ok here's my first needing advice . so hope this is the right section
im doing my homework/research first before i start on the restoration/build. im currently looking at possible engines to go in the bay but my main concern is the rear end and strengthening is there any direct replacements direct bolt on with out to much work on upgrading the rear end . il be looking at upgrading the engine up to a 2.0 ltr and don't want the rear to buckle.
so who has experience and suggestions on the subject.
thanks
advice on what rear diff and axel etc for strength
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IslipMinor
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2147
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2004 9:10 pm
- Location: Oxford, UK
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Re: advice on what rear diff and axel etc for strength
The standard Minor axle has 3 areas that will show up problems quite quickly as the engine power is increased, or if the car is used to exploit increased levels of grip from suspension/tyre upgrades.
The first is the halfshafts - these are a known weakness in standard cars, and made worse by axle tramp. There are 'toughened' ones available, which in my experience worked very well in conjunction with anti-tramp bars, until I fitted a Tran-X LSD and the RH shaft broke within a few minutes! Solution with a Minor axle is Peter May's EN24 'competition' shafts - £147.00 each
The second is the differential - the actual differential has 1 cross-shaft and 2 planet wheels. The thrust washers behind the planet wheels wear quite quickly normally and more so with more powerful engines. The cross-shaft and planet wheels can fail with highly increased torque loads.
The third is the wheel bearings - may be OK in a road car, but if used for track days or competition, the single bearing in the rear wheel hub can allow the half-shaft to flex and wear out the oil seals very quickly, creating a large oil leak. Solution with a Minor axle is Peter May's 'double bearing' hubs - £198.00 per pair.
As you can see it can be quite expensive to upgrade the Minor rear axle, and for significant increases in power, and particularly torque, fitting a Ford Escort based axle seems to be the best way to go.
The first is the halfshafts - these are a known weakness in standard cars, and made worse by axle tramp. There are 'toughened' ones available, which in my experience worked very well in conjunction with anti-tramp bars, until I fitted a Tran-X LSD and the RH shaft broke within a few minutes! Solution with a Minor axle is Peter May's EN24 'competition' shafts - £147.00 each
The second is the differential - the actual differential has 1 cross-shaft and 2 planet wheels. The thrust washers behind the planet wheels wear quite quickly normally and more so with more powerful engines. The cross-shaft and planet wheels can fail with highly increased torque loads.
The third is the wheel bearings - may be OK in a road car, but if used for track days or competition, the single bearing in the rear wheel hub can allow the half-shaft to flex and wear out the oil seals very quickly, creating a large oil leak. Solution with a Minor axle is Peter May's 'double bearing' hubs - £198.00 per pair.
As you can see it can be quite expensive to upgrade the Minor rear axle, and for significant increases in power, and particularly torque, fitting a Ford Escort based axle seems to be the best way to go.
Richard
Re: advice on what rear diff and axel etc for strength
Second vote for the above - you need to use a Ford (Escort or Capri) or Triumph (Dolomite) or - an MGB axle seems to cope well for some, and is probably the easiest/least expensive way to go.
