57 Saloon - tapping noise in drive

[57grey]

Hi All

I wonder if anyone can shed a light on the following issue please ?

I have a 57 which has been off the road for some time. Its running ok but when you put her into gear and drive, there is tapping noise from the underside as if the prop is hitting something while it rotates. This noise doesnt appear when rolling the car out of gear or with the clutch pressed in. I can't spot any obvious signs so was wondering if anybody could help ?

I've not driven her any distance, just up and down the short drive for obvious reasons.

Thanks

[ianmack]

Maybe prop shaft joint, bent exhaust or as its only when the engine is running gone rubber mounts on engine or gearbox, or broken or missing engine top steady bar.

[57grey]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

It only does the tapping when in gear and driving forward or in reverse. The tapping gets faster the quicker the car moves and stops when the car stops

[bmcecosse]

As above - loose prop shaft - or maybe even just loose wheel nuts? Could be chipped or even missing tooth on the laygear..... Does it do it in 2nd gear ??

[57grey]

Hello

Yes, goes into all gears and wheel nuts all tight with brakes nice and free. Does feel like prop but can't see anything obvious underneath

[bmcecosse]

But does it make the NOISE in 2nd gear.......

[57grey]

Hi

Yes, but not managed to try 3rd and 4th due to driveway not long enough. Also does it in reverse

[57grey]

The noise can be described like something tapping the propshaft as it spins, tap , tap , tap.

I guess the best way to check would be to support the rear axle and drive through the gears while the rear wheels are off the ground ?

[bmcecosse]

The point was just to test if it was the laygear - a very common problem - the straight cut section is shared with 1st and reverse - but not with 2nd gear. Could be a final drive problem.

[Trickydicky]

Has the UJ bearing/s broken down? Try the propshaft and see how much movement is in it.

[57grey]

Thanks Richard

Will try that tomorrow

[SteveClem]

My Landy was doing that... Turned out to be a stone in the tyre.

[amgrave]

Jack the back of the car up so wheels are clear of the ground and with the gearbox in neutral and hand brake off (chock the fronts) lay underneath and rotate the prop shaft by hand. If it's the prop bearings you will feel it with your hands on the prop shaft and hear it of course.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Ive had this happen a couple of times for differenet reasons. I bought a 63 that had seat belts added at some stage that were bolted down on the transmission tunnel. When you sat in the car it was moving the bolts of the head woul toch the turning drive shaft and make noises. Bolts were shortened and it cured it.

New time, same car though. Started gradually with noise going over speed bumps and got worse over time to include moving off. Turned out to be the mountings on the axle had rotted through and were allowing the axle to turn slightly everytime you took off. Needed a new axle casing although you can get repair sections for them.

[57grey]

Hi

I've driven the car again this morning and it transpires that the noise is only when in 1st or reverse. In second gear it's trouble free. Feels like it's coming from the rear towards the axle

Any ideas ?

[bmcecosse]

As I suggested earlier - there is a badly chipped or missing tooth on the laygear (or possibly 1st gear) in the gearbox...... This was why I asked you to test it in 2nd gear. No nasty noise in 2nd gear confirms the problem lies in the gearbox.

[martin418]

i agree , it sounds like a gearbox problem

[57grey]

Ok guys, looks like i'm swapping the box then

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated

[martin418]

drain the gear oil and see if any ' bits ' are in it

[57grey]

Ok, will do but assume it's still going to need another box ?