The rear wheels won`t drive!

[bmcecosse]

He seems to have checked the gearbox is driving ok.

[thehunters]

Well, yesterday I gave up on Moggy and went to Cologne to get really drunk - which seems to have helped!
The wheel which was turning at speed whilst in gear and jacked up was the drivers side. I managed to remove the halfshaft on the pass. side which was not broken at all, infact it looked in a remarkable condition for its age, but the driversside won`t budge! I can get it about 2mm out and a very large screwdriver is almost cracking the shaftplate.
I seem to have been going about the whole thing wrong, as I understand it both the halfshafts should just slide out? I have also loosend the diff. bolts for some play, should I now spend time, effort and sweat beer trying to remove the center flange bolt (where the prop. shaft attatches)? Or should I welly hell out of the halfshaft which dosen`t want to play?

Thanks for all the help so-far, Mark.

[bmcecosse]

You have to get the half-shaft out. No need to touch the big nut on the diff - why would you ?

[thehunters]

IT`S OUT ! After 1 hr of bashing, 6 of my best screwdrivers and bleeding knuckles I`ve finally got it to bits, cleaned the diff out and removed the large chunck which was lodged in once the diff. came off. See pics.<br><br>

[thehunters]

Now all I`ve got to do is get things working with just one halfshaft until I find a new one. Any tips on this before I take something to bits for nothing ?<br><br>

[bmcecosse]

You would have to weld up the diff so it couldn't work as a diff any more! I did this with the identical Mini diff - it worked welll - giving me constant two wheel drive - ideal for loose surfaces. But doing this will ruin the diff for any future use - if you are that determined - carry on! It needs heavy electric welding to prevent the diff parts from rotating. Obviously - you need to keep the crown wheel and pinion turning - it's just the internal parts of the diff mecahanism that you need to amke 'solid'. Driving on one shaft will put quite a strain on it - it really would be VERY much better to just source another shaft.

[PSL184]

I wouldn't be tempted to weld it up. As Roy says the strain on the one half shaft would be way over its design capacity and could well break in a short space of time. The diff would also be useless and the drag on the tyres when cornering would soon wear them out too. Plenty of the UK suppliers sell half shafts and will post out so order a new one today and you should get it Tuesday latest....

[aupickup]

not sure if this link will work

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shopse ... ll&x=8&y=7

[thehunters]

I`ve put in an order for parts at Bull Motiv, my last order from ESM took weeks, parts were missing and other parts broke after just a few days! ESM have, in my opinion gone severly downhill and are no longer an option for me.

Well, it`s back off into the garage to sort my bicycle out for next week! I suppose snow isn`t that bad - rain and wind are worse

My wife says I should sell moggy and get a NORMAL car but I just can`t bring my self to. (Apart from that, can`t let her win!)

I`m getting to old for this!

[simmitc]

Morris Minor Centre Birmingham (see back cover of Minor Matters) can provide new high strength half shafts at £356.50 (incl VAT) per pair. Just depends on what you want from the car in the future. I've certainly used second hand shafts with no problem, but as others have said, it's best to use a left hand used shaft for the left hand side of the car, and right for right - you may not know what you're getting unless the supplier has been very careful with his labelling.

[mike.perry]

Don't forget the large diff gasket and the 2 half shaft gaskets.
When you compare the bills for Minor spares with the cost of servicing and maintaining a modern car then the Minor is not such a bad deal.
Next time it happens you will know all about changing half shafts. Did you order a spare? In your location I would be building up a good collection of spare parts.

[bmcecosse]

AAAAAAAggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Negative comments about a supplier!

Follow up the order with BullM on the phone - if you haven't already done so. My phoned orders from them have always come v quickly - but my internet orders have taken considerably longer.

Oh dear - that's another negative comment isn't it.

I would weld up the diff - but that's because I have two spares - and I would NOT be cycling 25 miles to work and another 25 back - in this weather! There won't be any tyre scrubbing - because the 'other' wheel won't be driven - just the one with the complete shaft. But I would also be VERY careful with the clutch and drive it VERY gently indeed!

Get hold of a complete 'spare' car - strip it - and store it all up the back of the garage (or under the bed) - you know it makes sense.

[Bazzalucas]

I notice that the 'hardened' halfshafts advertised on the back page are a lot cheaper...anyone have experience with these?