J

jwrw

Active Member
My 1986 110 has lots of noises but there is a new one that sounds worrying. I’d call it knocking but some people might say clonking.

I’m pretty sure it’s NOT the engine. I can’t figure out where it’s coming from but it’s linked to road speed not engine speed. At 30mph with the clutch in, it’s probably twice every second. I’m not 100% sure but I think it sometimes goes away under acceleration.

After some reading here and in the Haynes book I’ve started investigating the UJs. The rear prop shaft is unmoveable with the hand brake on and in gear. The front one has some play — see video link below. Does this look normal, please? Haynes only mentions how to check the rear shaft.

Front prop shaft video

I’m not sure whether to investigate the UJs further or think about the transfer box. Or could a noise like this be wheel hub/diff related?

I did try to record the sound but the recording is no good so I will try again later!

Thanks in advance.

James
 
Take each prop off in turn, then drive on one prop with diff lock in. see in clonk goes away. If gone you know the prop you have remove has the issue.
Could well be a seizing prop journal that has yet to develop play or a prop slider has seized.
You can not test with handbrake on. Chock the truck and try again.
 
tottot said:
Take each prop off in turn, then drive on one prop with diff lock in. see in clonk goes away. If gone you know the prop you have remove has the issue.
Could well be a seizing prop journal that has yet to develop play or a prop slider has seized.
You can not test with handbrake on. Chock the truck and try again.
Click to expand...
Thanks. With the wheels chocked and the handbrake off, what exactly am I looking for, please?

I think Haynes says that removing/refitting a prop shaft is a 'three spanners' level of difficulty. I'm not sure why it's that high -- it looks straightforward to me, as long as the bolts come out. Is this OK as a job for a novice or am I underestimating the challenge?!

Thanks again.
 
Same as the front prop, movement side to side, up and down at the UJ's and at the slider joint in the prop.
Some rotation in the prop before drive taken up is ok. Look for movement in UJ journals, seizing journals can be found after driving some as will be HOT.
An old truck can have quite a lot free rotation in the props [ my 1990 Ninety has about 30 degrees on the front] It is good to be steady with clutch when starting off and when driving and not use it like a switch.
A prop bolt removal tool is handy [ find on E bay] and 9/16 spanner. Easy enough job as long as bolts not rusted rotten.
 
tottot said:
Same as the front prop, movement side to side, up and down at the UJ's and at the slider joint in the prop.
Some rotation in the prop before drive taken up is ok. Look for movement in UJ journals, seizing journals can be found after driving some as will be HOT.
An old truck can have quite a lot free rotation in the props [ my 1990 Ninety has about 30 degrees on the front] It is good to be steady with clutch when starting off and when driving and not use it like a switch.
A prop bolt removal tool is handy [ find on E bay] and 9/16 spanner. Easy enough job as long as bolts not rusted rotten.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I've just ordered the tool from eBay.
 
A quick update. The noise is nothing to do with the UJs. We realised today that the nearside front wheel is only held on by a single nut. All the other nuts were hanging at the end of the thread. Luckily the wheel hasn't fallen off yet.

I've tried to tighten the nuts but there is something odd going on. They turn but they don't pull into place. I will take the wheel off and investigate over the weekend. How do the studs fix into place? Is it possible for them to rotate in the hub?

The vehicle was at the garage a couple of weeks ago to have the swivel hubs rebuilt. Until I get the wheel off I can't tell whether something has been broken or if it's just that they didn't do the nuts up properly. Hope it's something simple. The garage will recover it next week and sort it out if it's not an easy fix. I'm kicking myself now for not checking the wheels straight away, but I wasn't expecting that to be the issue.

At least when I do need to do the UJs I will have the special socket ready to go!
 
The studs are splined, but will rotate if they've not been pulled through enough. They should be flush with the back of the hub, so if you can see anything sticking out behind then they need pushing through, There's no reason to disturb them just to rebuild the hubs though.
 
Resurgam said:
The studs are splined, but will rotate if they've not been pulled through enough. They should be flush with the back of the hub, so if you can see anything sticking out behind then they need pushing through, There's no reason to disturb them just to rebuild the hubs though.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Fingers crossed that they just didn't do the nuts up properly.
 
jwrw said:
A quick update. The noise is nothing to do with the UJs. We realised today that the nearside front wheel is only held on by a single nut. All the other nuts were hanging at the end of the thread. Luckily the wheel hasn't fallen off yet.

I've tried to tighten the nuts but there is something odd going on. They turn but they don't pull into place. I will take the wheel off and investigate over the weekend. How do the studs fix into place? Is it possible for them to rotate in the hub?

The vehicle was at the garage a couple of weeks ago to have the swivel hubs rebuilt. Until I get the wheel off I can't tell whether something has been broken or if it's just that they didn't do the nuts up properly. Hope it's something simple. The garage will recover it next week and sort it out if it's not an easy fix. I'm kicking myself now for not checking the wheels straight away, but I wasn't expecting that to be the issue.

At least when I do need to do the UJs I will have the special socket ready to go!
Click to expand...


If the nuts were loose for a bit, the threads will be knackered which is why they turn without tightening up. New studs probably
 
jwrw said:
A quick update. The noise is nothing to do with the UJs. We realised today that the nearside front wheel is only held on by a single nut. All the other nuts were hanging at the end of the thread. Luckily the wheel hasn't fallen off yet.

I've tried to tighten the nuts but there is something odd going on. They turn but they don't pull into place. I will take the wheel off and investigate over the weekend. How do the studs fix into place? Is it possible for them to rotate in the hub?

The vehicle was at the garage a couple of weeks ago to have the swivel hubs rebuilt. Until I get the wheel off I can't tell whether something has been broken or if it's just that they didn't do the nuts up properly. Hope it's something simple. The garage will recover it next week and sort it out if it's not an easy fix. I'm kicking myself now for not checking the wheels straight away, but I wasn't expecting that to be the issue.

At least when I do need to do the UJs I will have the special socket ready to go!
Click to expand...
You seem quite relaxed considering it could have come off and killed someone or yourself.
I would be having words with the garage.
 
Anaconda said:
You seem quite relaxed considering it could have come off and killed someone or yourself.
I would be having words with the garage.
Click to expand...
Yes, I spoke to the garage owner yesterday and will be calling him again on Monday — but there’s no point in being angry here!

I felt pretty stupid yesterday for not checking this as soon as I heard the noise but it never entered my head that the wheel wasn’t on right.
 
Good news. The studs are fine. I’ve taken the wheel off today and checked everything and it’s running well now it’s back on. No damage to the threads.

I checked the other wheels too. The other front wheel also hadn’t been refitted properly. The nuts were only part way on.

Clearly the garage didn’t do any of them up beyond hand tight. I’ll be speaking to them again on Monday.

I feel pretty stupid for not checking this immediately but I just assumed that a reputable garage would do the job properly . A lesson learned.

Thanks again for all your help.
 
jwrw said:
Yes, I spoke to the garage owner yesterday and will be calling him again on Monday — but there’s no point in being angry here!

I felt pretty stupid yesterday for not checking this as soon as I heard the noise but it never entered my head that the wheel wasn’t on right.
Click to expand...
Fair point. Funny how all of us also failed to mention wheel nuts.
Had a rear wheel come off on my mk1 Escort once, it was like a comedy with it over taking me while I was stopping at the side of the road.
My fault, didn't do the wheel nuts up properly, I was a teenager at the time and had more important things on my mind.
 
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