Centre prop bearing

[MrCoffee]

I've had this grinding noise coming from the rear of my Smiley since I got it that starts as soon as the wheels start to turn. When I took the wheels off to repaint them, I rotated each side to check for a wheel bearing/back plate/diff noise or anything rubbing where it shouldn`t be, but nothing shows up. So, I`m guessing its the centre prop bearing.

Are these common, and has anyone changed one before?

MrC

[pce-hq13]

I had the same noise also, noise started as soon as moved off so i went to scrap yard and got another prop.

I disconnected prop from diff and spun wheel first to check it wasn't the diff

Cost £20

Time 30 minutes (depending on the bolts not being stubborn...)

...Paul...

[Nighthawk]

the prop bearing/s are easy to change with basic tools.

remove the prop shaft

mark the position of the sections before splitting it down at the slide joint to make it more manageable.

you'll see a bolt head inside the U/J close the bearing, it's held in place with a lock washer.

knock back the tab and undo the bolt head a few turns, it'll not come all the way out . With the bolt undone 10 turns or so the spacer will come out.

now you need to knock the u/j

Place the remaining section of prop in a good vice and use a blunt chiesel to knock the bearing off the prop, taking care not to damage the small metal plate which reduces the crud ingress.

knock the new bearing on the shaft (right way round ) and rebuild the shaft. Make sure you re fasten the locking tab on the bolt and also make sure that the shaft goes back together with all your marks aligned to prevent vibrations

[pce-hq13]

My prop shaft is different to the description you've given Nighthawk

Mine is a two-piece, short front section and a long rear section

The rear section has a U/J then a spined section which inserts into the shorter front section which has the centre bearing attached...

...Paul...

[motorwise]

My prop shaft is different to the description you've given Nighthawk

Mine is a two-piece, short front section and a long rear section

The rear section has a U/J then a spined section which inserts into the shorter front section which has the centre bearing attached...

...Paul...

still comes apart the same way

[pce-hq13]

My prop just slides apart, there is no bolt to undo to separate the two pieces of prop shaft

4 bolts to the diff flange, 4 bolts to the gearbox flange, 2 bolts on centre bearing, then two pieces of prop slide apart...

[motorwise]

sounds like you're missing the bolt, "U" washer and lock tab - when the two halves are apart is there a threaded hole in the end of the male splined part?

[Nighthawk]

are you looking at the sliding joint or the area within the universal joint?

if you pull the 2 parts apart at the sliding joint, you'll be left with the main piece of prop with the bearing on and a U/J with the rest of the sliding joint.

[pce-hq13]

This is my prop



I apologised for Hi-Jacking your thread MrCoffee

...Paul...

[Nighthawk]

Blimey

I thought all of that design had left service now.

Thats an early level design and while the vehicle was in production there wasn't a replacement bearing.
Thousands of these shafts were replaced due to water ingress into the bearing.

[MrCoffee]

No problem Paul. Those pics are very useful...I was kinda hoping it split like that so the bearing was a seperate unit, but if you can`t get the bearing, I guess I'm up the creak.

I'll have a look when the rain stops.

MrC