Hi,
No, rear wheels have not risen up against their oppressive drivers demanding equal rights as front wheels!!
My question is one I've been meaning to ask for some time and is something I first noticed on Abby, the two door I owned previously....
With the rear wheels jacked up and the rear axle supported by axle stands, turn the engine on and put the car in gear (2nd in this case).
I have noted that with both of my 4.22 diffs (when fitted to Abby) that the wheel on one side rotates and the other does not or (in a different gear) does so considerably slower than the other.
Given a helping hand (extra manual spin from me) you can feel it engaging and picking up on the forward (or reverse) momentum being supplied by the diff / prop / gearbox, presumably imitating what it does in practice, when on the ground and the car is being driven.
Today when I had Olwyn up on stands, whilst greasing her nipples, I decided to see it the diff fitted to her drove the wheels in the same way. Sure enough one wheel rotates freely whilst the other is much slower (and even a bit clonky -- something I've not noticed when driving her though??).
Is this normal for these type of diffs?? Or a sign they need rebuilding?? Basically should they be driving both wheels at the same speed?? There was no sign of excessive wear on the either of the 4.22 diffs when I checked them and the splines on the half shafts seemed good too -- I haven't looked and Olwyns splines yet, so can't comment on them.
I have to say I've never found this causing any noticeable issue when driving either Abby or Olwyn.....
Many thanks for your thoughts on this,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels, now being sprayed by me, slowly......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
From your description I think it's doing its job, there may well be a differential in the wheel rotation, it sounds like there is slightly more friction in one side of the assembly, and showing when jacked up, basically doing the same but more so as it would do when cornering.
Perfectly normal - although the 'clanking' may indicate something a bit loose..... It's what a differential does - it puts the drive to whatever wheel will rotate more easily basically to allow the car to go round corners easily. Hence when trying to climb an icy hill - only one wheel spins. A 'locked' differential will of course drive both wheels equally (worked well in my Autocross Mini) but of course wears the tyres like mad and causes all manner of handling difficulties (or excitements ) on a hard surface - and in between are expensive and ever more complicated limited slip differentials that can be set to deliver variable drive to each wheel as required.
Thanks for your replies, puts my mind at rest, however if the 'clanking' is indicative of problems ahead it may pay me to swap to the 4.22 diff sooner rather than later.................
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels, now being sprayed by me, slowly......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
) on a hard surface - and in between are expensive and ever more complicated limited slip differentials that can be set to deliver variable drive to each wheel as required.
