

Symptoms of Watts Linkage

beerdude

Active Member

Attachments

thebiglad

Well-Known Member

listerdiesel

Well-Known Member

beerdude

Active Member

DIFFLOCK66

Well-Known Member

listerdiesel

Well-Known Member

Mr Noisy

Coming in your ears.

beerdude

Active Member

Similar threads